The Velvet Underground

Live performances and rehearsals

The unanimous opinion was that we were 10 times better
live than we were on records
(Sterling Morrison, Apr. 1981)

1971-73


 

January ?-23, 1971
The Alpine, North Conway, New Hampshire

Week engagement.

Line-up: Doug Yule / Maureen Tucker / Sterling Morrison / Walter Powers

Press article: Velvet Underground at The Alpine in Valley Signal (?). Reproduced in NYROCKER July/August 1980 (p. 27) and The Velvet Underground & Lou Reed (Mike West, Babylon Books, 1982).

"The band at the Alpine this week is none other than The Velvet Underground, the group that was originally organized by Andy Warhol for his travelling show, "The Exploding Plastic Inevitable".

There have been a couple of changes in the four-member group over the years, but the constant has been an important one - pretty Maureen Tucker on drums. Others by name are Doug Yule, lead vocal and guitar; Sterling Morrison, lead guitar and Walter Powers, lead vocal and bass.

The group has always laid down a heavy sound, and like the Jefferson Airplane, for instance, has amassed a following even though it has never produced a hit single. Like the Airplane, they write all their own material.

They have two albums to their credit, one on Verve which is a year or so old and another just released on Atlantic titled "Loaded." Under promotion - minded Atlantic, they expect to release a single for the hit market soon.

After this week's Alpine engagement winds up on Saturday night (the 23rd), they will head back to New York for a January 29-30 appearance at The Electric Circus. They are expected back at The Alpine the first week in February for the Wednesday through Saturday engagement."

Photos: the Valley Signal article comes with a photo which could be from The Alpine. MOJO #75 (p. 44) has a different photo shot at the same place.

Doug Yule: There's very little difference between a ski lodge and a bar - a ski lodge is a bar in a ski country. We played at one place where I met my first wife; we played on a stage that was as big as a dining-room table, in the corner. It was jammed with people attempting to dance and attempting to drink themselves into oblivion; it was, in fact, one of the more popular ski bars. We played the Alpine in North Conway [New Hampshire] for weeks, many weeks. We played there so long that I learned how to ski. There was no record company footing the bills and Sesnick was having trouble booking the group. So he got whatever he could.
[in Afterhours: the twilight of the Velvets, MOJO #75, February 2000, p. 44]


handbill

Ad | The Village Voice | January 28, 1971

January 29-30, 1971
Electric Circus, New York, New York

23 St Mark's Pl, New York, NY 10003
Google Maps | Wikipedia

Mentionned in Velvet Underground at The Alpine article.

Handbill: 10½ x 8½ inch, black and white. Reproduced in The Velvet Underground - New York Art (p. 315).

Ad: in The Village Voice, January 28, 1971 (p. 48). Reproduced in Loaded Re-Loaded 45th Anniversary Edition (p. 10).
Google News Archive


February 3-6, 1971
The Alpine, North Conway, New Hampshire

Mentionned in Velvet Underground at The Alpine article.


 

March 12-13, 1971
Electric Circus, New York, New York

23 St Mark's Pl, New York, NY 10003
Google Maps | Wikipedia

Ad: in The Village Voice, March 11, 1971 (p. 48).
Google News Archive

Ad | The Village Voice | March 11, 1971


Card

April 13, 1973
Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois

1106 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60640
Google Maps | Wikipedia

No VU appearance. Hookfoot | Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes | Armadilla show with "a special attraction ! A Movie!": Andy Warhol's Explodic Plastic Inevitable with The Velvet Underground film screening.


Ad | The Village Voice | April 22, 1971

April 23-24, 1971
The Rock Pile, Island Park, New York

50 Austin Blvd, Island Park, NY 11558
Google Maps

with: Hog Heaven, Cactus.

The Rock Pile was formerly The Action House.

Ad: in The Village Voice, April 22, 1971 (p. 48).


Handbill

April 28, 1971
Agora, Columbus, Ohio

1722 N High St, Columbus, OH 43201
Google Maps | Wikipedia

with: The Blues Project

Handbill: 11 x 8½ inch, on thin purple paper. Reproduced in The Velvet Underground - An Illustrated History Of A Walk On The Wild Side (p. 150).


 

April 29, 1971
Agora, Cleveland, Ohio

E 24th St, Cleveland, OH 44115
Google Maps | Wikipedia

With: Catfish headlining and Biggie Rat opening.

Mentionned in Velvet Underground resurfaces in Cleveland by Anastasia Pantsios, in The Scene, May 6-12, 1971.


Announcement | The Jambar | April 27, 1971

May 1, 1971
Struthers Field House, Youngstown, Ohio

With: Alice Cooper, Brownville Station

Announcement: in For What It's Worth | "The Lovely Alice Cooper" by Jim Jannes an Bill Shapiro, in The Jambar (Youngstown University student newspaper), April 27, 1971.

Article: Top Bands Headline Rock Concert Saturday in Youngstown Vindicator (Youngstown OH), April 30, 1971 (p. 35): "Andy Warhol's famed group, the Velvet Underground, will make a guest appearance, doing their new album, "Loaded.""
Google News Archive

Ads: in Youngstown Vindicator (Youngstown OH).

Ad | Youngstown Vindicator | April 29, 1971Ad | The Daily Kent Stater | April 22, 1971 (p. 8)

in The Daily Kent Stater (Kent State University student newspaper), Volume LVI, Number 93, April 22, 1971 (p. 8); Volume LVI, Number 94, April 23, 1971 (p. 9); Volume LVI, Number 95, April 27, 1971 (p. 8); Volume LVI, Number 96, April 28, 1971 (p. 8).


 

May 2, 1971
Happiness Is!, Youngstown, Ohio

71 E Indianola Ave, Youngstown, OH 44507
Google Maps

With: Biggy Rat

Ads: in Youngstown Vindicator (Youngstown OH).

Ad | Youngstown Vindicator | April 30, 1971


poster

May 5, 1971
The Music Palace, Saint Louis, Missouri

with: Bittersweet

Poster.

Jim Laverty: The VU played a club named The Music Palace in the St. Louis Missouri area on Weds, May 5, 1971. I was the drummer in Bittersweet, the opening act that night.


 

May 8, 1971
Palladium, Birmingham, Michigan

136 Brownell, Birmingham MI

With: Mutzie, Salvage

Mentioned in The Motor City Music Archives.

Ad : in Detroit Free Press, May 7, 1971 (p. 41) : "PALLADIUM—Mutzie, Velvet Underground and Salvage pattern out the sound of rock from 8 p.m.-12 a.m. Sat. Adm. $3. 136 Brownell in Birmigham."

Ad | Detroit Free Press | May 7, 1971


 

June 1971
Gloucester, Massachusetts

Mentioned in I was a Velveteen by Rob Norris.

Line-up: Doug Yule / Moe Tucker / Sterling Morrison / Larry Estridge (replacing Powers on bass who had fallen down some stairs in Detroit and had broken his jaw).

Doug Yule [about the guy replacing Walter Powers] : His name was Larry Estridge and he filled in for Walter for a few gigs. We were travelling in a bus at the time, a dreary road trip.


 

June 4-5 & 9-12, 1971
Tubbs Inn, East Montpelier, Vermont

US Route 2, East Montpelier, VT

Note that some of these dates overlap with those below.

Ads:

  • in The Times Argus (Barre, Vermont) June 1& June 2, 1971: "Great New Band | From New York City | the VELVET | UNDERGROUND | Friday, June 4 - Saturday, June 5 | “Best Band Ever At” | TUBBS INN" (...)
  • in The Times Argus (Barre, Vermont) June 3 & 4, 1971: "Great New Band | From New York City | the VELVET | UNDERGROUND | ALL THIS WEEK| “Best Band Ever At” | TUBBS INN" (...)
  • in The Times Argus (Barre, Vermont) June 8, 9, 10& 12, 1971: "HELD OVER At TUBBS INN | from New York City | The VELVET | UNDERGROUND | Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday, June 9-10-11-12 | Don't Miss This Great Band" (...)

 

June 11-13, 1971
Stonehenge, Ipswich, Massachusetts

4 S Main St, Ipswich, MA 01938
Google Maps | Music Museum of New England

Announcement: in Golden Vanity | Big Deals section of The Phoenix, June 8, 1971 (p. 22).

Ad | The Phoenix | June 8, 1971 (p. 22)

Mentioned in Kings Rook and the Stonehenge Club, when Ipswich rocked! on Historic Ipswich.


poster

June 15, 1971
Palladium, Birmingham, Michigan

With: Formerly Joe Cocker's The Grease Band, Tea

The date is listed in The Motor City Music Archives, but The Velvet Underground is not mentioned.

Poster.


 

June 16, 1971
Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri

1401 Clark Ave, St. Louis, MO 63103
Google Maps | Wikipedia

Ad: in St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 13, 1971.

Ad | St. Louis Post-Dispatch | June 13, 1971


Card

June 18, 1971
Vanity Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan

1024 Newport St, Detroit, MI 48215
Google Maps | Wikipedia

With: Guardian Angel, Magic Ring, Coming (Grand Reopening!)

Mentioned in The Motor City Music Archives.

Card: 7.25 x 4.40 inches, original art by Collins, black ink on pink card.


 

June 24-27, 1971
Main Point, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

874 W Lancaster Ave, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Google Maps | Wikipedia

With: Shawn Phillips

Line-up: Yule/Tucker/Morrison/Walter Powers

The Velvet Underground is mentioned on this date in the listing of all the artists who performed at the Main Point included in the 10th Anniversary publication.
Remembering the Main Point, 1964-1981

Main Point performance list

Ad:

Ad | The Drexel Triangle | June 25, 1971

Ad | The Philadelphia Inquirer | June 20, 1970


Poster

ad

July 10, 1971
The Park, North Baltimore, Ohio

OH-18 & Hough Rd, North Baltimore, Wood, Ohio 45872

With: Paul Butterfield.

Poster: 25 x 19".

Ad and review: in Toledo Ohio Blade. It says "New Concept in Outdoors Concerts July 10th 1971 - 2 P.M. Featuring PAUL BUTTERFIELD, VELVET UNDERGROUND, UP, BRAT, NIGHT WATCHMEN, RAIL". The review has some pictures of the concert. It is mostly concert goers and a picture of Rail performing. The review talks about the event and only mentions the Velvet Underground as being from NY.

Press article: Fears Do Not Materialize | Rock Concert At The 'Park' Turns Out To Be Tame Affair by Barbara Morgan, in Findlay Republican Courier, July 12, 1971.
"Although the Butterfield Blues Band didn't show, the Night Watchmen from Findlay, Brat, Up and the Velvet Underground entertained the crowd, most of them Ohioans, quite successfully, eventually drawing the rain-drenched audience to the front of the bandstand and playing until after midnight."

Tom Warren (the photographer): "One summer day Peter (Laughner), Charlotte Pressler, my brother Joe Warren, Jo Ann & I drove to Bowling Green to see the velvets in an outdoor festival that was rained out. Peter pleaded with security to let us through since he knew Lou, we didn't get in."

Doug Yule: I do remember an outdoor festival, could very well have been in Ohio, and I do believe there was some rain. I can't specifically recall playing on the stage so it very well may have been rained out.


Ad | Boston Herald | August 13,1971

August 12-15, 1971
Club Atlantis, Revere, Massachusetts

302 Revere Beach Blvd, Revere, MA
Google Maps

Announcement: in Golden Vanity | Big Deals section in The Phoenix, August 10, 1971 (p. 22).

Ad | The Phoenix | August 10, 1971 (p. 22)

Ads:

  • in The Phoenix, August 3, 1971 (p. 18).
  • in The Phoenix, August 10, 1971 (p. 5).
  • in Boston Herald, August 13, 1971 (p. 21).
  • in Boston Herald, August 15, 1971 (p. 161), same as above.

Ad | The Phoenix | August 3, 1971 (p. 18) Ad | The Phoenix | August 10, 1971 (p. 5)

Also mentioned here.


Ad | El Paso Herald Post | August 14, 1971

August 19, 1971
El Paso Coliseum, El Paso, Texas

4100 E Paisano Dr, El Paso, TX 79905
Google Maps

Ads: Cactus with the Velvet Underground and Sunday Funnies. One ad and one blurb both from the El Paso Herald Post, August 14, 1971.

A proposed gig with the Velvet Underground, Al Kooper and Savoy Brown at El Poso Coliseum on September 26, 1971 is also announced in El Paso Prospector, June 10, 1971. The August 19 show probably took its place.


 

August 20-21, 1971
Liberty Hall, Houston, Texas

1610 Chenevert St, Houston, TX 77003
Google Maps

The show on the 21st was Sterling's last before leaving the band and heading up to Austin. Liberty Hall, 1610 Chenevert, was a converted movie theater that seated maybe 200. Touring bands not big time enough to play the Music Hall would perform there. It was on the edge of Downtown Houston.

Flyer: "2 shows nightly!". Orange ink on yellow paper, 10.25" x 7.75". Exists also as poster.

Flyer

Press ads:

ad #1 ad #2

 

August 22, 1971
Hart Island, New York City, New York

Phoenix House "Festival of Life"

Mentioned in Phoenix House 'Fest of Life' Set in Billboard, August 28, 1971 (p. 3).
Google Books

Press article: same article without mention of The Velvet Underground.


 

August 29, 1971
Loretto Hilton Theater, Webster Groves, Missouri

130 Edgar Rd, Webster Groves, MO 63119
Google Maps | The Metro St. Louis Live Music Society

Mentioned on a chord sheet from Willie "Loco" Alexander's journals/scrapbooks posted on Twitter by Ryan H. Walsh (author of Astral Weeks: A Secret History of 1968).

Ryan Walsh: "Doug Yule gave Willie "Loco" Alexander this scribbled chord sheet for Velvet Underground songs mere hours before his first ever show with the post-Lou Reed VU."
[posted on Twitter, March 19, 2018]


Card

September 3, 1971
The Vanity Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan

With: Jam Band, Heresy, Elephant. MC: Mr. Belvedere!!

Card: art by Wilson.

Ad: in Detroit Free Press, September 3, 1971.

Mentioned in The Motor City Music Archives.


Handbill
Poster

September 6, 1971
The Park, North Baltimore, Ohio

Route 18 & Hough Rd, North Baltimore, Ohio
Google Maps

With: Savoy Brown, Cactus, Atomic Rooster.

Handbill: 11 x 8½ inch concert handbill designed by the legendary Grande Ballroom and MC5 artist, the Motor City Master, Gary Grimshaw, advertising shows at The Park in North Baltimore, OH on September 3, 1971 by the Amboy Dukes, Parliament Funkadelic and Sweet Tain, then on September 6, 1971, Savoy Brown, Cactus, Velvet Underground and Atomic Rooster. Signed in pencil by artist Gary Grimshaw.

Poster: 22 x 17 inch, designed by Gary Grimshaw.


September 8-11 & 13-18, 1971
Gassy Jack's Place, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Announcement: in What's about Town section in The Vancouver Sun, September 10, 1971 for a Monday to Saturday engahgement (p. 39). Note that some of these dates overlap with those below.

Review: Velvet sound fails to match legend by Peter Wilson, in The Vancouver Sun, September 9, 1971 (p. 37).

Willie Alexander: "We lived for a week in Vancouver, and played at a place called Gassy Jacks in Gastown. We had fun playing there getting drunk. It was a beautiful city and we had a great afternoon looking at fossil trees at Stanley Park."
[An Interview with Willie Alexander in HOUND DAWG MAGAZINE | NO. 7 | MAY 2010]


Flyer

Ad (?)

 

 

September 17, 1971
Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada

With: Quicksilver Messenger Service, Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band.

Poster: same artwork as the one for the September 18 show.

Flyer: 11 x 8½ inch, on blue paper, unknown artist.

Ad (?): reproduced in What Goes On fanzine No. 3.

Ads: read "The Velvet Underground start things off with an hour set at 7:30PM".

  • in The Ubyssey Vol. LIII, No. 2, September 16, 1971 (p. 6) : "Are You Ready? THIS IS IT! TOMORROW NITE".
  • in The Ubyssey Vol. LIII, No. 3, September 17, 1971 (p. Page Friday 6): "Are You Ready? THIS IS IT! TONIGHT".
Ad | The Ubyssey, September 16, 1971 Ad | The Ubyssey, September 17, 1971

Ticket:

ticket

Review: briefly mentioned in Capt. Beefheart cut off in mid-flight in The Vancouver Sun, September 18, 1971 (p. 31): "Velvet Underground, lead off group on the show, were better than they were when I saw them at Gassy Jack's but still nothing to cause a flurry of excitement in anybody's typewriter".


Poster

September 18, 1971
Edmonton Gardens, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

SW corner of 118 Ave & 73 St, Edmonton, A lberta
Google Maps | Wikipedia

With: Quicksilver Messenger Service, Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band.

Originally booked for the Jasper Place Sports Centre (as stated on the poster), the concert was moved shortly after to Edmonton Gardens due to surging ticket sales.

See Vintage Edmonton: Quicksliver/Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band/The Velvet Underground, (September 18, 1971) for story and various press clippings.

Poster: approximately 22 x 16 inch. Reproduced in The Velvet Underground | An Illustrated History Of A Walk On The Wild Side (p. 150).

Announcements:

  • Quicksilver and the Captain
    in The Gateway, September 16, 1971 (p. 9).
    University of Alberta Libraries
  • Some People Even Stay And Listen | On The Scene with Jon Faulds
    in Edmonton Journal, September 17, 1971 (p. 65).

Review: in Beefheart in The Gateway, September 21, 1971, 1961 (p. 9).
University of Alberta Libraries


September 19, 1971
Foothills Arena, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

The VU possibly played at the Foothills Arena in Calgary, Alberta on this date with Quicksilver Messenger Service and Captain Beefheart. Both QMS and CB played in Calgary on that date. VU played with both of them on the 17th in Vancouver and the 18th in Edmonton, so it would seem a logical continuation.


Late 1971, UK/Netherlands Tour

Line-up: Willie Alexander / Walter Powers / Maureen Tucker / Doug Yule

The Velvet Underground, 1971

The England/Continent tour is announced in American Talent's Blacker in U.K. Deals in Billboard, August 7, 1971 (p. 22). Same issue has a news item in From The Music Capitals of the World - London (p. 50).
Google Books

The tour in Netherlands is announced:

1971 tour dates are given in the following UK music papers:

  • DISC June 1971
  • sounds, June 5, 1971
  • Melody Maker, July 3, 1971
  • RECORD MIRROR, August 7, 1971, in Underground to tour soon

Ryan H. Walsh (author of Astral Weeks: A Secret History of 1968) aso released a picture of "The Velvet Underground Itinerary" sheet from Willie "Loco" Alexander's journals/scrapbooks.


 

October 5, 1971
Palais Dance Hall, Polytechnic, Leicester, England

Listed on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".


 

October 6, 1971
Speakeasy, London, England

48 Margaret Street, London, Greater London W1W 8SE, United Kingdom
Google Maps | Wikipedia

Review: by Richard Williams, in Melody Maker, October 16, 1971.

Listed on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".


poster

October 8, 1971
Birmingham University, Birmingham, England

Poster.

Listed on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".


October 9, 1971
Kingston Polytechnic, Kingston Upon Thames, England

Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2EE, United Kingdom
Google Maps

Listed on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".

Mentioned in Lowdown on the Underground in New Musical Express, October 30, 1971.

Ad: in Melody Maker.

Ad | Melody Maker


October 10, 1971
Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Announced in From The Music Capitals of the World - Amsterdam in Billboard, August 14, 1971 (p. 53).
Google Books

Also announced in:
Loninklijke Bibliotheek | National Library of the Netherlands

  • In Komende Maanden Veel Popconcerten
    in Leeuwarder Courant (hoofdblad van Friesland), August 21, 1971 (p. 33).
  • Creedence in September
    in Het Vrije Volk (democratisch-socialistsch dagblat), September 4, 1971 (p. 21).
  • Concerten
    in De Waarheid, September 25, 1971 (p. 5).
  • Weer pop in aantocht
    by Gertjan Van Ommen
    in De Tijd (dagblad voor Nederland), October 8, 1971 (p. 2). Also mentioned in the theater, muziek en film section of the same issue (p. 12).

Listed on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".

Cancelled because of difficulties at the French-Belgium border, as stated in:

  • Velvet blijft underground
    by Gertjan Van Ommen
    in De Tijd (dagblad voor Nerderland), October 11, 1971 (p. 8).
  • Velvet Underground op 24 oktober in Amsterdam
    in De Waarheid, October 12, 1971 (p. 2).
  • Nieuwe data voor Velvet Underground
    in De Tijd, October 14, 1971 (p. 7).
  • Velvet Underground nietes - welles
    by Gertjan Van Ommen
    in De Tijd, October 22, 1971 (p. 7).

Ad: in Aloha no. 11, September 24, 1971, Netherlands.Ad, Aloha 24/9/71

Press article: by Laurie Langenbach in Aloha no. 13, October 22 - November 5, 1971, Netherlands.

A concert hall filled to the brim where no VU shows up.

When I come home (at 'Aloha's') I am told that they have just arrived in the hotel 'Trianon'. And they are hungry. Marjolein proposes to cook them a meal. I leave to get them. To my surprise I meet a bunch of 'fresh' looking, everything but junky types. No likeness whatsoever to the morbid atmosphere coming from the first albums. They are completely taken aback having missed this Amsterdam concert. The greed of their managers is to blame, they made the group travel in a little bus for fourteen hours because they didn't want to pay for a flight. The dinner is cozy but short..... our guests are very tired. The Next day I go with them to the NOS studio. There I meet their female drummer Maureen Tucker, for the first time. She way she looks is hard to define. Long red hair tightly bound into a pony tail, stern figure, manly walk. She's got her baby Carrie with her. One of the nicest children I have ever met.

The recording takes place in a enormous and empty space. No atmosphere at all. To make the disaster complete the singing can't be heard at all. That makes playing not much fun for a band. I stand, with the baby on my hip, watching. She kicks with her leg along with the rhythm, and applauds when it is over.

Aloha #13, 1971The group consists now of Doug, Maureen and two darling boys from Boston: William Alexander on organ and Walter Powers on bass.

At seven o'clock p.m. we are with Wim van der Linden at home looking at the results of the hours in the studio. It is watched with scrutiny, because the band hasn't seen itself on television for a long time. Doug looks away in agony every once in a while. He thinks he sings terribly and says 'I look like my baby brother'.

Laurie Langenbach
Aloha: a Hippie mag formerly called 'Hitweek'

[Thanks to Chris Van Tuyll for translation.]

Ad


October 11, 1971
AVRO Studio, Hilversum, Netherlands

Rolf Asselman: In 1971 The Velvet Underground made a TV appearance in the Dutch programme Top Pop with Rock And Roll. In the book Avro's Top Pop written by my friend Richard Groothuizen there is a picture in color of this appearance wich was in AVRO (Dutch broadcast) studio in the city of Hilversum.

This recording is also mentioned in Laurie Langenbach's article from Aloha no. 13, October 22 - November 5, 1971 (see October 10, 1971 entry).

AVRO Studio, October 11, 1971


October 12, 1971
Théâtre 140, Schaerbeek, Belgium

Avenue Eugène Plasky 140, 1030 Schaerbeek, Belgium
Google Maps | Wikipedia

With: Jelly Fish

Announcement: in Negende seizoen in théâtre 140, in Het Volk, October 7, 1971
Archives du Théâtre 140

Listed on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".

Reviews:

  • 'Pop music' au Théâtre '140', 'Velvet Underground' et 'Jelly Fish'
    by J.P.
    in La Libre Belgique, October 14, 1971.
    Archives du Théâtre 140
  • Velvet Underground in Brussels Theater 140
    by Jan V.H.
    in Het Laatste Nieuws, October 14, 1971.
    Archives du Théâtre 140
  • Le 'Velvet Underground': un groupe qui n'a plus qu'injustement le nom de ses prédécesseurs
    by André Drossart
    in Le Soir, October 14, 1971.
    Archives du Théâtre 140

October 13, 1971
Théâtre du Trocadero, Liège, Belgium

Rue Lulay des Fèbvres 6, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Google Maps

With: Jelly Fish

Listed on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".

Mentioned in Histoire du Rock et de la Chanson Française by Denis Gérardy (p. 44-45): "Mais, le sommet de cette année 1971 arrive le mercredi 13 octobre au Trocadéro. En effet, à cette date, doit se produire pour la première fois à Liège un groupe "Pop" américain: Velvet Underground. (...) Malheureusement, leur prestation se solde par d'énormes déceptions. Les nouvelles compositions sont bien pauvres d'originalité. Sterling Morrison et Lou Reed ayant quitté le groupe depuis deux semaines, la présence scénique relève maintenant plus du cirque de trottoir que d'un groupe rock. Le Velvet ne laissera guère un souvenir impérissable dans la Cité Ardente..."
Google Books

Review: in French magazine Rock & Folk N°59, December 1971 (p. 9 & 11).


poster

October 14, 1971
London College of Printing, London, England

Elephant and Castle, London, U.K SE1 6SB, United Kingdom
Google Maps

with: Spring

Listed on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".

Poster: 60 x 80 cm. Run of 50 designed and printed at the London College of Printing.

Ad: in Melody Maker.

Ad | Melody Maker


 

October 15, 1971
University of Bristol, Bristol, England

Listed on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".


 

October 15, 1971
Reading University, Reading, England

 

October 16 or 19, 1971
Dagenham Roundhouse, London, England

Lodge Ave, Dagenham, Greater London, UK
Google Maps | Wikipedia

with: Vinegar Joe

October 19 is most likely the actual date as listed on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".


 

October 20, 1971
Strathclyde University, Glasgow, Scotland

 

October 20, 1971
Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge, England

With: Formerly Fat Harry, Henry Cow

Listed on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".


  October 21, 1971
Warwick University, Warwick, England

 

October 22, 1971
Southampton University, Southampton, England

Listed on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".


 

October 23, 1971
Manchester Academy, Manchester, England

Manchester University Students Union, Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9PR, UK
Google Maps | Manchester Academy | Wikipedia

Manchester Academy is the concert venue at the University of Manchester.

Listed on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".

Poster: 21½" x 31¼"

Poster


 

October 23, 1971
Het Turfschip, Breda, Netherlands

Announced in:

  • Velvet Underground op 24 oktober in Amsterdam
    in De Waarheid, October 12, 1971 (p. 2).
  • Nieuwe data voor Velvet Underground
    in De Tijd, October 14, 1971 (p. 7).
  • Concerten
    in De Waarheid, October 16, 1971 (p. 4).

Cancelled.

Chris: "I used to live there at the time and was to go to the 'Turfschip' too! I had a copy of the third album and was a Velvet fan for sure, but didn't know Lou had left the band by then. The concert never took place of course - we were told because of the problems mentioned at the French-Belgium border."


 

October 24, 1971
Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Announced in:

  • Velvet Underground op 24 oktober in Amsterdam
    in De Waarheid, October 12, 1971 (p. 2).
  • Nieuwe data voor Velvet Underground
    in De Tijd, October 14, 1971 (p. 7).
  • Concerten
    in De Waarheid, October 16, 1971 (p. 4).
  • theater, muziek en film
    in De Tijd, October 22, 1971 (p. 10).

Cancelled because the management had made a mistake in the months of October and November, the group was not to be this weekend free, as stated in:

  • Velvet Underground nietes - welles
    by Gertjan Van Ommen
    in De Tijd, October 22, 1971 (p. 7).

 

October 24, 1971
Empire, Sunderland, England

Listed on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".


  October 26, 1971
St John's College, Oxford, England

  October 28, 1971
Bristol University, Bristol, England

Poster

October 29, 1971
Lancaster University, Lancaster, England

With: Gravy Train, Pink Custard Lights

Listed on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".


 

October 30, 1971
Liverpool University, Liverpool, England

Listed on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".


Poster

November 2, 1971
South Parade Pier, Southsea, England

With: Graphite.

Listed on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".

Ad: in Melody Maker.

ad


 

November 4, 1971
Kent University, Canterbury, England

Listed on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".


 

November 5, 1971
School Of African And Oriental Studies, London, England

Listed on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".

Tape: audience, 65 minutes, B. Source: Final V.U. 1971-1973 disc 1.

  1. Chapel Of Love (0:44)
  2. I'm Waiting For The Man (4:55)
  3. Spare Change (3:50)
  4. Some Kinda Love / Turn On Your Love Light (12:44)
  5. White Light/White Heat (4:34)
  6. Pretty Tree Climber (5:00)
  7. Rock And Roll (4:46)
  8. Back On The Farm (6:45)
  9. Dopey Joe (2:55)
  10. Sister Ray / Never Going Back To Georgia (13:08)
  11. After Hours [encore] (2:58)

Ticket


Ad | Leeds Student | October 29, 1971 (p. 12)

November 6, 1971
Leeds University, Leeds, England

Listed on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".

According to the Live At Leeds | 14/02/1970 | 17/06/06 booklet, this show was cancelled.

Ad: in Leeds Student, No. 20, October 29, 1971 (p. 12).


 

November 11, 1971
Grays Technical College, Grays, England


poster

November 12, 1971
Friars Club, Town Hall, Aylesbury, England

Borough Assembly Hall, Market Square, Aylesbury, United Kingdom
Google Maps | Friars Aylesbury Online

Listed on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".

Support: Gothic Horizon.

Poster.

Flyer: A4 size flyer.

Ad: in Melody Maker.

Ad | Melody Maker

Poster


 

November 13, 1971
Hull University, Hull, England

Listed on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".


Ad

November 14, 1971
Bumpers, London, England

Coventry St & Picadilly Circus, London, England

Listed on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".

Mentioned in "Velvet Underground The Janitors of Lunacy - on the college circuit" by Geoffrey Cannon in Time Out, London, October 8-14, 1971 which has a short tour date listing some of the upcoming London shows.

Ad: in Time Out, October 29-November 4, 1971 (p. 36).


November 18, 1971
Jahrhunderthalle, Frankfurt, Germany

with: Humble Pie


November 19, 1971
Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Listed in "konsertagenda" section in Aloha no. 15, November 19 - December 3, 1971 (p. 29).

Announced in:

  • Concerten
    in De Waarheid, November 11, 1971 (p. 5).

Tapes:

  1. Soundboard, VPRO Radio, Netherlands. The complete tape remains in VPRO's archive but two incomplete tapes circulate. First one is 21 minutes, AM quality (4, 6, 7, 9). Second one is 4 songs (1, 4, 7, 10 + brief part of 11) from a one-hour Dutch 747AM radio show Night Train: Het VPRO Muziek Archief - Concertopnamens van Velvet Underground (1971) en Nico (1972) broadcasted on October 19, 2002.

  2. Audience, 75 minutes. Sources: Live In Amsterdam 1971 CD (audience, 1-13) & LP (audience, 1-9, 11-13); Final V.U. 1971-1973 disc 2 & 4.
  1. Waiting For The Man (4:54)
  2. Spare Change (3:31)
  3. Some Kinda Love (6:51)
  4. White Light/White Heat (4:33)
  5. Pretty Tree Climber (4:58)
  6. What Goes On (4:02)
  7. Cool It Down (4:07)
  8. Back On The Farm (7:04)
  9. Oh Sweet Nuthin' (8:21)
  10. Sister Ray (15:02)
  11. After Hours (3:19)
  12. Dopey Joe (3:23)
  13. Rock And Roll (4:43)

 

November 20, 1971
Ergens In Nederland, Netherlands

Listed in "konsertagenda" section in Aloha no. 15, November 19 - December 3, 1971 (p. 29).


poster

November 21, 1971
Concertzaal Appolo, Groningen, Netherlands

Hereweg 49, Herewegbuurt, Groningen, Nederland
Google Maps

Listed as "last gig" on Willie Alexander's "Velvet Underground Itinerary".

Announcement:

Press article: Velvet Underground by Wim Jassies in Nieuwsblad van het Noorden, November 19, 1971 (p. 35), including full 1971 line-up photo.
NDC|VBK - De Krant van Toen

Ad: in Nieuwsblad van het Noorden, November 20, 1971 (p. 6)
NDC|VBK - De Krant van Toen

Ad | Nieuwsblad van het Noorden | November 20, 1971

Poster [thanks to Koen van Krimpen]

Reviews:

  • The Velvet Underground werd pas laat wakker
    by Wim Jassies
    in Nieuwsblad van het Noorden, November 22, 1971 (p. 10).
    NDC|VBK - De Krant van Toen
  • Velvet Underground blijft best aan te horen
    by Rob Bishoff
    in De Waarheid, November 22, 1971 (p. 2).

 


January 13-16, 1972
The Maint Point, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

With John Prine.

Announced in From The Music Capitals of the World - New York in Billboard, December 18, 1971 (p. 17).
Google Books

The Velvet Underground is however not listed on this date in the listing of all the artists who performed at the Main Point included in the 10th Anniversary publication.
Remembering the Main Point, 1964-1981


Late 1972, 'Squeeze Tour', Great Britain

Line-up: Doug Yule / Rob Norris / George Kay / Mark Nauseff
Nine shows.


Poster

November 18, 1972
Malvern Winter Gardens, Malvern, EnglandAd

With: 9.30 Fly / Sidewinder

Poster.

Ad: in Melody Maker, November 18, 1972


Ticket - November 20, 1972

November 20, 1972
Top Rank, Doncaster, England

With: Budgie, Iguana

Ticket: light pink card, 75 x 85 mm, and only lists the venue, date, time, price and the phone number of the venue.


Ad

November 22, 1972
Acton Town Hall, London, England

With: McKendree Spring / Noble Savage

Ad: in Melody Maker, November 18, 1972


Ad

November 26, 1972
Top Rank, Cardiff, Wales

With: Thank You / Sullivan

Ad: in Melody Maker, November 4, 1972 (immediately below an ad for Lou Reed at the Pheasantry Club, King's Road, Chelsea, November 2, 1972!).

Rob Norris: We had one really rough time in Cardiff - the club was supposed to pay us cash up front and they didn't, and our road manager said, "Well, then they're not going to play." We were in the dressing roomand this real sleazy, low-brow guy with the club went on-stage and got these skinhead types all revved up, like "Well, they're here but our money's not good enough for them." They came after us and tried to bang down the door. It was George Kay who said, "Shit-ass punks aren't gonna bother us - we're gonna go out that door, we're gonna get in the car and get out of here, and they're not even gonna touch us." We formed a 'V' with the guitar cases, burst the door down and moved through the crowd, and they didn't bother us. But I was fearing for my life. [in Afterhours: the twilight of the Velvets, MOJO #75, February 2000, p. 47]


Ad

November 30, 1972
Sundown, London, England

supporting E.L.O.

Ad: full-page poster-size (approx. 16 x 11"), in New Musical Express, November 8(?), 1972.

Ticket.

Ticket - November 30,1972


Ad

December 2, 1972
City Hall, St Albans, England

With: Fusion Orchestra / Pugma Ho

Ad: in Melody Maker, December 2, 1972.

Review: by Meredith Noel, in Melody Maker, December 9, 1972:

"The evening at Words in St Albans City Hall last Saturday turned out to be a night of rock 'n' roll. (...)
On came Velvet Underground every inch a rock 'n' roll band. A lot of material was old stuff - necessary as the band pointed out because British fans have yet to hear the new material (their most recent album hasn't been released here). Old faithfuls like "Waiting For My Man" and "Sweet Jane" harked back to the days when Lou Reed was in the band.
Half the audience were there to see a group which must be legend now. The other half were there to rave so everybody was happy.
The Velvets had been jamming in the dressing room for two hours before they came on stage - they obviously like playing. The line-up nowadays is Doug Yule; Rob Norris, guitar; George Kay, bass; and Mark Nauseef, drums.
People were listening, people were dancing and everyone had a good time and an encore - "Heroin."


Ad

December 4, 1972
Reading Suite, Reading, England

With: Fat Grapple

Ad: in Melody Maker, November 25, 1972.


December 6, 1972
St David's University, Lampeter, Wales

Tape: audience, 64 minutes, B. Source: Final V.U. 1971-1973 disc 3.

  1. Waiting For The Man (5:29)
  2. White Light/White Heat (2:06)
  3. Some Kinda Love (5:39)
  4. Little Jack (3:25)
  5. Sweet Jane (3:33)
  6. Mean Old Man (3:07)
  7. Run Run Run (5:57)
  8. Caroline (3:46)
  9. Dopey Joe (3:13)
  10. What Goes On (4:10)
  11. Sister Ray (8:57)
  12. Train 'round The Bend (4:34)
  13. Rock And Roll (4:29)
  14. Waiting For The Man (5:30)

December 8, 1972
Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle, England

Newgate St, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
Google Maps | Wikipedia

With Geordie.

Mentioned on Ballroom Blitz.

Ad: unknown publication.

Ad


December 9, 1972
Northamptonshire Cricket Club, Northampton, England

with: McKendree Spring, Gnidrolog.

Ad: in Chronicle & Echo, December 6, 1972.

ad


From The Music Capitals of the World in Billboard, January 13, 1973 (p. 14 & 16): "NEW YORK -- The Velvet Underground, headed by Doug Yule will be going on the road again in the U.S. The group's upcoming tour is being booked by ATI."
Googles Books


Ad | Boston Herald | May 25, 1973

May 25-27, 1973
Oliver's, Boston, Massachusetts

62 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215
Google Maps

For a long time considered as the final appearance as The Velvet Underground - see below for additional dates. It was the booker's idea that they were billed under that name. 2 sets.

Line-up: Doug Yule, Billy Yule, George Kay, and Don Silverman.

Announcement: in Going Places by Sam Berenson in Boston Herald, May 21, 1973 (p. 28): "Big news this week is the return to Boston of Velvet Underground. The group, formed years ago under the aegis of Andy Warhol, is on stage at Oliver's. Still churning out a bizarre brand of rock, Velvet Underground stays at the Brookline ave. location through Sunday."

Ad: in Boston Herald, May 25, 1973 (p. 23).

Tape: from first set. 40 minutes, B+. Last three tracks appear only on the original tape recorded by Joe Viglione. Source: Final V.U. 1971-1973 disc 4.

  1. I'm Waiting For The Man (5:00)
  2. Little Jack (3:39)
  3. White Light/White Heat (5:12)
  4. Caroline (3:08)
  5. Sweet Jane (4:32)
  6. Mean Old Man (2:54)
  7. Who's That Man [cut] (4:05)
  8. Let It Shine (4:33)
  9. Mama's Little Girl (3:40)
  10. Train 'round The Bend [cut] (2:15)
  11. Zonk: Baby Moon Rider
  12. What's Your Name
  13. What Goes On

Doug Yule: "There was a cover band in 1973 - me and my brother and two other guys, doing rock 'n' roll tunes both Velvet Underground and non-Velvet Underground, and some original tunes. We met somebody who started booking us around New England. He was supposed to bill us as featuring me from The Velvet Underground, but he wasn't supposed to say it was The Velvet Underground. We played next to [Boston's] Fenway Park in Kenmore Square, probably our second-to-last show. The last show was some ski-place in Vermont or someplace; we drove in, saw "The Velvet Underground" and said, "That's the last straw." Plus, the place turned out to be a real dive. It was one of those places you hear (in whining voices) "Can you turn down? Can you play Louie, Louie?" We didn't even play the second night; the guy asked us to leave."
[in Afterhours: the twilight of the Velvets, MOJO #75, February 2000, p. 47]

Rob Norris: "(...) I stayed on in England for a while before ending up in New Hampshire in early '73 where I found one last version of the Velvet Underground about to perform in Boston without Sesnick's consent.
This version had Doug Yule on lead guitar, Billy Yule on drums, and George on bass (the Old Rockets rythm section) with a friend of George's from California named Don on rythm guitar. they played one weekend at a small club in Boston, to a small but appreciative audience, unveiling even newer material... Shortly thereafter this little-known version of the Velvet Underground disbanded and the saga of the post-Lou Reed Velvet Underground came to a close. AMEN!"
[in I was a velveteen, Kicks, 1979]


June 1-3, 1973
My Father's Place, Roslyn, New York

19 Bryant Ave, Roslyn, NY 11576
Google Maps

Ad: in The Village Voice, May 31, 1973 (p. 62).
Google News Archive

Ad | The Village Voice | May 31, 1973


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Thanks: Gordon Lyon, Aral Sezen, Chris Van Tuyll, Mark Skobac, Jeff Blake, Koen van Krimpen, Nick Huckle, Arjan de Weerd, Jeff Gold, Doug Yule, Rolf Asselman, Jim Laverty, Nick Blakey, Phil Gammage, Rob Cutler, Tom Z, James Thompson, Alessandro Locchi, Andrew Russ, Ryan H. Walsh, Mark Woodley.

by Olivier Landemaine
last modified: May 21, 2023

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