Within reason, there really is no end to what you can do with 44 of Britain's greatest pounds. In fact, rewind the clocks 44 years and you could have booked The Velvet Underground to turn up down your local boozer, play all night, and then leave with £44 in their back pocket happy as can be.
That's right, 44 years ago today The Velvet Underground made their live debut when the played at Summit High School in New Jersey. And what did they get for the privilege? $75. Or as us over in Blightly like to call it, £44. Since then, The Velvet Underground have been cited on many occasion as one of the most important and influential groups of their era. With this in mind, $75 is a bit of steel.
The American experimental rock outfit, who took their name from an S&M magazine that a band member found on the pavement, went on to record seven studio albums. They were managed by Andy Warhol, and had Rolling Stone magazine vote their debut album, The Velvet Underground & Nico, 13th in their chart of the greatest albums of all time. This isn't bad for a band that started off playing high school proms for a mere $75.
The Velvet Underground also created a platform for both Lou Reed and John Crale to form illustrious solo careers. Now, I've not liaised with either Reed's or Crale's bank managers recently, however I reckon they're pulling in more than they were 44 years ago when it comes to performing live. And for that they get my full respect.
