Modular People

From behind black-rimmed sunglasses The Velvet Underground effortlessly owned 'cool'. Even today every time band's debut, self-titled album is played someone tries to start a band or pursue a career with the Rolling Stone.

In order to appease everyone who has longingly stared at the Pop Art cover of fresh fruit and thought, "I wish I'd been there" publisher Rizzoli has released The Velvet Underground: New York Art. This lavishly produced book contains never before seen photographs of the band's first gig in New York, the rise of Andy Warhol's New York promotional art along with a comprehensive catalogue of fliers, reviews, posters and hand written lyrics that capture the underground music scene's surge into our collective consciousness.

To ensure that this visually stunning book has maintained The Velvet Underground's idiosyncratic energy Rizzoli has also commissioned former playwright and first president of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel and author Johan Savage to contribute beside a recorded conversation with members Lou Reed and Maureen Tucker.

Circa 1979: Signal to Noise is offering a package to see founding member of the Velvet Underground, John Cale and his band at the Enmore Theatre (Saturday January 16) PLUS a ticket to John Cale's Keynote and Opening Party at the Seymour Centre (Friday January 15) for $95.

Tickets for these events are on sale now.