Lou Reed, Velvet Underground Leader and Rock Pioneer, Dead at 71

[Faygo Kid]

Source: Rolling Stone

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 in May.

With the Velvet Underground in the late Sixties, Reed fused street-level urgency with elements of European avant-garde music, marrying beauty and noise, while bringing a whole new lyrical honesty to rock & roll poetry. As a restlessly inventive solo artist, from the Seventies into the 2010s, he was chameleonic, thorny and unpredictable, challenging his fans at every turn. Glam, punk and alternative rock are all unthinkable without his revelatory example. "One chord is fine," he once said, alluding to his bare-bones guitar style. "Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you're into jazz."

Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed was born in Brooklyn, in 1942. A fan of doo-wop and early rock & roll (he movingly inducted Dion into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989), Reed also took formative inspiration during his studies at Syracuse University with the poet Delmore Schwartz. After college, he worked a staff songwriter for the novelty label Pickwick Records (where he had a minor hit in 1964 with a dance-song parody called "The Ostrich&quot . In the mid-Sixties, Reed befriended Welsh musician John Cale, a classically trained violist who had performed with groundbreaking minimalist composer La Monte Young. Reed and Cale formed a band called the Primitives, then changed their name to the Warlocks. After meeting guitarist Sterling Morrison and drummer Maureen Tucker, they became the Velvet Underground. With a stark sound and ominous look, the band caught the attention of Andy Warhol, who incorporated the Velvets into his Exploding Plastic Inevitable. "Andy would show his movies on us," Reed said. "We wore black so you could see the movie. But we were all wearing black anyway." . . .




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

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[Rebellious Republican]

1. RIP Lou....

I was a fan.

&feature=player_detailpage&list=RD02QYEC4TZsy-Y

[progressoid]

67. That was my first Lou Reed album.

Damn.

[Rebellious Republican]

79. I had a buddy when I was in the Navy turn me on to him.

Around 79 or 80 I think it was.

[Cooley Hurd]

2. FUCK! NO!!!!!!!

Not Lou?????? Not him.

An American Poet and Musician. Cross gently, Lou.

[dembotoz]

3. damn

feel for his widow laurie anderson

[d_b]

4. oh damn

What a legend. RIP Lou.

[Orrex]

5. Oh, shit.

[OnyxCollie]

6. Oh no!

RIP, Lou.

[Codeine]

7. Well shit.

That's sad news. A true giant.

[glinda]

74. +1

[Adsos Letter]

8. Sweet Jane

http://m.

&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D7FdWPeHFAMk

[Rebellious Republican]

13. Excellent choice for a tribute AL!

[Violet_Crumble]

70. RIP n/t

[Martin Eden]

72. I wore that album out back in the 70's, and have it on CD now.

RIP Lou Reed, rock n roll legend and inspiration to countless rock n roll artists

[Cirque du So-What]

9. Modern rock has lost an elder statesman

You were one of the greats, Lou. One of the greats.

[mitchtv]

10. this one hits close`

Candy came from out on the Island, in the back room she was everybody's Darling. ..
RIP Lou

[gvstn]

11. He was a true great singer/songwriter.

I'm very sad to hear this news. He has left much great music to be remembered by.

[Paladin]

12. RIP to a genuine creative force. (nt)

[cui bono]

14. Oh no! R.I.P. Lou. You gave us so much!

[truthisfreedom]

15. I felt a giant world-wide rock and roll moan

When I read the news. Another giant gone.

[IveWornAHundredPants]

16. "Ahead of their time" is usually a meaningless phrase,

but it absolutely applies to the Velvet Underground, and therefore to Lou Reed. Very sad. I was just listening to Loaded last night.

[nolabear]

17. The world is far emptier today. Cross easy, man.

*sigh*

[leveymg]

18. Uncle Lou - off on a new gig, Rock & Roll Animal.

Know that we will miss you.

[BumRushDaShow]

19. R.I.P.

His music influenced even into the recent hip-hop genre, where at least one of his songs was sampled by A Tribe Called Quest.

Your music will live on....

[Thucydides]

34. I know this Vid.....

did not know they sampled lou reed, he was a bit before my time. Rock on Lou Reed!

[BumRushDaShow]

49. Post #1 has the original song

I was 10 when the original song came out and it played alot on the Top 40 radio stations and on the classic rock stations over the past 40 years. Always thought it was a unique crossover song, not unlike stuff that Mick Jagger has done.

[gopiscrap]

20. RIP Lou

[LadyHawkAZ]

21. :'(

[Tikki]

22. I am very sad…he, among a few others, kept the spirit of Rock and Roll alive when it would..

start to slide out of view. A true musicologist and an extraordinary talent.

HUGS to his family and dear friends…

Tikki

[tawadi]

23. Saw he had a liver transplant

Guess it didn't save him.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2334223/Lou-Reed-71-recovering-undergoing-lifesaving-liver-transplant-wife-reveals.html

[Rebellious Republican]

31. Thanks for sharing!

[Jesus Malverde]

71. interesting...nt

[Dopers_Greed]

24. Damn

This hits hard. RIP Lou. Thank you for all the great songs.

[JCMach1]

25. No

[MuseRider]

26. Awww no.

This is sad. RIP Lou. Thank you for so many things.

[PasadenaTrudy]

27. No doubt

hangin' with Lester Bangs...

[calimary]

28. Damn.

Dammit. He was great.

[MannyGoldstein]

29. So, so, so sad he's gone

In our time on Earth we come to love so many people. Then they are gone.

[Rebellious Republican]

32. Awesome!

[Historic NY]

85. part 2 - RIP Lou

[Unknown Beatle]

30. RIP

I saw Velvet Underground in concert in the early 70's. Great music. I was so stoned.

Their debut album, The Velvet Underground & Nico with the Andy Warhol banana, peeled or unpeeled, original 1967, is worth a pretty penny. But why people are selling it is beyond me because it's a great album.

Damn! Lou Reed, a true legend, gone. RIP brother.

[Tom Ripley]

33. My heart is breaking

[BeyondGeography]

35. Ouch

That really hurts.

[Richard D]

36. So sad.

R.I.P

[MyNameGoesHere]

39. Dammit

Last week I went on a Velvet Underground and Lou Reed listening binge. Sad news.

[mokawanis]

40. Lou made me laugh at a concert in Kansas many years ago

He'd been playing for about an hour and putting on a good show, but the crowd wasn't really responding with much enthusiasm. Lou grabs the mic and says "what is it? Is everyone in Kansas a fucking pacifist?" That comment livened up the crowd, including some booing him. I get why his comment offended some people in the audience, but I appreciated his willingness to speak his mind.

[postulater]

41. Sad day.

I sat many nights with my ear pasted to the kitchen AM radio trying to tune in the Velvet Underground on WBZ out of Boston.

They opened a different world to small town Midwesterners like me.

Thank you, Mr. Reed.

[BeatleBoot]

42. One of my favorite Velvet Undeground tunes is, "Rock n Roll"

Great youtube out there...

Bummer. I'm a better person to have listened to his art.

[brett_jv]

102. Despite all the implications ... you can dance to the rock and roll station ... man it was alright!

First heard that vis-a-vis the cover by Jane's Addiction (which is pretty cool too) but yeah, great song.

I have to admit I never got much 'into' Lou and the Velvets (wasn't a big fan of his vocal delivery tbh) but I've heard all their albums and he really wrote some great songs that were covered by some of my favorite artists ... U2 (Satellite of Love), REM (the Dead Letter Office album has 3 VU covers), Cowboy Junkies (Sweet Jane), etc. And so many artists l love cite him as a big influence so I have to thank him for inspiring them, even if I wasn't that into his music. I did like a lot of the New York album though, listened to that in college quite a bit, good stuff. It was really 3 chords ... and the truth.

So, RIP Lou, the original Rock and Roll Animal.

[TeamPooka]

43. RIP Mr Reed and thank you.

[bbgrunt]

44. RIP. Oh, sob.

[2naSalit]

45. Well, hoax or not

one of my favorites in later years, though I've been a fan since the early 70s...

[WillyT]

46. Crap... (((((((Lou)))))))

Peace...

[AAO]

47. RIP Lou!

Alcoholism is a terrible thing. Reminds me I have to reign myself in before I need a liver transplant. I wonder if the liver was rejected? Very sad. Great musician and songwriter of my youth.

Just after his transplant, and only 4 months before he died he posted to his Facebook page:

"I am a triumph of modern medicine, physics and chemistry," he wrote. "I am bigger and stronger than stronger than ever. My Chen Taiji and health regimen has served me well all of these years, thanks to Master Ren Guang-yi. I look forward to being on stage performing, and writing more songs to connect with your hearts and spirits and the universe well into the future."

[glinda]

75. Was he still drinking? Was he an alcoholic? I dunno.....

My guess it was rejected for some reason...... really sad.....

[AAO]

80. I only play a Dr on TV, but I know nothing about his recent drinking habits

[glinda]

103. Just read a tribute by "Emily" from Metric where

she referenced someone who "he was also survivor of blood cancer", Cancer? Liver cancer perhaps. Tough one to recover from if there is a clue from that.

[glinda]

109. Best explanation of what happened to Lou. : > (. Glad he shared it.....

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/tony-visconti-remembers-lou-reed-20131101

[KAESNO2]

87. I read somewhere that he got sober in the '80s. nt

[gopiscrap]

94. welcome to DU

[KAESNO2]

105. Thanks. :-) nt

[gopiscrap]

106. you're welcome

hope we can learn from each other and that you have fun with us!

[madrchsod]

48. an iconic musician and poet

sad to see him go......

[Hayabusa]

50. RIP Lou.

Heaven has another great musician up there this afternoon.

[GReedDiamond]

51. Sad to hear...RIP Lou...nt

[The Magistrate]

52. One Of The Giants, Sir....

Some of the best music ever.

[DonCoquixote]

53. Godspeed

See you on the Satellite of Love Lou..
And to all the Metallica fans that insulted him during LULU, fuck off, LR will be around long after Metallica.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

54. RIP Lou...

....do, da, do, da do
dah, do, da, do, da, do....

[Joey Liberal]

55. RIP Lou - Rock n Roll

[icymist]

56. Awwww, man.

He was one of the great ones who I always looked up to. He'll be missed.

[otohara]

57. It Was A Perfect Day

until this.

RIP Lou Reed

[Taverner]

58. RIP Lou.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

59. Damn shame

I loved his music.

[politicat]

60. One more strange angel to watch over we fallen souls.

I saw Laurie Anderson in concert a few years ago, and Lou joined her for the second half. Individually, they were exemplars of their art, but together, they were pure magic.

Best wishes to Laurie and their families, and thanks so much.

[Iggo]

61. Lou Reed!!!

[Joe Shlabotnik]

62. Damn,

[alfredo]

63. See That My Grave is Kept Clean. RIP Lou

[Warpy]

64. The world is a lot poorer today with his passing.

RIP, Lou. You are already sorely missed.

[Gemini Cat]

65. Damn!

RIP Lou.

He was the best.

[Botany]

66. Thanks Lou! He said, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"

Never gonna be another Lou Reed

[Manifestor_of_Light]

68. Damn!!!

I made my kid listen to "Rock n Roll Animal" because that is an essential album.

[Kali]

69. oh hell

[Half-Century Man]

73. No too much can freeze me in my tracks anymore.

The title of the OP did.

Good bye nimble fingers and mind. Sleep softly in that dark night.

[red dog 1]

76. Thanks Faygo Kid for posting.

I saw "The Velvet Underground" several times in the late '60s at the old Fillmore Auditorium; and I loved them...(I wish I still had those great posters that Bill Graham & his crew passed out to everybody as they left)

Lou Reed was, and still is, one of my favorite guitarists of all time; and
"Take A Walk On The Wild Side" is a truly great song.

Interesting that Velvet Underground used to be called "The Warlocks",
because The Grateful Dead also used to be called "The Warlocks"

God bless 'ya, Lou...you will be missed!

[madokie]

77. Sure hate to see this

Grew up listening to Lou Reed. He definitely blazed trails.
RIP Mr. Reed

[Hoyt]

78. That is a shocker. RIP.

[PuffedMica]

81. See you down on the boulevard Lou

And cast the hex over President Kennedy's tomb

[juanrodriguezn248]

82. Oh no, this is terrible news!

Rest in peace, Mr. Reed, we hardly knew ye. Velvet Underground is definitely one of the best rock bands that ever existed. I still play "Pale Blue Eyes" from time to time.

[gopiscrap]

83. welcome to DU

[shenmue]

84. Rest in peace

[mountain grammy]

86. Rest in peace, Lou Reed. Thank you for the music; it's wonderful.

[AllyCat]

88. Rats. Turned it up for VU tonight.

Really like Foggy Notion, Temptation Inside Your Heart, Waiting for My Man, Busload of Faith...jeez, so many great ones. You brought authenticity to art, sir. Godspeed to you. Peace to his family and friends.

[Whisp]

89. :(

[dhill926]

90. damn....

a giant. Not recognized enough in his time.....

[ReRe]

91. Thank you, Lou...

... for the music of our youth. Always one of my absolute favorite musician poets, and such a distinctive voice. There will never be another like you.

[independentpiney]

92. I was so sick yesterday, I just found out about this

He made a lot of amazing music through the years. I've been on a retro Lou Reed kick lately too, and been a fan since the early '70s.
Thanks for everything Lou

[Bluenorthwest]

93. Perfect Day, BBC version with Lou and Laurie and half the world...

Lou Reed ,Bono ,Skye Edwards, David Bowie Suzanne Vega, Elton John, Boyzone, Lesley Garret, Burning Spear, Sir Thomas Allen,Heather Small, Emmylou Haris, Tammy Wynette Shane Macgowan, DR.John, Robert Cray, Huey (Fun Loving Criminals) Ian Broudie (The Laughing Seeds)Gabrielle Evam Dando (The Lemon Heads) Courtney Pine (playing the solo) Brett Anderson (Suede) Joan Armatrading Tom Jones ......

[Hotler]

95. This Magic Moment........

[mahatmakanejeeves]

96. My favorite Lou Reed song

35 years ago, I listened to this album constantly. The album is warped by now. I must have left it on a radiator. It still played, the last time I heard it.

Seriously, I can see the place where I lived, the job I had, the car I was driving, all of it, in my mind's eye. This song takes me back.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

97. ohhhh no! I heard yesterday..I'm thinking of Laurie Anderson....

Last edited Mon Oct 28, 2013, 01:13 PM - Edit history (1)

Just saw her perform in Ithaca NY, 'bout a month ago.

The stage was simply set, Laurie in the right corner with her violin and computers.

She didn't talk about Lou, but she did a sweet tribute to her little doggy Lolabelle, who had passed over a few years ago, which made us tear up.

In the left corner was simply an old comfy armchair which she sat in during the section where she spoke of her Lolabelle.. A medium size screen on a stand set next to the chair and we watched a short vid of her doggy playing keyboards. So sweet.
Other than that, she stayed to the right with her equipment and violin while colored light projected and changed according to the mood.


So he was only a few months in with his liver transplant at that time..... you would never have known what Laurie was going through, though her current work is definitely meditating on mortality and change and loss and the state of the world. One song was a picture of the tent city in NJ and brought the human reaction to the unthinkable to light, describing very matter of factly who she met and what the surreal atmosphere was like. It was kind of paralyzing, emotionally.



Audience was all different generations, and afterwards everyone hung out in huddles in front of the vintage theatre, subdued and companionable, not wanting to leave the aura of her perceptions.

peace. comfort.

[maddogesq]

98. My tribute, FWIW.

A TRIBUTE TO LOU REED

After finishing my assoc. degree in early ’81, I moved to Colorado where my 2 sisters were already living. After a few months of living in Left Hand Canyon and then a house in south Boulder, I decided to rent an apartment at a building called Canyon Club that was located in the central part of town.

Not long after moving into that place, I was befriended by a greaser named Chuck that hailed from Fond Du Lac Wisconsin that we fondly nicknamed “Charlie Rancid.” I don’t know where he is now, but I can tell you that this individual had an extremely high IQ. He introduced me to things that, to this day, still have a profound effect on how I approach life.

Chuck had stacks of reel-to-reel tapes of studio and live performances by everyone from Blue Cheer to The Doors. And, we formed a Doors cover band with a Ph.D. candidate studying at CU. He also introduced me to the real genius of Lou Reed.

I don’t know how he acquired all of the tapes—nor do I want to—but we would sit for hours listening to Lou doing monologues along with infusions of music. In the years since, I find myself imagining that I am lying on Charlie’s floor in that loft apartment, taking in Lou’s poetry and dialogue. I will always honor the man’s genius thanks to the man from Fond Du Lac.

RIP Lou Reed. Thank you for your wisdom and influence.

[Octafish]

107. Thank you for sharing those memories.

For a moment, it seemed like Colorado.

[pam4water]

99. OHNOES. No more walking on the wild side for Lou:( K&R

Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo

[Flatulo]

100. Magic and Loss.

[yuiyoshida]

101. One of my favorite singers was a Lou Reed fan and influenced by him...Chara

Milk by Chara..

[sarcasmo]

104. Kick!

[Arugula Latte]

108. It's Only Life -- a great song by a Velvet Underground-influenced band, the Feelies:

We'll sure miss you, Lou.