Lewis Allan Reed, March 2, 1942 - October 27, 2013

For me it's Lou Reed. More than the Beatles, Dylan, Zeppelin, The Who, Neil Young, or the Stones, it's Lou who has stood the tallest of the rockers from the classic era. It's Lou who wrote my favorite songs, who had the coolest way of singing, and who played guitar in a way that spoke to me.
His passing acted like a final exclamation point to a sprawling life. It's nice to hear what other people thought of the man and the artist. There are lots of opinions and remembrances out there -- here are some of the interesting ones. Let me know what you think. -- Jonathan

Monday, December 16, 2013

Jeffrey Novack: "Top 10 things about Lou Reed that everyone else seems to be overlooking"

I don't know Jeffrey Novack, but it's a very personal -- and great --  top ten list of Lou Reed's accomplishments.  Well worth a read.  This terrifying Mullet is included on the list.
http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2013/12/jeffrey_novak_r.html

Friday, December 6, 2013

Time.com: Celeb Tweets about Lou Reed

De Blasio weighs in.  Classy.
http://entertainment.time.com/2013/10/27/best-celebrity-twitter-tributes-to-rock-rebel-lou-reed/

James Wolcott: Lou Reed Rising. A republished essay

Reprint of a cool Village Voice essay by James Wolcott from 1976 about Lou Reed and the New York scene.  It's only 6 years after the Velvets disbanded, but 1976 that was just another time.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/doubleday/lou-reed-rising-dfcu

Times of Israel: Lou Reed -- Jew

Lou Reed was Jewish.  Not a great piece, but covers a side that most pieces overlooked.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/lou-reeds-contradictory-jewishness/

Yahoo Music: Lou Reed: The Most Cited Influence in Rock ‘n’ Roll?

Yes!  The Most Cited Influence in Rock ‘n’ Roll!  Lots of good context about Reed's influence and some cool covers.  I didn't know Page & Plant did I'm Waiting for the The Man.  I'd like to hear that.

http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/stop-the-presses/lou-reed-most-cited-influence-rock-n-roll-234749432.html

The New Yorker Blog: Tao of Lou -- humor

A funny piece about how to apply Lou to your daily life:
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/shouts/2013/10/the-tao-of-lou.html?intcid=obnetwork

The New Yorker Blog: Sasha Frere Jones remembers Lou

He used I'll be your mirror as a way of proposing marriage.  Pretty sweet.
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/sashafrerejones/2013/10/postscript-lou-reed-obit.html

The Economist's Poetic Obit

Very nicely written.  Anonymous -- but certainly a fan:
 http://www.economist.com/news/obituary/21588844-lou-reed-songwriter-and-musician-died-october-27th-aged-71-walk-wild-side

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

"Goodbye, you magnificent bastard" - A Tribute To Lou Reed. NME

Nice recollections about Lou Reed from the NME writer http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/goodbye-you-magnificent-bastard-a-tribute-to-lou-reed

For Lou Reed -- East Hampton Star

A Long Island boy is remembered in the local paper by his wife. Seems very small town. Fantastic writing. http://www.easthamptonstar.com/Obituaries/20131031/Lou-Reed

Lou Reed on TV: It watched him for a little while

Great clips and links -- all video related: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-lou-reed-on-tv-20131028,0,4789816.story#axzz2lEYwVaLu

Lou Reed biography currently in the works

From Obit to Bio in a few weeks. http://www.nme.com/news/lou-reed/73896

Toesucker Blues: Robert Christgau's Farewell Salute to Lou Reed

Christgau, who was mentioned by name on Take No Prisoners shares his closing thoughts about Reed. Toesucker Blues: Robert Christgau's Farewell Salute to Lou Reed

The Time Lou Reed Bought Exile's "Kiss You All Over" at a Times Square Record Store

Great recollection of a real life encounter with Lou Reed. http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2013/10/lou_reed_exile_kiss_you_all_over.php

Magic and Loss: On the Death of Lou Reed

The Village Voice delivers a very nice piece about Lou Reed and his glorification of NYC -- better than the tourist board. Also compares his lyrics to Dylan. Very nice words from a rag that Reed had feuded with. http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2013/10/lou_reed_magic_loss_death.php

LouReed.com Inmemorium

Reed's last photo shoot. A powerful photo. http://www.loureed.com/inmemoriam/

Lou Reed :: WPIX Radio (NYC) – 1979

Aquarium Drunkard a great music blog with lots of great boots has a great air-check of Reed on the radio in 1979 being a DJ and commentator. http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2013/11/20/lou-reed-djing-wpix-radio-nyc-1979

Fans paid tribute to Lou Reed at memorial at Lincoln Center

Fans turn out for Lou Reed memorial at Lincoln Center -- including Phillip Glass. http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2013/11/fans_paid_tribu.html

I'll be Your Mirror

Lou and Laurie together, in Paris, doing a beautiful version of the VU classic

Lou Reed A tribute to rock'n'roll's original iconoclast—a man who saw beauty in the strange, dark corners of music and humanity—following his death at the age of 71.

Pitchfork. Rolling Stone for the Millennials. Today's tastemaker. Did they have to go with the cover of Coney Island Baby -- not Reed's coolest moment. This is more a "re-consideration" than an obit. Sort of a meta-obit, but worth reading. http://pitchfork.com/features/afterword/9250-lou-reed/

Laurie Anderson's Farewell to Lou Reed: A Rolling Stone Exclusiv

A very honest and heartbreaking account of Reed's death, from his wife Laurie Anderson. It's amazing how she shares these very intimate details in a way that is very touching, and doesn't seem sensational or exploitative. Lou Reed was someone's husband. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/laurie-andersons-farewell-to-lou-reed-a-rolling-stone-exclusive-20131106

Remembering Lou Reed: Tributes From Friends and Followers Mick Jagger, David Byrne, Debbie Harry and more honor a rock icon

Lots of big Rolling Stone musicians come forward and share their memories and opinions about Lou. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/remembering-lou-reed-tributes-from-friends-and-followers-20131107

Lou Reed: the inimitable man rock music was waiting for

Lou Reed article from the Guardian --from the music side of the paper: When a famous rock star dies, there's a natural tendency among fans and journalists alike to overstate the late figure's importance: the former out of grief, the latter because it makes better copy. In Lou Reed's case, that's almost impossible to do, just as it's almost impossible to imagine what rock music might sound like had the Velvet Underground never existed.

Lou Reed obituary

There's a tradition of cheeky obits from British newspapers, but this one from the Guardian in the UK is very respectful and detailed. Some very interesting facts. http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/oct/28/lou-reed

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

The official Rolling Stone Obit. Very well written: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lou-reed-velvet-underground-leader-and-rock-pioneer-dead-at-71-20131027

John Cale on Facebook

John Cale's post and the reaction after he heard the news https://www.facebook.com/OfficialJohnCale/posts/594669163931340

Lou Reed takes care of wife, mom & sister in will

Lou Reed's will is revealed. Leaves most of his estate to Anderson. http://nypost.com/2013/11/04/lou-reed-leaves-wife-most-of-his-estate/

John Cale Mourns Lou Reed 'We have the best of our fury laid out on vinyl'

Cale shares some of his feelings about Lou's death http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/john-cale-mourns-lou-reed-20131028

NY Times: Lou Reed, 1942-2013 Outsider Whose Dark, Lyrical Vision Helped Shape Rock ’n’ Roll

Very good presentation of Reed's life and work.http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/28/arts/music/lou-reed-dies-at-71.html

NY Times: Lou Reed’s New York Was Hell or Heaven

Here's a fantastic piece from the New York Times by MICHIKO KAKUTANI, who usually does book reviews and cultural criticism. It's a great overview of the themes that run through much of Reed's lyrics. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/14/arts/music/lou-reeds-new-york-was-hell-or-heaven.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1384986910-NfbJ2xsWSuWZ765TDYAZFQ/