RIP Lou Reed.

[View From The Top]

Love the Velvet Underground.

 

I feel sad.

[ART]

LOU REED R.I.P.

 

Just learned from Twitter with immense shock the death of one of the great legends of my generation Lou Reed. A truly unique artist who wrote original and inspiring lyrics.

[dinger]

One of the most important, one of the best. RIP.

 

Time to listen to Metal Machine Music.

[ART]

Bowie and Lou performing : "Waiting for the man" at Bowie's 50th Birthday celebrations.

 

[Fowllyd]

RIP Lou. He did a whole load of great stuff. One of my favourites:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffr0opfm6I4

 

Slow build-up to a fantastic crescendo, Cale's viola, Mo Tucker's drums and the two guitars crashing together... Awesome.

[saintbletch]

Very sad news.

 

Too "young" to get him first time round, but the New York album made me go back through his solo and Velvet Underground back catalogue. Lyrical and musical genius.

 

One of the best and most moving gigs I ever experienced was his revisiting of the Berlin album at Hammersmith Apollo a few years back.

 

His autobiography is well worth a read if you're a fan. He had a very difficult teenage life and went on to consume enough chemicals and alcohol to have killed a horse. I suspect all that waiting for his man contributed to his relatively early death.

 

A Dime Store Mystery.

[SuperMikey]

Got really into the Velvet Underground a few years back, the man was an utter legend. One of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century.

 

RIP

[Dimond Geezer]

Legend, nothing else needs saying.

 

RIP

[Hamilton Saint]

R.I.P. to Lou Reed - influential song writer, author, and frontman on legendary band The Velvet Underground.

 

 

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/oct/27/lou-reed-velvet-underground-dies

[rallyboy]

great songwriter - personal faves, Strawman, Romeo and Juliette, Heroin, Perfect Day - in fact, shedloads.

Sad but predictable loss.

[tpbury]

He was 71, which is a fantastic innings for a hedonist, not sure when he gave it all up, but probably in his 50s? Anyone know? From what I've heard and read, lots of people identify with his 'New York' album, which is much later (mid 80s?) than the songs he's considered famous for. But I really llike that album, didn't realise so many other people did. 'Stick a fork in their ass and turn them over, they're done now' is the line that sticks out to me.

 

Also 'Songs for Drella' at about same time with Cale, bit heavy weather, but some good choons - 'Open House'

[Lets B Avenue]

He was 71, which is a fantastic innings for a hedonist, not sure when he gave it all up, but probably in his 50s? Anyone know? From what I've heard and read, lots of people identify with his 'New York' album, which is much later (mid 80s?) than the songs he's considered famous for. But I really llike that album, didn't realise so many other people did. 'Stick a fork in their ass and turn them over, they're done now' is the line that sticks out to me.

 

 

1989 if memory serves. My favourite as well.

[scotty]

Very sad news.

 

Too "young" to get him first time round, but the New York album made me go back through his solo and Velvet Underground back catalogue. Lyrical and musical genius.

 

One of the best and most moving gigs I ever experienced was his revisiting of the Berlin album at Hammersmith Apollo a few years back.

 

His autobiography is well worth a read if you're a fan. He had a very difficult teenage life and went on to consume enough chemicals and alcohol to have killed a horse. I suspect all that waiting for his man contributed to his relatively early death.

 

A Dime Store Mystery.

 

If you're thinking of the same Hammersmith Apollo gig that I saw, (and I imagine you must be,) I have to say that was probably the most disappointing gig I ever saw in my life. Utter dross served up by someone who didn't seem to know where he was or what he was doing there. One of my rare nominations on C*nts Corner in fact.

[saintbletch]

If you're thinking of the same Hammersmith Apollo gig that I saw, (and I imagine you must be,) I have to say that was probably the most disappointing gig I ever saw in my life. Utter dross served up by someone who didn't seem to know where he was or what he was doing there. One of my rare nominations on C*nts Corner in fact.

 

Opinions and arseholes scotty...although either you've got the wrong gig or have had the ability to discern quality surgically removed.

 

You really should have done some research before going to a Lou Reed gig expecting to be charmed. On stage in his later years he was notorious for having all the charm of gastroenteritis.

 

The gig I saw was from the Berlin album tour of 2007. You'd know it because it featured an orchestra and a local choir and had 25+ people on stage.

 

I don't know if you know the Berlin album, but it's a concept piece that focuses on the effect of drugs and violence on a relationship and their kids. The subject matter is very dark and a good mate of mine, who is 10 years older than me, had for many years held me enthralled with his tales of his own drug experiences whist listening to Berlin in the 70s. Listening to the album after that always made me feel emotionally connected to it. I guess having heard those stories, listened to the album, had a belly-full of IPA from the pub down the road and being there with the same close friend made that night very special.

 

Having said that he was charmless on stage, he was pretty good that night and for the encore he played a number of classics - Satellite of Love, Walk on the Wild Side, etc.

 

Don't know if it was the same gig or if we're just wired differently. Whatever. Either way he left a hell of a legacy and made a massive impact on the music industry.

[Hamilton Saint]

Here's a classic from Rock 'n' Roll Animal. Play loud!

 

[scotty]

Opinions and arseholes scotty...although either you've got the wrong gig or have had the ability to discern quality surgically removed.

 

You really should have done some research before going to a Lou Reed gig expecting to be charmed. On stage in his later years he was notorious for having all the charm of gastroenteritis.

 

The gig I saw was from the Berlin album tour of 2007. You'd know it because it featured an orchestra and a local choir and had 25+ people on stage.

 

I don't know if you know the Berlin album, but it's a concept piece that focuses on the effect of drugs and violence on a relationship and their kids. The subject matter is very dark and a good mate of mine, who is 10 years older than me, had for many years held me enthralled with his tales of his own drug experiences whist listening to Berlin in the 70s. Listening to the album after that always made me feel emotionally connected to it. I guess having heard those stories, listened to the album, had a belly-full of IPA from the pub down the road and being there with the same close friend made that night very special.

 

Having said that he was charmless on stage, he was pretty good that night and for the encore he played a number of classics - Satellite of Love, Walk on the Wild Side, etc.

 

Don't know if it was the same gig or if we're just wired differently. Whatever. Either way he left a hell of a legacy and made a massive impact on the music industry.

 

Ah, different gig then. The one I saw was in 2011, and trust me, it was truly appalling. Diehard fans were booing him towards the end, and he played an "encore" to a half empty auditorium. That was crap as well.

[RonManager]

I saw him in 1975 at Charlton's ground on the undercard for The Who. He was smacked out of his head when he came on, rambled through a couple of songs, collapsed and was carried off.

 

Amazed he lived as long as he did.

[Pugwash]

I remember visiting friends in Salzburg at the time of the Music Festival in 1994. Turned a corner and there was Lou Reed just starting to play WOTWS. Bowled over.

 

Sad loss.

[saintbletch]

Ah, different gig then. The one I saw was in 2011, and trust me, it was truly appalling. Diehard fans were booing him towards the end, and he played an "encore" to a half empty auditorium. That was crap as well.

 

Yeah, mixed bag I guess. I've seen a number of live DVDs where he wasn't very "engaged" and that's when he knew he was being recorded.

 

This was the gig I was at.

 

http://www.whiskyfun.com/Gigs/Lou-Reed.html

 

The reviewer went with a negative preconception, but came away impressed. It really was a stunning night (as long as you understood the context).

[rallyboy]

the gig I saw was the Albert Hall about ten years ago and the set sort of stumbled along a bit, and then halfway in, he just went up through the gears and turned it into something special.

In addition to all the health matters, he had 'something' - it might have been the lyrics, the use of guitars - don't know, but for me, and we're all different, he just had that special something that sets some artists above the ordinary.

 

While the quality of his output was varied, thankfully he threw so many tracks at recording studios that there are many great ones.

He has left a big hole in music.

I don't see it being filled by Olly Murs or One Direction.