60's Punks

Lou Reed and John Cale of the Velvet Underground broke new ground in rock n roll - each of them in different ways, and each of them has contributed to the growth of rock n roll ever since they first played their low-fi and dirty chords forty-some-odd years ago, propelled to fame with the help of their patron, Andy Warhol. They would honor him years later, after his untimely death with an album, "Songs for Drella." They would also eventually be inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

Punks love them, art-rockers love them, and they are recognized by critics as a seminal influence. Does that un-do their punk cred?

Just look at their associations:

Lou Reed helped break the ice on gender bending together with David Bowie on his album "Transformer" and its hit, "Walk on the Wild Side." John Cale produced so many important records, such as The Stooges, Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers, Patti Smith, and most recently, Alejandro Escovedo, he of the punk rock Nuns and Zeros, and alt-country True Believers.

And these are just the tip of the iceberg.