[Beowulf9]

Well, well, well, alcohol, drugs and rock ‘n roll. Always together, I’m surprised he made it to 71.

To paraphrase Katherine Hepburn in African Queen, ‘may he be judged not for his weaknesses but his strengths’.

I did love Walk on the wild side.

[real saxophonist]

I never saw Lou Reed, but I saw John Cale. He just sat on a stool, played guitar and sang.

This was at a venue in Atlanta (Metroplex) that was torn down for the Olympics.

[PowderMonkey]

"The Velvet Underground & Nico stands as a landmark on par with the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Bob Dylan's Blonde On Blonde."

Right..."Bigger than the Beatles." Typical Rolling Stone piece. Grotesquely overwritten, bordering on delusional.

[left that other site]

I was 15, and my boyfriend brought me a reel of quarter inch tape that had all the “Underground” music of the 60’s, which later evolved into the Rock of the 70’s.

I played that tape on my dad’s “Roberts” Reel-to-reel Tape recorder so many times it got all stretched out.

And yes, VU was well represented.

[John S Mosby]

Let’s see— was he “influential” like Django Rheinhardt? Or Charlie Parker, or even Miles Davis? Or Les Paul?
Depression needs no salespeople. Nope.

[Gefn]

Bummed. Loved his music. It’s weird to say but “Berlin” got me through a lot of rough patches.

[deport]

Some Lou Reed History

[SamAdams76]

I knew Lou Reed wasn't doing well lately but this is a shock. Yet another famous musician is dead, dead, dead. It seems that everytime I turn around, another rock/pop star has died. When will the madness end? If this keeps up, there will soon be no more music being created.

I mean, just consider the staggering death toll among famous musicians we have already seen. Teddy Pendergrass, dead. Gerry Rafferty is also dead and we'll never hear him sing "Baker Street" live again. The one guy who drummed in that famous rock band is also dead. Then we have Ray Manzarek of The Doors - can you imagine? Half The Beatles and half of The BeeGees are now dead. One quarter of McFadden & Whitehead are dead. And the list goes on...

We have Bob Welch ("Ebony Eyes") dead. Donna Summer is dead. Davy Jones of The Monkees, Doug Fiedor of The Knack and Andrew Gold of "Lonely Boy" fame all dead, dead, dead.

You think I'm finished? I'm not even beginning. Two people from the band whose name I can't remember but they were big stars. Then you have the saxophone playing guy from the E Street Band (and the one who played keyboards too). Then you have Bo Diddley, Isaac Hayes, Bruce Hornsby, John Stewart, Laura Branigan and that guy who played guitar for that 1960s band - you know the one.

I could go on and on but you get the picture. Way too many people in the music biz are dying and unless we want the music to stop forever, we've got to do something about it.

[Mase]

Best opening song for a concert....evah!

Rock N' Roll Animal - Sweet Jane

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[Daffynition]

RIP. Condolences to his wife, Laurie Anderson.

I can't imagine what it was like under one roof, with two extraordinary musical talents.