DOUG YULE

DOUG YULE

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Thomas Anderson

Doug Yule has gotten a bad rap. Even though in post-Velvet Underground years Lou Reed both recorded and toured with him, the story endures that he was the person who tried to usurp the band from Lou’s control, and was therefore responsible for the band’s breakup.

Doug has rarely gotten the chance to answer the accusations in print, so your CREEM reporter called him in New York—where he’s now employed as an architectural wood-worker—for his side of the story.

What led to your joining the Velvets?

I was working with a band in Boston, living in an apartment owned by the manager of my band, who was also a friend of Steve Sesnick (the Velvets’ manager). The Velvets used to stay there on occasion. One time when Sterling was staying there, I was practicing guitar, and he made an off-the-wall comment that he thought I was getting pretty good. Nobody really thought about it until John and Lou had their disagreement. And the fact that I was a Pisces, that was very important.