Died On This Date (August 30, 1995) Sterling Morrison / Velvet Underground

themusicsover August 30, 2010 No Comments

Holmes Sterling Morrison
August 28, 1942 – August 30, 1995

Sterling Morrison was a founding guitarist of the Velvet Underground. While studying at Syracuse University, Sterling struck up a friendship with  fellow English student, Lou Reed. Over the next couple of years they drifted apart but then reconnected in New York City where they, along with John Cale, formed the band. In 1971, Morrison earned a Ph.D in medieval studies and decided he no longer wished to continue with VU.   Living in Texas and primarily focussing on academia during the early ’80s,  Morrison played around town casually for the most part, but also found time to captain a Houston based tug boat.  In 1992, the Velvet Underground reformed to tour Europe, opening many dates with U2.  But due to inner-turmoil within the band, the short-lived reunion was over by the end of the tour.  Morrison learned he had non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 1994, and died from it the following year.  He was 53 years old.

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