He absolutely became pretentious and totally aggravating over time. But the Velvets brought a novelistic approach to rock lyrics. The drugs and crud didn't have to be there, but that was his environment. He opened the door for scores of great songwriters in his path. I loathed him, though, for his output during his final 25 years. He WAS VERY pleased with himself, that's for sre.
I can listen to some Velvets stuff, but it wasn't exactly life-changing or anything for me.
Then again, humans wax rhapsodic over a lot of music that at best leaves me cold.
He absolutely became pretentious and totally aggravating over time. But the Velvets brought a novelistic approach to rock lyrics. The drugs and crud didn't have to be there, but that was his environment. He opened the door for scores of great songwriters in his path. I loathed him, though, for his output during his final 25 years. He WAS VERY pleased with himself, that's for sre.