Cale added some gravitas to the VU. He was older than the others, was English and had some classical training. Did he not? Throw in Nico and what an amazing scene that was. Lots of drugs of course but they produced! Unlike what you have today. What are the 20-30 year old artists of today producing that is listenable?
I saw Lou Reed live a few months after VU split up. I can’t say it was memorable
Young artists today are producing all kinds of listenable stuff.
Current favorites include The Avett Brothers, My Morning Jacket, Wilco (although I guess Jeff Tweedy is now in his 40s), and Spoon among others.