Velvet Underground Building

The Story

This five-story building on the Lower East Side was the apartment of Tony Conrad, a musician from the Theatre of Eternal Music, who paid twenty-five dollars in rent and opened his doors to John Cale, and later Lou Reed, to form what would become The Velvet Underground. It was there, in July 1965, that the band recorded their first demo. The building had been an artists' hub since 1962, also hosting Angus MacLise, and filmmakers Mario Montez and Jack Smith, who were connected to Andy Warhol's circle. John Cale and Sterling Morrison lived on the top floor of the townhouse, and it was at this same address that the first known version of the song "All Tomorrow's Parties" was recorded.

Explore more