Lou Reed is dead

[DonW]

My son said he was "contracted" to one more album by the studio and he gave them the Metal Machine as a protest. "Here's your album" I'm outa here.

Yeah I actually remember that at the time.

Personally I love Street Hassle, my mum bought that for me for Christmas back in the seventies and of course she had no idea what the lyrics were like! But I reckon it did a hellofa good job in discouraging people from bothering with heroin, and it had some great music on it.

Sha na na na man...

[Bernard Kron]

I can remember listening to the Velvet Undergound's "banana" album (their first album with a cover by their initial svengali, Andy Warhol) and feeling that it was flawed, a little too self consciously "avant garde", even somewhat musically amateurish, but never, even for a moment, trivial or unimportant. The album sold poorly and its progenitors, Lou Reed and John Cale, while fated for a lifetime of fame and notoreity, would never be associated with major chart-topping hits. As Brian Eno is often quoted as saying "The first Velvet Underground record sold 30,000 copies in the first five years. I think everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band." In fact, it actually sold 58,000 copies in 2 years, but who's counting... As Chilly points out, the Velvets opened doors (in contrast to their hopefully named contemporaries The Doors, who, while being far more famous and succesful at the time, have proved much less influential).

Lou Reed built a career around his prodigious talents as a poet, observer of the contemporary scene, and quite a song craftsman who, despite the often sordid eccentricity of his musings went on to pen many rock 'n' roll classics on the same level as those he and Cale had written for the "banana" album. Reed is, to this day, one of the most frequently covered rock artists.

Since those early days there has not been a single generation of pop musicians who did not count among themselves those who paid homage to what Reed created. His impact was immediate, continuous and enduring. Perhaps the earliest and most important acolite was David Bowie, whose first singles were released within 2 years of Reed's earliest work and who has always stressed the enormous impact that Reed's music has had on him.

It could also be argued that Reed was the godfather of the Punk rebellion, a model for singers and writers of the late 70's like fellow New Yorker Patti Smith, the Sex Pistols' (and P.I.L.) John(ny) (Rotten)/Lydon, the New York Dolls, the Buzzcocks' Pete Shelley, not to mention groups like L.A.'s Black Flag and X and countless other punk bands who would form the basis for the New Wave in the USA and spread across the nation to influence artists like Tom Petty and REM.

In the post-Punk New Wave of the UK his followers included Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders, Billy Idol and Roxy Music's Brian Ferry. Some may be surprised to learn that one of the icons of today's rock establishment, Bruce Springsteen, cut his teeth on Lou's work during this period.

Into the 80's his followers would include U2's Bono, the Smith's Morrissey, Robert Smith of The Cure, and, as the decade progressed, pioneers of the new electronica like Depeche Mode's Martin Gore and Joy Division/New Order. Even hip hop artists like The Beastie Boys are included in his legions

In the 90's and into the new century, artists who openly acknowledged his importance have included acts like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Sonic Youth, Beck, (who has done his own version of the entire "banana" album), right up to contemporary million selling talent such as The Killer's Brandon Flowers and the UK's Muse and hip bands like Death Cab for Cutie and Silversun Pickups (who probably have finally unlocked the secret of Metal Machine Music...).

So Lou Reed has slipped off his mortal coil, but his influence is epic, lasting, profound and extraordinarily broad.

Here's a list of some of his best known songs. Reed is quintessentially a 70's artist and it is this period that yielded his broadest acceptance. I think you'll be surprised as to how many you may know...

From the "banana" album (The Velvet Underground & Nico)

Sunday Morning

I'm Waiting for the Man

Femme Fatale

Venus in Furs

All Tomorrow's Parties

Heroin

There She Goes Again

I'll Be Your Mirror

From White Light/White Heat (Velvet Underground)

White Light/White Heat

Here She Comes Now

Sister Ray

From Velvet Underground

Candy Says

Pale Blue Eyes

From Loaded (Velvet Underground)

Sweet Jane

Rock & Roll

From Lou Reed (Solo)

Lisa Says

Berlin

Wild Child

From Transformer

Vicious

Perfect Day

Walk On The Wild Side

Satellite of Love

From Street Hassle

Street Hassle

Edited October 31, 2013 by Bernard Kron

[Zarana-X]

Was sad to hear this.

Odd that they just used "Perfect Day" in the upcopming Playstation commercial.

Joey Ramone, before he died, said he felt better knowing he helped change the world, and music, over becoming a celebrity multi-millionaire. I think the same would apply to Lou Reed.

[Harry P.]

Joey Ramone, before he died, said he felt better knowing he helped change the world, and music, over becoming a celebrity multi-millionaire. I think the same would apply to Lou Reed.

And Frank Zappa.

[DonW]

I saw him live with Dweezil, it wasn't my cup of tea. He believed that cigarettes were food, anyone guess what he died of?

Now all Chuck Berry ever wanted to do was make money! And did he influence anyone?!

[Chuck Most]

My son said he was "contracted" to one more album by the studio and he gave them the Metal Machine as a protest. "Here's your album" I'm outa here.

Put in his shoes, I'd have done the same thing, but with a twist. Think anybody would buy my latest album, "Forty-Four Minutes of Flatus?"

[Chillyb1]

Put in his shoes, I'd have done the same thing, but with a twist. Think anybody would buy my latest album, "Forty-Four Minutes of Flatus?"

I wouldn't buy it but I'd illegally download it and make copies for all my friends. Probably listen to it once a year, maybe.

[Chuck Most]

I wouldn't buy it but I'd illegally download it and make copies for all my friends. Probably listen to it once a year, maybe.

And I'd applaud you for it.