![\"Lou](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Lou-Reed-Musician-1997-Far-Out-Magazine-1140x855.jpg\")
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(Credits: Far Out \/ Alamy)<\/p>\n
Wed 19 November 2025 13:00, UK <\/p>\n
The \u201cmythical \u201960s\u201d, as Lou Reed<\/a> once so lovingly called it, is too often tied to the bands that made it, without much credence given to the fact that people didn\u2019t immediately understand or appreciate so-called controversial alternative acts, like The Velvet Underground.<\/p>\n The Velvet Underground fits as easily into conversations about legendary rock acts as names like The Rolling Stones and The Doors, but, while they\u2019re no doubt one of the best and most impactful bands to come out of underground rock, their rise was considerably slow. In fact, when looking at the trajectory of TVU, it\u2019s best summarised by that familiar Brian Eno quote about The Velvet Underground & Nico.<\/p>\n The record only sold around 30,000 copies in its first few years, but, according to Eno, \u201ceveryone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band\u201d. Of course, there\u2019s probably a lot of truth in such a claim, literally and figuratively, especially when you consider the fact that, at the time, TVU were considered by many as too direct and daring for commercial appeal, set back by the fact that the underground scene hadn\u2019t really taken off yet. <\/p>\n What most hadn\u2019t realised \u2013 except for those who went on to form their own bands, as Eno said \u2013 was that TVU were majorly advanced, more so than many of their peers, especially when it came to the foundations of traditional rock and rock arrangements. Lyrically, it was dismissed by many as too dark. Sonically, it was too avant-garde and no match for the explosive psychedelic scene that was keeping underground from taking flight.<\/p>\n It was the ultimate venture in artistic expression outside of any expectation, which meant that, come 1970 when the band put out Loaded, making a commercial move came from Lou Reed\u2019s desire to shed his underground skin and become a more established name in his own right \u2013 probably also bolstered by the fact that, until then, they\u2019d failed commercially, and their label had become a little impatient.<\/p>\n At the time, Reed partially jested about the name and that it came from the fact that it would be \u201cloaded with hits\u201d. In his quest, he toned down all the previous features of their music that people deemed too daring<\/a>, controversial or overly underground and kept radio appeal in mind, coming up with a string of songs he felt guaranteed their place in commercial positioning.<\/p>\n Reed actually left the band before it was released, but one song stuck out in particular \u2013 one that he took with him even on stage as a soloist: \u2018Sweet Jane\u2019. Inspired by the whimsy of being a rock and roll star, \u2018Sweet Jane\u2019 became one of Reed\u2019s favourites, not because of his attempts at making things more accessible, but it took the core principles of rock and turned it on its head, sparking a legacy of its own.<\/p>\n