Peeled. La storia dei Velvet Underground

by Rob Jovanovic

Il primo album dei Ueluet Underground vendette soltanto diecimila copie, ma tutti quelli che lo comprarono formarono una band": così recita una famosa battuta di Brian Eno, e forse, in effetti, nessun'altra band vanta un successo in classifica tanto scarso e un'influenza musicale così duratura come la formazione newyorkese. Una miriade di artisti, da David Bowie ai Sex Pistols, dai Joy Division ai Roxy Music, dai Niruana agli U2, e persino il drammaturgo e poi Presidente cecoslouacco Uàclav Havel hanno citato i Uelvet come una delle loro principali fonti d'ispirazione. Grazie al sostegno di Andy Warhol, che ne divenne mentore e manager, la band, formata nel 1964 dal vocalist, chitarrista e autore Lou Reed e da John Cale, polistrumentista gallese di formazione classica, cui si unirono poi Sterling Morrison alla chitarra e MoeTucker alla batteria, potè esplorare aree del paesaggio sonoro rock'n'roll fino a quel momento inaudite. A New Vork, dove alla metà degli anni Sessanta la scena folk era ancora vivace, e sulla West Coast, doue si stavano affermando soavi armonie e il "flower power", i Ueluet Underground erano l'antitesi di tutta la musica che li circondava. Dalla loro posizione ai margini della società urbana, da dove documentarono la parte nascosta della città, raccontauano storie di tossicodipendenza, prostituzione e devianza sessuale, sullo sfondo di un feedback urlante, "drone" e ritmi primitivi.

Genres: Nonfiction, Music

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 25, 2010

Reviews

[Justin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Without a doubt this is the worst written and most poorly edited book I have ever read. "The Velvet Underground: Peeled" is very disorganized at the paragraph level, and Jovanovic struggles to create coherent, clear sentences throughout; sadly, these are the more minor problems with this book. Jovanovic does not seem to know where he wants to take this biography, evident even in the first chapter (which begins with a jejune lesson on the struggles of being homosexual in the mid 20th century before sharply turning his narrative to a different story). Irritatingly, Jovanovic repeatedly begins one paragraph with a thought before abruptly switching to another in the next paragraph. He is also very sloppy with his facts. For instance, at one point he misnames one time VU manager David Cezanne as Paul Cezanne.

There is no depth to this biography and I would not recommend it to anyone interested in the VU and Lou Reed. I should have been tipped off that something was amiss about this book just by the cover; the banana "art" on the cover is not an Andy Warhol. I know that you can't always judge a book by its cover, but in this one instance, the dictum proves false.

The only thing about this book that I found useful was Jovanovic's pinning an exact date for a Lou Reed live album that was released on Selecta Records in 2000 ("Lou Reed / Velvet Underground Live: 1969/1972"). The solo Reed performance was given on December 26, 1972 at "WLIR-FM in Hempstead on Long Island" (Jovanovic, 200).

Unless you have read all other biographies about the VU, and need just one more for a fix, I would skip this one completely. The Velvet Underground deserve a much better recorded history. This book is insulting to their legacy.

[Malcolm Frawley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very enjoyable history of the Velvets. While I'm glad I never had to work with Lou Reed it was intriguing to learn more about his band mates, particularly drummer Maureen Tucker. Great insight also into the considerable influence that Andy Warhol had over the fledgeling outfit. His best piece of advice? "Always leave them wanting less"!

[Nicolas Slunsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing content, yet not that well written and VERY poorly edited. Not to mention the cover... Andy Warhol must be turning in his grave. Still, the history of the Velvets is so interesting, I enjoyed reading the book despite its shortcomings.

[Adam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kinda disappointed. It was kinda all over the place and the editing was pretty bad.

[Pouya Karahrodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life is not linear

[Can · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a fan text, chronicling the life and times of the Velvet Underground and its members. It seems well-researched, but it would definitely benefit from further editing.