16 Facts About Doug Yule

Douglas Alan Yule was born on February 25,1947 and is an American musician and singer, most notable for being a member of the Velvet Underground from 1968 to 1973, serving as the bassist, guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist.

Doug Yule was born in Mineola, Long Island, New York, and grew up in Great Neck with five sisters and a younger brother.

Doug Yule later said in an interview that he would have preferred violin lessons, but the violin had to be rented and the baritone horn was available free of charge.

Doug Yule first met the Velvet Underground at his River Street apartment in Boston, which he rented from their road manager, Hans Onsager, and where the band would sometimes stay when they played in the city.

Doug Yule's improving guitar technique caught the ear of Sterling Morrison.

When John Cale left the Velvet Underground at the behest of Lou Reed in 1968, Doug Yule joined the band as Cale's replacement.

Doug Yule made his first studio appearance on their third album, The Velvet Underground, playing bass and organ.

When Reed's voice became strained from touring, Doug Yule would sing lead on several songs.

Doug Yule took over lead vocals and switched his main instrument from bass to guitar, and Walter Powers was recruited as the Velvets' new bass guitarist.

In 1974 Reed contacted Doug Yule to contribute a melodic bass track on his solo album Sally Can't Dance, on the song "Billy", which closes the album, and Doug Yule joined Reed's band for the subsequent US and European tour as his guitar player.

In early 1976 Doug Yule played guitar on Night Lights by Elliott Murphy, and joined the band American Flyer later that year as their drummer and background singer.

Doug Yule wrote an obituary for Sterling Morrison, who had died in 1995.

Doug Yule was not included along with the original line-up for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when the Velvet Underground were inducted in 1996.

However, Doug Yule remains a member of the Velvet business partnership, and continued to give the occasional interview about his time in the group.

Doug Yule played some concerts in 2000, while the live album Live in Seattle was released in Japan in 2002.

Doug Yule featured on Tucker's live album Moe Rocks Terrastock.