(Voyageur)

www.voyageurpress.com

BY JIM ALLEN

For a band whose picture might as well pop up in Webster's under the definition for "seminal," it's a little surprising that the Velvet Underground hasn't been given the comprehensive illustrated-history treatment until now, looking down the barrel at the 45th anniversary of the ground-breaking group's formation. Nevertheless, given the sumptuousness of this tome, we're not complaining.

With essays, interviews, memorabilia montages, and photos of concerts, rehearsals, and candid backstage moments, it dives in to the deep end, taking us on a chronological journey that starts before the band's birth and finishes with its brief-but-bright 1993 reunion. Velvets obsessives can flip to practically any page in this copiously illustrated celebration of the band's luminous legacy and find something to make them drool with delight. Here's a poster for the band's 1968 Boston Tea Party gig with the MC5. There's a photo essay of performances at Andy Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitable "happenings" at The Dom. Here's Lou Reed's handwritten manuscript for "Venus In Furs," and the graphics from Reed's pre-Velvets output on the Pickwick label. And with author DeRogatis handling the heavy lifting on an editorial side that also includes band members' reminiscences and a complete listing of every gig the Velvets ever played, it's hard to imagine having a more immersive VU experience without breaking into Lou Reed's apartment.