Stephen Sesnick was a club owner who served as manager of The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...

 after the band ended their association with Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol

Andrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...

 in 1967.

Sesnick was the owner of a club in Boston at the time that he became involved with The Velvet Underground. Over the next few years, he influenced the group members to move toward a more commercial direction in their music. Sesnick also seems to have been instrumental in forcing John Cale

John Cale

John Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....

 out of the band and replacing him with Doug Yule

Doug Yule

Douglas Alan Yule is an American musician and singer, most notable for being a member of The Velvet Underground from 1968 to 1973.- Early career :Yule began playing with various bands in Boston in the 1960s...

 in September 1968. Lou Reed

Lou Reed

Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...

 later accused Sesnick of similarly driving "a wedge between" him and Yule during the recording of Loaded in 1970. Sesnick also owned the tapes that were to become 1969: The Velvet Underground Live

1969: The Velvet Underground Live

1969: The Velvet Underground Live is a live album by The Velvet Underground. It was originally released as a double album in September 1974 by Mercury Records. The September 1988 CD re-release was issued as two separate single CD volumes, with one extra track per disc...

, and managed to get Sterling Morrison

Sterling Morrison

Holmes Sterling Morrison, Jr. was one of the founding members of the rock group The Velvet Underground, usually playing electric guitar, occasionally bass guitar, and singing backing vocals.-Biography:...

 and Maureen Tucker

Maureen Tucker

Maureen Ann "Moe" Tucker is a musician best known for having been the drummer for the rock group The Velvet Underground.- The Velvet Underground :...

to sign over their rights for $1500 each.