The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in 1964 and disbanded in 1996. They blended rock with experimental and avant-garde elements, featuring gritty guitar, drone and noise textures, minimalist arrangements, and frank, literary lyrics; early members included Lou Reed and John Cale, and they collaborated with singer Nico on some recordings. The band is often cited as a major influence on later punk, post-punk, and alternative rock and was closely tied to the New York art scene of the 1960s.