The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground was an influential avant garde rock group, promoted and produced by painter Andy Warhol. Their debut album "The Velvet Underground & Nico" (1967) is considered to be one of the most important rock albums of all time. Some of the members went on to have succesful solo careers, like John Cale, Lou Reed and Nico.

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During the late 1960s The Mothers of Invention and The Velvet Underground were the two most well known alternative rock bands in the world. Both groups were rivals of each other and diminished each others' achievements and importance. They had a lot in common: both bands were cynical about the hippie movement and longed for experimentation. The main difference between the Velvet Underground and The Mothers was that they were much more serious and less colorful in appearance.

On May 3, 1966 The Mothers played as opening gig for The Velvet Underground in the Trip, Los Angeles. Zappa proclaimed from the crowd: "These guys really suck", whereupon Reed later returned the insult: "Zappa is probably the single most untalented person I've ever heard in my life. He's a two-bit, pretentious academic, and he can't play rock 'n' roll, because he's a loser. And that's why he dresses funny. He's not happy with himself and I think he's right."

The Velvet Underground later accused Zappa of helding up their debut album until 1967 so that Zappa's debut, Freak Out! could be released in 1966 as the first avantgarde rock album.

On the original LP version of We're Only In It For The Money (1968) Gary Kellgren spoke the line: "I get to work with the Velvet Underground, which is as shitty a group as Frank Zappa's group." On the CD release this line was cut.

In 1980 during the Star Special radio special on BBC Radio 1 however Zappa did select a song by The Velvet Underground as one of his personal favorites: "All Tomorrow's Parties". Another song he liked was "Femme Fatale".

When Zappa visited Czechoslavakia in 1990 he discovered that his music and that of The Velvet Underground and The Rolling Stones were illegal under the communist government because of their rebellious nature.

In 1994 in an ironic twist of events Lou Reed inducted Zappa into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame. Gail Zappa and the children were first against it and asked for Johnny "Guitar" Watson instead. Gail and Reed had a long talk over the phone about the rivalry between Reed and Zappa and eventually the induction continued as planned. (See: Zappa Inducted Into The Hall Of Fame)