biographies in graphic novel format are a wonderful way to learn someone's story! as a longtime casual fan of the velvet underground, i was interested in learning more about their history.

but i have to say i struggled to get into the groove. i think this is largely because of the caricature-like comic art style. the characters are instantly recognizable, which i commend shadmi for, but the style is just not very pleasing to look at. the content is also quite dismal - the band struggled with numerous addiction problems and interpersonal conflicts. there's no joy in this story.

nevertheless, it's a thorough history of the band, spanning decades. i appreciate the book's scope, and there is a ton of information here. but much of it feels dramatized, constructed. there's lots of name-dropping, some of which roots the book in the 1960s nyc music scene, but much of which is probably hard to retain for readers who aren't already familiar with the cultural context.

i was also disappointed that the book focuses primarily on lou reed and john cale, while the other band members are relegated to the sidelines of the story.

koren shadmi's author's note is earnest, and it does seem as though he wrote this book with love for the band. i just wish some of that love shone through on the page. overall it's a rather frustrating read, filled with bad times and hateful drama amongst artists that could, ideally, be allies and friends. lou reed, in particular, is painted as an unbearably controlling egomaniac. knowledge is power, but ignorance is bliss, and i almost wish i hadn't learned the miserable backstory of the velvet underground.

Thank you to NetGalley and Humanoids Inc for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I knew very little about the Velvet Underground, so this was a fascinating introduction to the group, Lou Reed, and the times and culture they operated in. I was caught up reading it, and I also appreciated the author sharing what led him to illustrate this story. About my only quibble is the caricatured version of Lou Reed's face - with the exaggerated, squared-off forehead, there are times he looks like Frankenstein's monster, which can be a little distracting.

An iconic rock ban chronicle? Sing me in
I like this book, the velvet underground were awesome and terrible influential for the art rock movement so we should all try to keep up with their history, and book does a great job giving exactly that. MAybe we need a bit of more drama, but ust to spic a bit the things, not necesary,

An outstanding illustrated version of the Velvet Underground story. It covers the tension between Lou, John, Nico, Andy, and the rest of the band very well. I also really enjoyed the author's Afterword which shed a light on how they came to appreciate the Velvets and also offers a broader desciption of the band's history.

i'm a huge fan of Velvet Underground and appreciated this graphic novel that tells the rise and fall of one of the most important rock band.
It was like watching a movie and I liked to visualize the artist I love, the Factory and the world of Andy Wahrol.
It's not one of those book that will make you discover a lot of new details, just a good book.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A special thanks to NetGalley, Humanoids Inc, and Life Drawn for the ARC!

The graphic is pretty straightforward: it's about the rise and fall of The Velvet Underground: who helped shape and make them, the individual trials of Lou Reed, his warring battle with drug addiction and its effect on his band mates, relationships torn asunder, and the death and mourning of a pop icon. It begins with a foreward by Jon King and ends with an afterward.by the artist weaving a loving tribute from start to finish.

I found it to be very educational as I knew very little about The Velvet Underground beforehand and enjoyed all of the references to people and events throughout that I recognized without knowing of the connection to the band. The artwork enjoyable with crisp lines and beautiful use of colors and application of color theory.

I'll definitely recommend it to my friends in the punk scene.

I really loved this beautifully illustrated graphic novel and I don't typically read this genre. I was attracted to the subject matter since I am a huge fan of the Velvet Underground and Andy Warhol. First of all, the illustrations look like the band. We briefly learn about John Cale and Lou Reed's tumultuous childhoods and the tension in their relationship is well documented here including Lou kicking John out of the band. Nico joins the band at Andy Warhol's pressure and her voice is described as an "IBM computer with a Garbo Accent" - pretty good description - which John likes and Lou hates. This book also has images of the famous screen tests Andy filmed as shown in Todd Haynes' brilliant documentary on the Velvet Underground. Definitely read the afterword by the author who first heard this album when he was 19. Don't skip over this -- a very interesting read. I noticed the author has other graphic novels which I will add to my list to read. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Humanoids Inc, Life Drawn for an ARC and I left this review voluntarily.

This history of the Velvet Underground presents a pleasantly comprehensive narrative through a unique graphic lens; a Graphic History in Comic-book format ! It adeptly captures the band's ensemble, contemporaries, and the captivating circus-like world of Andy Warhol. From crucial moments to intricate relationships, the book intricately weaves together the band's tours, changing membership, studio sessions, and album launches. It also delves into the very essence of their music, shedding light on the creation and release of their iconic albums.

Though this unconventional graphic format might amuse existing fans, it's true that those well-versed in the band's history may not unearth new insights. Nevertheless, the book's engaging presentation offers a fresh way to experience their story, making it a charming addition to any fan's collection. While the book may not significantly enrich the knowledge of dedicated enthusiasts, it could serve as a delightful collectible and a quirky homage to the Velvet Underground's enduring influence.

Book review: All Tomorrow’s Parties – The Velvet Underground Story by Koren Shadmi

The Velvet Underground is widely regarded as one of the most influential bands in rock, underground, experimental, and alternative music in the 1960s and 70s, and often cited as major influence in developing other music genres. All Tomorrow’s Parties, a new nonfiction graphic novel written and illustrated by Koren Shadmi, takes a thorough look at the origins and the history of the band – it’s often gritty and raw, but always immersive.

The book opens with the funeral of Andy Warhol, who was a key figure in the development of the Velvet Underground and the band’s manager (it was Warhol who suggested that the band team up with German-born singer Nico for several songs, and his reputation helped the Velvet Underground to gain more exposure – he’s also responsible for the iconic banana-peel cover of their first album). From the opening scenes, Shadmi takes readers back to Long Island and Wales to the troubled childhood of founding members Lou Reed and John Cale. They later bond over traumatic experiences in the past and soon form the Velvet Underground.

Shadmi then chronicles the band’s ups and downs in the sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll era. His sharp and stunning drawings are perfectly complemented by captivating prose, resulting in a comprehensive and powerful graphic novel that will delight comic book and music fans alike.

While the book puts the complicated relationship between Lou and John front and center – and understandably so – I would have loved to learn a little more information about the other band members as well, especially Maureen who must have been one of the first women to ever reach “fame and success” as a drummer, and Nico (what happened to her after that first album and her constant clashing with Lou?).

In any case, this graphic novel really made me want to listen to Velvet Underground’s iconic first album again. Do you know it? What are your favorite songs? I really like All Tomorrow’s Parties (also the name giver of this book), Femme Fatale and Venus in Furs, but most of all I love Sunday Morning, which is quite different from the rest of the songs because it is so haunting and dreamy.

Thanks to @netgalley and @humanoidsinc for the ACR. All Tomorrow’s Parties will be published on August 22.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

While I had heard general stories about The Velvet Underground, I hadn't heard a narrative about their start. I loved All Tomorrow's Parties because it was a great and cohesive story. The art was beautiful,

I am more familiar with the Lou Reed side of the Velvet Underground story, but this pleasant graphic novel gave me plenty about the John Cale side. It doesn’t shy away from the negative side, particular of Reed. It’s hard to convey music in any book, but I appreciated the attempt to do so for the VU discography. I like Shadmi’s art style.

I lived in NYC in the early 90's, I've read books about Andy Warhol and the Factory, and I'm a Lou Reed fan, but All Tomorrow's Parties pulls together so many additional elements, to create a truly comprehensive basis of punk - the attitude, music, fashion, and more. I learned so much about enigmatic musicians Nico and John Cale, and I loved seeing so many glitterati depicted like Brigid Superstar, Julian Schnabel, Betsey Johnson, and Alice Cooper. Author/Illustrator Koren Shadmi's art and research are top-level and I was really touched by his afterword, where he shared his own experience with The Velvet Underground's music.

An engrossing look at one of the least appreciated in the mainstream and most influential rock bands of the 20th century, The Velvet Underground. Shadmi is honest without being judgmental, and the artwork shines.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel that tells the story of The Velvet Underground. Great background and plenty of information on the band members and the people around them. The artwork and the written narrative was well done. Now to put the music back on…

ARC from NetGalley! Thank you so much!


So I'm a first time ARC reader and I was very enthralled by the idea of it, and this is my first book. I couldn't have been any more happy than to have this one.

*trigger warnings for heavy drug usage (as it's the 60's), language, electric shocks.*

First things first...the art is gorgeous and so are the color schemes!! That really drew me in.✨

I've heard of VU, and am a huge classic rock fan, but I definitely have heard of Lou Reed, since ATCQ samples his song in "Can I Kick It?." I think that's where I was first introduced to how egocentric he can be regarding how he made all the money from that song lol.

I like how the author does not paint Lou in a bad light but acknowledged the struggles and trauma that he did endure as well as his problems with substance abuse. I believe for a story like this, transparency is in fact the most important part. I also really did appreciate how Koren Shadmi researched the main people in the VU's cultivation like Andy Warhol for instance. I think in a lot of cases, he is looked down upon regarding his role in VU, but this book gives you a fresher perspective and allows the reader to decide that.

Enough rambling, I think I just found a new band to listen to! I have heard of VU, and not too shortly after I found myself listening to songs like Pale Blue Eyes (and loving it) and really thinking back on how the author brought these people to life and their stories (Well mainly John and Lou).

This book was really amazing and it's great as far as graphic novel/biographies go! Can't wait for the official release.

I have long been a fan of The Velvet Underground, so I thought it would be fun to read an ARC copy of Koren Shadmi’s forthcoming graphic novel about the band, All Tomorrow’s Parties: The Velvet Underground Story, to be published in late August.

Graphic novels are one of my “guilty pleasures” (although I really don’t feel guilty about reading them at all), and this one by Koren Shadmi is very good – it presents factual information in an engaging format, it’s artistically pleasing (I especially love the color palette he chose), and it has emotional depth. Overall, it’s a quick, enjoyable way to learn all about The Velvet Underground.
My recommendation? Tee up a Velvet Underground playlist for yourself – and then dive into this thoroughly enjoyable graphic novel and read all about ‘em!

Thank you to Humanoids, Inc. and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on August 21, 2023.

4 stars

All Tomorrow's Parties: The Velvet Underground Story will be released on August 22, 2023. Life Drawn, an imprint of Humanoids Inc., provided an early galley for review.

Music and comics have been a part of my life for over a half-century. So, the merger of the two mediums in this project had great allure for me. Admittedly, the Velvet Underground is not a group who has a lot of presence in my music library (yet), however I knew of them and their influence on other bands that came after them. Thanks to the story as told through this graphic novel, I feel I know the band a lot better.

This is also my first exposure to the work of Koren Shadmi. I really like his art style with its strong sense of narrative flow and the level of detail he puts into the work. He reproduces likenesses very well (many I instantly recognized before reading the captions). I will definitely seek out more of his work.

The behind-the-scenes pages at the end (his essay plus some of the sketches and such) was a nice way to round it all out.

I have to say, this was definitely not a bad historical graphic novel I’ve ever read. It was so interesting to see who the members of The Velvet Underground were like I heard of them but never deep dived what they were about. That was until thanks to Netgalley and publisher for allowing me to read this graphic novel and share my honest thoughts!

Now I will admit the faces were a bit odd since Andy Warhol had a more skinny face than the one we see here but this graphic novel was pretty readable and it made me more a lot about The Velvet Underground themselves. They created art that sounds pretty unrated if you ask me like again I’ve heard of them but never heard anyone else talk about them but only the legendary art pop king himself, Andy Warhol. It seemed that Lou was pretty arrogant among the group since he was lobotomised thanks to his parents and the drugs which he abused on. It made me feel bad for him that he was acting this way but same time, he was pretty short tempered to the group when they were only doing their best. It was also interesting that an American band at the time during the 60s having a welsh John in their group. Long way from Wales I’m sure!

Anyways enough of my blabbering, if you like to experience a rock n roll band you’ve heard of but never knew what they are about before, you gotta read this graphic novel first and rock on!

I liked this thoughtful exploration of the bad members’ dynamics. Even more than the study of a band’s growth, it’s really about how people’s pasts and their coping mechanisms shape their choices and their relationships.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Humanoids Inc., Life Drawn for an advanced copy of this graphic novel history of one of the most influential bands in the history of music.

A band that at their heyday was clearing school auditoriums and Los Angeles' hot spots of the people who had paid money to see them. A fellow musician told reporters that the band wouldn't replace anything in music, except suicide. And yet those that stayed and watched them or one of the few to find their albums and listen to them, started a band. Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, New York Dolls, REM, Half-Japanese, list this band as an influence or their number one influence. The Velvet Underground was the coolest, most out-there, angriest band that set out to prove to the world that they mattered, that their music mattered. Some heard the call and tried to get the message to the masses, but ego, luck, dumb luck, and self-sabatoge always got them in the end. All Tomorrow's Parties: The Velvet Underground Story is written and wonderfully illustrated by Koren Shadmi and tells the story of a band the drugs, the acrimony, the music, the art, and the many sides to the history of this amazing band.

Lou Reed was born in Long Island. John Cale was born in Wales. In the same year, a few weeks apart. Both had rough childhoods, Cale's mother was sick, as was Cale, and he grew away rom his parents. Reed was well Lou Reed, and his parents had a difficult time, finally sending him away where he was drugged and given electroshock therapy. Both used art to escape, Reed words, and a college that he found a father figure. Cale with music, getting him first out of Wales, than to America. The two were experimenters, which did them well when they met as part of a made-up band to sell a dance song. This didn't work out, but Reed and Cale began to work on music of their own. Soon the added a guitarist Sterling Morrison, a friend and scholar, and Moe Tucker a drummer with her own particular set of skills. Soon they were playing together, usually to few people till the artist Andy Warhol heard them, liked what he saw, and soon asked them to be the band for his Factory. And the rest is history, depending on who is telling it.

I have long been a fan of Koren Shadmi since reading Shadmi's biographical graphic novel on Rod Serling, which is fantastic and well worth a read. As is this story of one of the best bands, who never seemed to get a break, and yet, influenced so many and so much. Shadmi does a great job of trying to get to the truth of the story, which is hard as drugs, contrary stories, fibs and big lies do get in the way. Shadmi lists his sources in the back, which is great, just in case one wants to know more. The book moves well, covering both Cale, Reed and the rest of the band, its influences, the scene and the hangers-on. The book covers the formation to about when Reed left, so the most influential years and does a good job of covering what happened, when, and why. Shadmi doesn't hold back on the actions of players, the media, and other musicians who really never thought the band was that great. Also Shadmi shows Lou Reed as he was angry at hurting all the time lost when the band was doing well, scared when the band wasn't doing well, and not wanting to face more disappointment. The art is excellent. The characters look much like who they are supposed to be, the backgrounds are crisp, and combined with the writing tell a complete story about the band. One can tell this was a labour of love, and for a band that Shadmi admits he is a fan of. As am I.

A great graphic novel even if one is unfamiliar with the music. Another book that needs a soundtrack too, which I did playing my albums as I read. Recommended for fans of the music, and for music fans in general. Also for fans of great art in graphic novels. The pages and layouts are really well done, and really advance the story.