Velvet Underground Members To Reunite In NYC

It’s not exactly a performance reunion (so far), but the unexpected report that former Velvet Underground members Lou Reed, Maureen Tucker and Doug Yule are planning to make a rare joint public appearance together on Dec. 8 at the New York Public Library is still big news.

The trio will talk about the Velvet Underground’s music and legacy with Rolling Stone editor David Fricke – part of the “LIVE from the NYPL” series. Unfortunately, band co-founder John Cale will not participate in the Q&A.

According to Billboard, the event will take place in New York City at the Celeste Bartos Forum in the NYPL’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on 5th Ave. and 42nd St. General admission tickets are $25, and $15 tickets are available for library donors, students and seniors through the NYPL website.

The reunion follows the release of the new Johan Kugelberg book The Velvet Underground: New York Art, which features unseen photographs, poster and cover designs by Andy Warhol, Lou Reed’s handwritten music and lyrics, underground press clippings, flyers, handbills, posters and contributions from Tucker and a forward by Reed.

The original Velvet Underground lineup included Reed, Tucker, Cale, Sterling Morrison and vocalist Nico; their debut album, The Velvet Underground and Nico, featured a classic Warhol-designed pop-art jacket that depicted a big yellow banana. Cale exited the band in 1968 and was replaced by Yule. The group finally split up in the early ’70s, but did get back together with Cale in the ’90s. Nico died in 1988, and Sterling Morrison in 1995.

The (former) Velvet Underground trio are not expected to perform, but who the hell knows? Crazier things have happened. It’d be nice enough just to have the opportunity to hear Reed, Tucker and Yule talk about the history and influence of the band, but any type of musical performance would surely blow the roof off the library.

The Velvet Underground were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.