Walter Powers

Before joining the Velvet Underground, he played with future co-Velvet Willie Alexander in Boston-based band the Lost from 1964 until 1967, during which time they toured with the Beach Boys, and from 1967 with Alexander and another future fellow Velvet, Doug Yule, in the Grass Menagerie. He was also the bass player for another Boston-based band called Listening (only album released by Vanguard in 1968 under the same name). When Lou Reed left the Velvet Underground in late August 1970, Doug Yule assumed leadership of that band and moved from bass guitar to vocals and guitar. Also in late 1970, the band, which at that time consisted of Yule, Powers, Sterling Morrison and Maureen Tucker, recorded two songs for Atlantic Records, the Doug Yule compositions "Friends" and "She'll Make You Cry", which remain unreleased (both songs would later be re-recorded with different personnel for the controversial 1973 Polydor album Squeeze). During 1971, the Velvet Underground extensively toured the north and northeast of the United States and subsequently embarked on a short autumn tour of Europe in support of current album Loaded, playing gigs in England, Scotland, and the Netherlands. After completing the tour on November 21, 1971 in Groningen, the band planned to start recording a new album, but band manager Steve Sesnick sent all of the band but Yule home, presumably to retain maximum control of the product (the album Squeeze) and effectively ending Powers' time with the band.

• Name — Walter Powers • Born — 4 August 1946 • Birthplace — Boston, Massachusetts, United States • Died — 27 May 2026 • Genre — Rock • Occupation — Musician • Instrument — Bass, vocals • Associated Acts — The Velvet Underground, Willie Alexander, Listening

• Solo Loco (released 1981) • Solo Loco Redux (released 2002) • Autre Chose: Live (released 1982)

• Final V.U. 1971–1973 (recorded 1971–1973, released 2001)