In June of 1966, as part of Andy Warhol’s Exploding Plastic Inevitable multimedia extravaganza, the Velvet Underground went to Chicago for a week’s worth of performances. But they did so minus two key members. Despite this setback, the shows were a resounding success for this rather new band, though this lineup would never play together again.
Following the big splash made in New York City by the Exploding Plastic Inevitable, the entire production—which included the Velvet Underground, Nico, dancers, a lighting tech, Warhol, and others—went west for a California tour. But the outing didn’t go well, in part due to the Velvets’ dark image and a repertoire that included avant-rock songs about hard drugs and kinky sex, clashing with the developing psychedelic scene and the sunny outlook of California hippies. Before returning to New York, the VU would go into a recording studio to work on their debut album, and by the time they left, The Velvet Underground & Nico was basically done, though it wouldn’t come out until the following March. Though they’d received some notoriety at this early stage, the Velvet Underground were still largely unknown.
Once back in NYC, Lou Reed was admitted to a Manhattan hospital, having contracted hepatitis. With a string of upcoming Chicago dates scheduled for the EPI, and Reed out of commission for weeks, a plan was devised. And Lou wasn’t going to be happy about it.
For the Chicago shows, booked at Poor Richard’s from June 21st through the 26th, original VU percussionist Angus MacLise was recruited, and other alterations were made to make up for Reed’s absence. Considering neither Lou nor Nico—who was out of the country—were present during subsequent rehearsals, things went really well. In his 1994 biography, Transformer: The Lou Reed Story, author Victor Bockris wrote about Lou’s mindset at the time, and how news of the temporary changes was broken to a sick—and sensitive—Reed.
While Lou was laid up in the hospital undergoing a six-week course of treatment, he became increasingly paranoid about losing control of the group. Not only was he excluded from the one-week stint in Chicago, but the band adapted to cover his absence with relative ease. Angus MacLise was brought back in as drummer, with Maureen [drummer Moe Tucker] switching to bass. According to [guitarist] Sterling [Morrison], Angus realized what a mistake he had made in quitting the group and hoped to be allowed back in. Lou, however, still angry about MacLise’s defection, was adamant about punishing Angus and maintaining his loyalty to Moe.
When Warhol, [EPI dancer and Warhol associate, Gerard] Malanga, and MacLise stopped by Beth Israel Hospital to inform Reed of the alterations in the lineup, Gerard could see that he was disturbed by it. “Lou was sitting on the edge of his bed in a bathrobe,” recalled Malanga. “Lou was yellow in the face, he had a yellow pall and looked sickly—he always looked sickly. Sitting at the end of the bed having this discussion about what was happening with the Chicago gig. And I remember distinctly Lou turning to Angus and saying, ‘Just remember, this is only temporary.’ Like, ‘Don’t think you’re coming back into the group.’
In addition, for the Poor Richard’s shows, John Cale became the Velvets’ lead singer, also playing viola and keyboards. It’s possible Sterling Morrison sang some of the songs, too. Another unique moment happened when Moe Tucker switched from bass to guitar for “All Tomorrow’s Parties.”
Moe Tucker and John Cale can be seen on the left in this photo taken during one of the Chicago gigs (1966 newspaper clipping).
The performances were very successful, which might seem surprising today, considering the Velvet Underground played without both of their lead singers, but remember that it’s unlikely anyone in the audience had even heard the band before, and the group was just one element of the spectacle that was the Exploding Plastic Inevitable.
Another excerpt from Transformer, which notes that Warhol didn’t make the Chicago trip either:
The success of the band’s Chicago dates at Poor Richard’s provided a revealing glimpse into Reed’s usually well-hidden insecurity. Despite the absence of its stellar members—Nico, Warhol, and Reed—the band was so successful they were held over for an extra week. Back in the hospital, Lou’s paranoia was fed with catty gossip. Andy called, saying, “Oh, they got great reviews. Gee, it seems okay without you. Everyone’s happy.” He was just trying to make him uptight. Lou worked himself into a rage.
Continues after the jump…