
Lou Reed will linger on.
Indie | Monday 28th October 2013 | Alex
Much like every kid with hair too long and an interest in trendy music, I’ve spent my whole morning listening to The Velvet Underground’s back catalogue. The passing of Lewis Allen Reed at the age of 71 came as a shock to many and the loss of one of Rock and Alternative music’s defining frontmen is a huge blow to modern popular music.
Lou Reed wrote some of our parents’ favourite tracks that have since been passed down to us and, I’m sure you’ll echo my statement here, will continue to be passed down to our children. Songs like “Sweet Jane”, “Walk on the Wild Side”, and “Pale Blue Eyes” are defining pieces of music that will always be compared favourably to just about anything. As you can tell, I’m really biased on the basis that “Pale Blue Eyes” is my favourite song of all time. It’s only my opinion, it just so happens to be the correct one.
I don’t know why it did, but the public outpouring of emotion for Reed really shocked me in the best possible way. I just wasn't expecting the passing and then to see everyone so hurt by it was a bit of a double whammy. Musicians, Actors, and even regular people were in equal states of dismay when hearing about the iconic frontman’s passing. Just look at some of these:
Lou Reed' s guitar playing wasn't about showing off what you can do with the guitar, it was showing what playing the guitar can do to you
— rick rizzo (@elmoodio) October 28, 2013
<3 RT @garydbales: "Will take life as it comes...." RT @BuzzFeedUK: Lou Reed's High School yearbook photo from 1959 pic.twitter.com/yfXMbofaRB
— Lauren Laverne (@laurenlaverne) October 27, 2013
"You do this because you think what you're making is beautiful. And if you think it's beautiful, maybe they think it's beautiful' - Lou Reed
— VOGUE.CO.UK (@BritishVogue) October 28, 2013
Didn't think Vogue magazine would pop up, but, such is life although, that first tweet really sums up Lou Reed.
So, farewell, Lou. It's not going to be anytime soon that you're forgotten. I implore those of you who haven't listened to much of his work to get straight on it, it's absolutely cracking. Especially that riff on Sweet Jane. Sweeeeet Jaaaaaane.
Alex Taylor https://twitter.com/alextaylor18