Lou Reed 1942-2013 R.I.P.

[maxpower]

Another legend of rock and roll has passed. It's a sad day.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/27/lou-reed-dead_n_4167976.html


Velvet Underground-"Sunday Morning" from "Velvet Underground and Nico" LP - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qK82JvRY5s)

[TempestTS]

wow - what a loss

Lou Reed, a massively influential songwriter and guitarist who helped shape nearly fifty years of rock music, died today. The cause of his death has not yet been released, but Reed underwent a liver transplant (http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lou-reed-recovering-from-liver-transplant-20130601) in May.

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lou-reed-velvet-underground-leader-and-rock-pioneer-dead-at-71-20131027#ixzz2iwtrFOnT
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[nysprod]

OMG, that is friggin' terrible, one of my favs, can't believe it, hard to take...

RIP Transformer.

[Stavros]

I remember John Peel playing a Velvet Underground track on his radio show in the 60s after midnight, and I kept drifting in and out of sleep as Lou Reed's voice floated in the ether, it was like being high without inhaling. Guess he's taking a walk on the wild side now...

[ed_jaxon]

RIP Lou.

The Velvet Underground - Sweet Jane - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkumhBVPGdg)

[Merkurie]

Sad to hear.
Rest in Peace.

[Prospero]

Good grief. This is terrible. Lou was a giant. Terrible loss. Rip

[Prospero]

In 1982 he released an album called "Magic And Loss" about a friend's losing battle with cancer. A haunting and sad collection of songs.

This was the closing song. Seems fitting today.

Give it a listen.

Lou Reed - Magic and Loss-The Summation - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dRLPfWVOGw)

[Odelay]

Wow, what a punch in the gut. Prospero I remember well listening to Magic & Loss, over and over upon its release. And it did seem Lou was writing his own epitaph in addition to a memorial for his friend. I loved his cameo, as himself playing in a Berlin club, in Wim Wenders' Faraway So Close. God, so many memories of the man, his life and his music.

[Prospero]

I saw him on stage a few years back with his wife Laurie Anderson. It was an interesting concert. Sadly never saw the Velvet Underground live.

BBC saying it was liver failure.

[fred41]

R.I.P...Lou

[Odelay]

I don't know how many various local bands in all of the places I've lived that have covered this song. A classic amongst classics.

[Prospero]

And appropriate for this week too - this song from his album New York.

I saw the halloween parade in greenwich Village in the early 1980s, on the eve of the plague. A magical and celebratory event. This was Lou's haunting song on the subject

Lou Reed - Halloween Parade - New York Album - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb_r-IwB8t8)

[kj312]

Lou Reed one of my heroes. RIP. I'm glad to see that some people here still listen to good music. I should have gone to his last show in sf.

[GroobySteven]

Shocked. What a legend.

Lest not forget he was an unabashed tranny chaser.

RIP Lou Reed. My playlist will always honor you.

walk on the wild side ~ lou reed - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkwD261MHsc)

[Maya67]

RIP Lou. You changed the way I listened to and appreciate music.

[Falrune]

I liked him best with Stephen Hunter and Dick Wagner. I saw them in SF in 1975 and København, 1978. "My life was saved by rock n roll."

[Jackal]

This man was an incredibly talented musician and legendary rock star! I always respect anyone who could write a song or just say that transwomen are worthy of love and desire.

[giovanni_hotel]

Really shocking. Some deaths catch you totally offguard and rip at your heart.
So sad to hear.

[CORVETTEDUDE]

Rest Easy, Lou Reed...there will never be another like you!!!

[rodinuk]

RIP Lou Reed :(

[BBaggins06]

Shocked. What a legend.

Lest not forget he was an unabashed tranny chaser.

RIP Lou Reed. My playlist will always honor you.

walk on the wild side ~ lou reed - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkwD261MHsc)

I wonder if any of the women in here ever took a walk on his wild side ...

Rest in peace Lou ... The world lost a another legend today.

[danoblue]

Just got all my Lou Reed/Velvet CDs to upload to my iTunes to make a tribute CD for myself.

He's one of the greats.

Looking at my Transformer CD I remembered how turned on I was by the girl on the back cover. I think it was Holly Woodlawn? I loved all those T-Girls from the Warhol Factory, one of my first exposures to T-Girls and men who dress as woman and it's never left me.

Lou Reed a rock n roll heart, a coney island baby. Put Lou in coach, put lou in!

I own the original vinyl for Metal Machine Music too.

So sad to see another hero leave us.

Rest in peace Lou.

[dderek123]

RIP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90Sc7_z1_pU

[maxpower]

Some Velvet Underground music...


The Velvet Underground "I'm Waiting For The Man" - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcSuF7F6xXo)

Velvet Underground-"Femme Fatale" from "Velvet Underground and Nico" LP - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jog8gh40Fho)

velvet underground - venus in furs - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwzaifhSw2c)

The Velvet Underground-Heroin - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFLw26BjDZs)

The Velvet Underground-White Light/White Heat - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62ckXALWn1M)

The Velvet Underground Here she comes now - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--cSzOAx99w)

[VictoriaVeil]

This is super sad... Loved his lyrics. a true poet and appreciated his talent despite being a different generation.

[maxpower]

More Velvets...


What Goes On - Velvet Underground (closet mix) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7ZppCa2JgU)


THE VELVET UNDERGROUND - Jesus - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZoA_SBxwH0)


I'm Beginning To See The Light - Velvet Underground - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MGu697BMss)


Velvet Underground: I Can't Stand It - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMYRegDfUJ0)


Foggy Notion - Velvet Underground - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sktG9fmMUq4)


The Velvet Underground - Rock & Roll *Full Version* (Loaded) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs0BxTmQXA0)

[DeliaTS]

Sad day. The Velvet Underground really shifted and shaped my views on what "good" music is. One of my favorite quotes: In a 1982 interview Brian Eno made the often repeated statement that while the first Velvet Underground album may have sold only 30,000 copies in its early years, "everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band."

[Joop1980]

No more walks on the wild side. One of the last American 60's icons passed away, after Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Frank Zappa, Jerry Garcia, the only real 60's icon still alive is Grace Slick, Let's hope she will be 100 !!

[Prospero]

Hey Joop what about Dylan? And brian Wilson? To mention but two immense musical figures - and icons

[Stavros]

In addition to Dylan, there is Joan Baez, but I think it depends on how far up the scale of greatness/influence you class those 60s musicians and singers: Lou Reed was influential without being known as a great singer because of his writing, whereas Brian Wilson will not be remembered for anything -if he is remembered at all- other than his drug problems, given that the Beach Boys were merely the fag end of early 60s surfing music that is beyond redemption -it is probably best not to think of it as music anyway but more of a soundtrack to movies with Annette Funicello and gay male fantasies in trunks holding stiff boards while grinning at each other.
Again depending on taste, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Santana, surviving members of The Stones, the Beatles, The Band, the Byrds, Country Joe and the Fish, the Doors, and so on, not to mention survivors from the County and Western scene who must resonate with fans of that music. Grace Slick had a great voice, but how many people even know who she is these days?

The point about Lou Reed is that so many musicians acknowledge a debt to him, it's not just about liking them -Herman's Hermits? Gerry and the Pacemakers? See what I mean?

I passed Alice Cooper in the Hermitage at least three times a few weeks ago, I have no idea what his music sounds like, but I think he is a 70s figure? I used to think he was Arthur Brown with a new name. Whatever.

[cameron47]

Ah! ...Loved some of Lou's earlier works with the Velvet Underground and Nico at vocals.

[Joop1980]

I meant the real 60's revolution say the sex, drugs, hippy, westcoast era.
Dylan, Baez + Wilson were earlier. CSNY yes, survivors as well!

[Prospero]

Stavros allows his own deep dislike of certain types of music to blind him to the significant contribution made by Brian Wilson to 20th century popular music - the great Pet Sounds album, the aborted Smile project and many other fine songs. He will certainly be remembered for more than creating the soundtrack for Annette Funnicello films and gay male fantasies. That might be your somewhat jaded point of reference - but most people find "Good Vibrations", for example, to be one of the high water marks of mainstream popular music in the mid 1960s. Certainly Wilson's achievements spurred The Beatles, among others, on to greater efforts and achievements.. So sorry Stav, i think you are really wrong here.

I do take Joop's point, not well ade riginally, that he was referring to a quite focused and specific era. Some of the guys who made the music are still around - Country Joe macdonald, Dan Hicks (once of the Charlatans but for years a solo performer) various other members of the Jefferson Airplane, Carlo Santana, and quite a few others. They don't do much these days.

But then neither does Grace Slick. A great voice but hardly a great influence.

[luvs2lick1385]

I had a friend who owned a small lodge in Woodstock NY. It was probably the late 70's and my wife and I were up for a few days visit. Now this is small out of the way place and a lot of notables would come to hang, no groupies or hassles. My wife was tending bar and who walks in, Lou Reed. No big deal, we met bigger names there. Well he started drinking and after a few rounds he began chatting up my wife. No big deal, I was on the other side of the room, when I heard my wife raise her voice and asked to be left alone. I was 6'4" about 325, ex linebacker. I made my way to the bar and there was Lou Reed, half drunk, calling my wife all kinds of names, including the c word. All because she wouldn't go with him. I stood behind him, grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and "Gently" escorted him towards the exit. My friend came over and asked me to please not hurt him. All the while he's screaming what a star he is and I can't do this to him. When he realized I could crush him like a bug, he began to apologize. I threw his sorry ass out of the place.
So that was my Lou Reed experience.

[GroobySteven]

In addition to Dylan, there is Joan Baez, but I think it depends on how far up the scale of greatness/influence you class those 60s musicians and singers: Lou Reed was influential without being known as a great singer because of his writing, whereas Brian Wilson will not be remembered for anything -if he is remembered at all- other than his drug problems, given that the Beach Boys were merely the fag end of early 60s surfing music that is beyond redemption -it is probably best not to think of it as music anyway but more of a soundtrack to movies with Annette Funicello and gay male fantasies in trunks holding stiff boards while grinning at each other.


That's just fucking ridiculous. Brian Wilsons writing and the Beach Boys albums in which he was in, particularly Pet Sounds were a huge influence, not least on the Beatles.
You can talk the talk Stavros - but a lot of it is shite.

[Prospero]

Hmmm... well stars can be great and assholes all at once

[chills]

I saw Lou Reed during the New York tour at the Palladium Theatre London (twice), on the Magic and Loss tour at the Hammersmith Apollo and with the reformed Velvet Undergound at the T&C in Kentish Town.

A very sad loss.

[Prospero]

My fave personal encounter with a star - though certainly not of Reed's stature - was encountering Shane McGowan of Pogues fame at an irish bar in London. Shane was and is famous for his quite astonishing intake of alcohol. The bar in question was a famous hangout for serious Irish drinkers so his presence was unsurprising.

What was odd was that he had a pint mug of water instead of beer. My irish pal asked him why?

He then confessed it wasn't water at all. It was a pint of gin.

[Ecstatic]

Great loss to music and culture. RIP Lou. Take a walk on the wild side......

[Prospero]

Lou's first ever recording.

THE PRIMITIVES (LOU REED)- The Ostrich - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r998weOUiM)

[maxpower]

Some songs from Lou's second and most famous solo album, Transformer.


Lou Reed ''Vicious'' - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM9JG-oQm1Y)


Lou Reed Andy's Chest (HQ) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEca5YGy2lE)


Lou Reed Hangin' 'Round (HQ) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz74Dj1v3FM)


Lou Reed Satellite Of Love (HQ) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO5reyuzXis)


Lou Reed I'm So Free (HQ) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZYBRHnlkSY)

[Stavros]

That's just fucking ridiculous. Brian Wilsons writing and the Beach Boys albums in which he was in, particularly Pet Sounds were a huge influence, not least on the Beatles.
You can talk the talk Stavros - but a lot of it is shite.

Genuinely puzzled as I lived through the period and don't recall any acts that sounded like the Beach Boys other than the Beach Boys whereas many aped the Beatles or the Stones; unless there is a link to Phil Spectre through that music-recorded-in-a-tunnel effect. Pet Sounds was the favourite album of my best friend and it drove me up the wall; our tastes converged on everything else. I must have missed something, or it depends on how you trace the influence, which is more obvious with the Beatles than the Beach Boys, and for that matter Lou Reed, whose influence may not be obvious from this vantage point but was felt in songwriting as much if not more than actual performance.

[maxpower]

Genuinely puzzled as I lived through the period and don't recall any acts that sounded like the Beach Boys other than the Beach Boys whereas many aped the Beatles or the Stones; unless there is a link to Phil Spectre through that music-recorded-in-a-tunnel effect. Pet Sounds was the favourite album of my best friend and it drove me up the wall; our tastes converged on everything else. I must have missed something, or it depends on how you trace the influence, which is more obvious with the Beatles than the Beach Boys, and for that matter Lou Reed, whose influence may not be obvious from this vantage point but was felt in songwriting as much if not more than actual performance.


Paul McCartney has acknowledged that Pet Sounds was a direct influence on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and "Back in the U.S.S.R." is certainly an homage to the Beach Boys sound.

[ed_jaxon]

No doubt Lou was an influence on music as was the Velvet Underground but how much of an influence was he on what we do here on HA?

He and his cast of characters including Andy Warhol and others influenced the avant garde club scene of the sixties which still lives on in some ways in the transparties of NYC. Creativity, music and acceptance.

Maybe I am out of my gourd.

[ed_jaxon]

Candy says, I've come to hate my body.....

candy darling tribute - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77KC4iAa49s)

[wearboots4me]

Shocked. What a legend.

Lest not forget he was an unabashed tranny chaser.

Yes he was! In fact, here is an article that says Reed had a longterm trans girlfriend he lived with named Rachel in the '70s. http://dangerousminds.net/comments/rachel_lou_reeds_transsexual_muse

[maxpower]

From last night's Bridge School benefit concert that Neil Young organizes annually. Members of My Morning Jacket, Neil Young, Elvis Costello, Jenny Lewis, and more performing a cover of "Oh! Sweet Nuthin'" from The Velvet Underground's Loaded.


Neil Young & Friends - Tribute to Lou Reed at 2013 Bridge School Benefit Concert (HD) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFaTN9V833o)

[Jackal]

Lou Reed and transgender women

http://www.channel4.com/news/lou-reed-transsexual-gay-bisexual-pioneer


R.I.P.

[maxpower]

A few from Lou's 1974 album, Sally Can't Dance. "NY Stars" is Lou's middle finger to imitators who copied his style. "Kill Your Sons" was written about Lou's own experiences at a mental hospital when he was a teenager. His parents sent him there to receive electro-shock therapy in an attempt to "cure" him of his bisexuality.


Lou Reed N.Y. Stars (HQ) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SOgiU-dLLw)


Lou Reed Kill Your Sons (HQ) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6NIu-pPcks)


Lou Reed Sally Can't Dance (HQ) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20_4NnRtlJU)

[maxpower]

Possibly my favorite Lou Reed album is 1984's New Sensations. I think it was the first Lou Reed album I had heard. I was 17 and had not yet experienced The Velvet Underground, although I was aware of them. It is a very pop-oriented album, and it had a minor hit with "I Love You, Suzanne." Lyrically, Lou almost seemed...content? Happy?


Lou Reed - I Love You Suzanne - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p1TrF-pVwQ)


Lou Reed - Turn To Me (HQ) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME7PKQARAHI)


Lou Reed - New Sensations (HQ) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxn_B_2XWMs)


Lou Reed - Doin' The Things We Want To (HQ) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SGeNsQttYE)

[Prospero]

Nice piece about how Tom Stoppard was inspired by Lou Reed's influence on dissidents in Prague - inspiring the revolt there to be called the Velvet Revolution.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/sir-tom-stoppard-pays-tribute-to-antihero-lou-reed-for-his-role-in-the-velvet-revolution-8911290.html

[Christine Seale]

As a young Transvestite All Tomorrows Parties had a very special meaning for me .
I felt the Velvet Underground and Lou were My Band !
I became aware of Candy Darling through them.
Saw Lou in Manchester twice !l
Never met Nico though (She lived here for a while)
Christine .