10 Failed Songs That Became Cult Classics
1. I'm Waiting for the Man - The Velvet Underground
When talking about cult status, it doesn't really get any more accurate than the Velvet Underground. Though they were often ignored by the mainstream media in their prime, the band's self-titled debut record with German singer Nico ended up being one of the greatest albums that we "got" after the fact. "I'm Waiting for the Man" may not have had any business on the charts, but its shelf life has turned it into one of rock's all-time classics.
Taking a seedier tone than the rest of rock and roll, Lou Reed's tale of a scenester as he absent-mindedly waits to buy heroin is one of the most exhilarating and terrifying songs in rock's canon. It's a trip to listen to this tune, but given the more conservative nature of the '60s radio regulations, it's understandable why it was left off of the airwaves for the foreseeable future.
On the other hand, bands across America and beyond were paying close attention to this track, with bands like the Strokes going so far as to call the Velvets one of their biggest inspirations. Even when he was starting to gain traction, the glam rock god David Bowie started finding his feet by playing this song with his early bands. There have been plenty of songs that took a while to gain traction, but as the album continues to receive more and more acclaim, the Velvet Underground may be the definition of the world's most popular cult band.