The Velvet Underground. New York Art

The Velvet Underground is an astonishing assembly of rare objects and artworks and the first book of its scale to document the formative years of the band Time Out magazine named the greatest New York musicians of all time. From never-before-seen photographs of the band’s first live show in New York to Andy Warhol’s cover and poster designs, Lou Reed’s handwritten music and lyrics, underground press clippings and controversial reviews, flyers, handbills, and posters, the materials here comprise a uniquely comprehensive survey of the first rock group ever to transcend the genre and embrace underground popular culture. Including a conversation recorded especially for the book between founding members Lou Reed and Maureen Tucker, this beautifully illustrated book is the first to present a definitive picture of the band’s genesis and development in the extraordinary New York scene of the mid- to late-1960s.
Praise
"This is a handsome book with more full-color images than a strong acid trip. If you dig on The Velvets, you should buy it." ~Dazed & Confused
"The book has minimal text (including an exclusive interview between bandmates Lou Reed and Maureen Tucker). The strength lies in the knockout imagery. It visually traces the narrative of the group, and of the '60s era itself. The wraparound-sunglasses, all-black amphetamine cool of their early days as Andy Warhol's house band, to the bell-bottom jamming of their swan song period." ~Raw
About the Author
Lou Reed, and Maureen Tucker were key members of the Velvet Underground. Johan Kugelberg is the author of Born in the Bronx, also published by Rizzoli. Vaclav Havel is a playwright and author, and was the first president of the Czech Republic. Jon Savage is the author of several books, including England’s Dreaming.