The Velvet Underground’s first public set emptyed half the audience

Evidence

As recalled by Morrison, the band opened with “There She Goes Again,” played “Venus in Furs” and ended with “Heroin.” The set caused a stir—“the murmur of surprise that greeted our appearance as the curtain went up increased to a roar of disbelief once we started to play ‘Venus’ and swelled to a mighty howl of outrage and bewilderment by the end of ‘Heroin.’” Half the audience left. — J. Hoberman, Everything Is Now, 796

Categorization

• CANDY: Fun anecdote — the band’s debut literally cleared the room — easy barroom trivia.