Remembering Lou Reed

Along with The Beatles – his days with The Velvet Underground and his subsequent solo career, did Lou Reed single handedly influenced the not so mainstream parts of Generation-X era popular music?

By: Ringo Bones

The short answer is an equivocal yes, without Lou Reed – as in his stint in The Velvet Underground and his subsequent solo career – alternative rock from 1980s era REM to Seattle Grunge period Nirvana would probably not exist and if it even exist at all, it might sound wholly different. And though he may had left a “mixed legacy” lifestyle wise as a role-model, it is safe to say that like The Beatles before him, Lou Reed did make rock music more than just post World War II / baby boomer bubblegum pop music. 

Born in March 2, 1942 – it wasn’t his stint as a frontman for The Velvet Underground during the latter half of the 1960s did the whole world became aware of his prowess as a really gifted songwriter and long after breaking up, The Velvet Underground became the most cited influence of every alternative rock and Seattle Grunge era alternative rock that had came since. After his departure from The Velvet Underground, Lou Reed recorded the following year his most well known song titled Walk On The Wild Side from the Transformer album and co-produced by David Bowie and ever since Reed became synonymous with the heroin and bisexuality scene of New York City. Though it wasn’t until in the early 1990s when he recorded Power and Glory did he regained his prowess as a gifted singer songwriter that brought to us Walk on the Wild Side. 

After getting a liver transplant in May 2013 after his old one gave out due to years of heavy drinking and intravenous heroin use, Lou Reed – after recovering – said he was stronger than ever and plans to do what he loves namely write and record more songs. Though it is not yet determined if complications arising from the recent liver transplant compromised his health, Lou Reed passed away in October 27, 2013 in Long Island.