There are bands. Then, there’s the Velvet Underground, less a band and more an institution, the bedrock of modern day rock ‘n’ roll, punk and art – and that’s just understating it. Already on the receiving end of some belated credence, the Velvets are finally getting the historical documentation they deserve: The Velvet Underground: New York Art is the first-ever book to provide a definitive look at the band’s life and work. Johan Kugelberg is the man responsible for its exhaustive content, having uncovered numerous posters, photographs, handwritten lyrics, album sleeves, press clippings and other never-seen-before material that offer a comprehensive survey of the Velvets’ formation, rise and eventual fall. Also included is a specially recorded interview between Lou Reed and Maureen Tucker, on top of an incisive essay (brilliantly titled “Dead Lie the Velvet Underground! R.I.P. Long Live Lou Reed”) by king critic Lester Bangs. Put together, it’s a stunning compendium, made beautiful with its rich imagery, compelling with its breathless narrative, and ultimately, all the more worthy for its subject.

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