I was shocked to hear this evening of the passing of Lou Reed. We knew he had been ill and was recovering from a liver transplant, but the reports had been that he was doing well. He’d been out and about at symposia and book signings in recent weeks, and was talking about more music in the future.
I’ve been a fan of Lou since the early 70s, like so many others being introduced to him via David Bowie and the Transformer album. Most – if not all – my friends from that era met in one way or another through a love of Lou’s music.
I saw Lou many times but never met him, unless gate-crashing a press conference for The Blue Mask counts as a meeting. I asked an inane question and got a one word answer back from Lou. I’m pretty sure that one word was ‘No!’ That was Lou, never an easy person, but always utterly straight talking. And he was like this to the end. There’s a short video on line of Lou and Mick Rock (the photographer) at a book signing earlier this month in which Lou berates the audience for not listening. That was Lou. And we miss him.
As for the music, Lou influenced just about everybody who is anybody. Bowie obviously, the entire punk movement and a host of indie bands. Always uncompromising, always edgy, Lou brought a new urban landscape to music. His sounds and words were a counterpoint to the idealism of the 60s. He was upfront in his lyrics and introduced literary structures – and subjects – to rock and roll; but his songs were imbued with a fundamental grasp of the rock and roll medium. Simple structures, richly populated, real places, real people: Walk on the Wild Side is the obvious choice, but in many ways only scratches the surface. Check out Street Hassle for a later take on not dissimilar territory.
My personal favourite album is Berlin, but the most important album is undoubtedly The Velvet Underground and Nico without which the the history of rock would be very different indeed. Neither sold well on release. Both became classics with the passage of time. To quote Lou: ‘Like a good wine, I’m better as I grow older’.
Today we have lost one of the true icons of rock. Lou, we will miss you.
Photos taken at the New Victoria, London, 1979
Darko
29 Oct 2013“Berlin” is an excellent album but for me, “Take No Prisoners” expressed who he was on stage. And as you’ve said, he was “never an easy person, but always utterly straight talking”. As expected, he was like that in music, too.
He will be missed.
Words
29 Oct 2013Darko, I love ‘Take No Prisoners’. I saw him play a similar style of set at the Roxy in Los Angeles in 1979. He even acted out the ‘bear-playing basketball’ bit! Oh, and he played ‘I’m Sticking With You’ which, at the time, was an unbelievable treat.
Darko
30 Oct 2013I must admit I was not that much into Velvet Underground music when they were on top of their wave – I was not even born back then, or I was still in diapers 😀
I “discovered” Lou Reed somewhere during 80s while I was still looking for music that would define my view at the world. For a teenager, it was very important back then. Lou Reed had that rebellious style in his performances that draw my attention. Another reason why I loved that album (Take No Prisoners) so much.
Nice tribute to another great musician that, unfortunately, left this world.
Words
30 Oct 2013Darko, I found my way to Lou in 1972, via Bowie. Quickly got all the Velvets albums, Berlin when it was released and found my way into the Warhol/Burroughs canon. The 70s were great times. So many gigs: Lou, Cale, Nico… and you could always get front row tickets if you got up early!
Darko
31 Oct 2013lol
Now you need to get up early and prepare a pile of cash, too. Back in Serbia, tickets were sometimes beyond my possibilities, that way I missed some great concerts at the end of 80s and during 90s 🙁