This beautifully packaged tome ? the first complete illustrated history published on the seminal New York band ? arrives Sept. 15, 2009 to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the group's founding with the perfect balance of text and many never-before-seen photos.

The glorious 192-page volume retraces the history of the band which almost single-handedly created what is now commonly referred to as punk and alternative music, thanks in large part to Lou Reed's poetic-yet-streetwise lyrics, and music that alternated between white noise and gentle beauty.

Founded by Lou Reed and John Cale and managed by Andy Warhol, the Velvet Underground is often cited as the most influential band of the late '60s. This eye-catching book manages to appeal to both the longtime fan and the newcomer, as it is the first to offer a behind-the-scenes look at this iconic band ? from its earliest days through its later incarnation ? and a rare inside view of how the Velvet Underground "opened wounds worth opening with brutal imagery, without apology," as Patti Smith said upon the band's 1996 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Included are insightful excerpts from Andy Warhol's memoirs and rare interviews with band members which shed new light on the V.U.'s history. Also featured are photographs from Exploding Plastic Inevitable dancer Gerard Malanga, and rare images from Factory photographers Nat Finkelstein, Stephen Shore, and Billy Name, as well as additional color concert and candid photography, plus vintage posters, handbills, memorabilia, and much more.

As DeRogatis reminds us in the book's intro, the famous Brian Eno quote about the Velvets is: "Only five thousand people ever bought a Velvet Underground album, but every single one of them started a band." But he further points out that the Velvets' influence transcends generations and stretches beyond just musicians: "Mull that over for a second and you'll realize that it's pure hyperbole: All of those people can't possibly have formed bands, because many of them clearly became rock critics! Not to mention the fact that by now, we've endured many more than five thousand shameless Velvets clones and unapologetic V.U. namedroppers."