Lou Reed 1942-2013 R.I.P.

[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......