Nonfiction Review: Loaded reminded me of the best quote ever about a rock band: "Only a thousand people bought the first Velvet Underground album, but every one of them started a group." That just about says it all. Loaded is a book (sort of) about that influential band. Subtitled "The Life (and Afterlife) of the Velvet Underground," Dylan Jones is more interested, obsessed with even, in Andy Warhol and his coterie -- as if Jones had written a biography of Warhol, couldn't sell it, and so overhauled it as an account of the VU. Of course Lou Reed will get an outsize number of pages, he was the heart of the band. John Cale warrants even more space than given here. Even Nico, who sang lead on just three songs on one album, is worthy of a fair share of attention. But I wish more pages in Loaded had been devoted to the music, the songs, the sound, the albums, and the people who created it all instead of the hangers-on at the Factory. But if you're an Andy Warhol acolyte (and he deserves them) then this will please you no end. If you're looking for more on Sterling Morrison, Moe Tucker, and the Yule brothers there's not as much as you might've hoped. There's not even enough good gossip, despite this being an oral history with periodic notes by Jones giving context and history. There's also a quite a few inaccuracies and incorrect facts (e.g., Jimmy Page did not replace Eric Clapton in the Yardbirds). Loaded is good enough for what it is, but a great band deserves a great biography. [3½★]
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