The first 4 VU albums are untouchable. VU&Nico and WL/WH are groundbreaking works - absolute classics. The s/t and Loaded exceptional pop albums. Even Squeeze isnt anywhere near as bad as people say it is.

In short, The VU are probably my favourite band.

Good to hear that. They're one of my favorites, too.

Anyone know why John Cale left VU? I found many reasons, but I'd like to know the real one.

Accorging to the White Light/White Heat VU Day-by-Day book, the reasons will remain "murky, decades after the event." (p. 202)

My belief that it has to do with the conflict between two strong egos. Reed possibly trying to steer the VU away from the Warhol days and Cale still looking for some experimentation, which is evident on his production for Nico's Marble Index.

Then, of course, to possibly add to the problems, as told by Sterling Morrison in a 1993 Q interview, you also had John Cale building a Bass amp that did not work (due to one simple problem: No Pre-Amp), which was funded with band money. (p. 202 of the same book) You can tell that would also be something to worry about, especially when you had free amps being given as endorsements.

I personally abide by the belief that Lou Reed wanted to write more catchy diddies and John Cale wanted to break more things while somebody was recording. Thus, the contrast ultimately caused the rift which led to the downfall of TVU's ultimate era.

Yea... the ego thing tends to be the more reoccurring reason. It really is a shame that he left. They were just so great, and Cale really did fuel the experimental sound of VU. It makes you wonder what else they could've done if Cale had stayed. I also have this same feeling with Hendrix's short-lived career. He was experimenting with other instruments and genres. Who knows what he could've accomplished, too.

used to be heavily into them, but it's kinda ho hum these days

still haven't heard Loaded yet

This is something kind of cool. I wouldn't want to sit through the entire thing, but it's interesting being able to watch them experiment and play in the Factory:
The Velvet Underground and Nico 1966 : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive

I saw that as well. Actually, I think that was something which was more for playing without sound in the background of their shows. Oddly enough, it still recieved an AFI number and a listing in their Feature Films 1961-1970 book, although I can still see it being played at some art cinema of the time.

Interesting, though.

Pretty interesting video.

Watching it made me realize that one of the reasons why I like VU so much is their mocking representation of purity.

I agree I never heard of them either.:bonkhead: