Crushed Velvet

Content advisory: the show – and this description – contains language and themes that may offend some people. Age 18+ only.

The Velvet Underground recorded only a handful of studio albums, without commercial success. Yet they are widely regarded as one of the most influential rock bands ever. Brian Eno (no less) is reported as saying "The first Velvet Underground album didn’t sell many copies but everyone who bought it formed a band."

VU are famous for being adopted by Andy Warhol (who paired them with Nico - and bananas)… And way ahead of their time in celebrating themes like LGBTQI+ and sex positivity, and addressing topics like drug dependency and suicide. Both VU and Lou Reed have also indulged in long, tuneless, almost un-listenable experimental music (this show sticks to the more accessible stuff 😊).

VU and Lou Reed have inspired tributes and collaborations with many performers including David Bowie, Metallica and The Killers (a couple included in this performance).