Sad news about the passing of Lou Reed, a sonic explorer with as pitch perfect a shredded-steel guitar sound as I have heard. He could be the most acerbic character you ever met but, at root, truly an optimist. You would have to be in order to create things to share with the world as he did.
A funny little memory: Paul Simon coming off stage after performing with Lou at a benefit concert: “I always sing so well when Lou is playing behind me. His guitar playing is perfect.” Paul Simon was not often inclined to self-flattery in the vocals department; if he said words like that then he meant it. Paul and Lou seemed to have an interesting mutual admiration society. (I wonder if anyone has explored it; @[522559761:2048:Alan Light], I’m looking at you).
He was a true New York character, always around the music. There is a subtype that is very familiar to those of us who have been part of the music scene: the culture gourmand. Aside from their artistry, they consume music like food. Lou was like that; Allen Ginsberg, Joey Ramone and Lou’s old friend Doc Pomus, too. Not showing up to schmooze or be seen, just there to hear the music, like you. Are they an endangered species now?
Here’s a document of one great night in New York that I directed in 1999 (Jeez, I gotta go back to the source tapes and up-rez this clip):