Last night PBS in NYC ran a one hour profile of the late Lou Reed on its American Masters series. It refreshed my memory of what made him such an influential artist. He never compromised to try to reach a wider audience. Much of his work covered subjects most folks would rather not consider. The program featured comments from the likes of David Bowie, Suzanne Vega and David Byrne, who remarked how odd it was to hear Walk on the Wild Side in a fancy restaurant and wondering if the people realized what that mellow track is about: "... Plucked her eyebrows on the way/Shaved her legs and then he was a she..." Reed focused on the alternative lifestyle long before the term became fashionable. He also lived it as a bisexual and drug addict, of which he commented: "As bad as it gets." His addiction spawned at least four terrific songs: Waiting for the Man (his pusher), Heroin "...it's my life and it's my wife..."; White Light, White Heat, inspired by cocaine: "...it's gonna make me go blind..."; and Sweet Jane, an ode to marijuana: "Standin' on the corner, suitcase in my hand...." Although I've always been pretty much of a square and have always been uncomfortable in the presence of those using drugs, or those of a different sexual orientation, I enjoy these tracks. I find tales of Andy Warhol's factory fascinating, but the thought of hanging out there gives me the creeps. Reed eventually cleaned up his act and remained sober the rest of his life, reaching the age of 71, which probably exceeds the life expectancy of rockers of his stripe. He married performance artist Laurie Anderson, with whom he collaborated occasionally. The most famous work of his sober years is probably Dirty Boulevard, a song strident leftists must love: "...Give me your hungry, your tired your poor I'll piss on 'em/that's what the Statue of Bigotry says..." It was his response to cutbacks in government assistance, which I believe is misguided and naive. No country does more for its poor or provides opportunity for advancement than America. I did hear him play an interesting cut during this period on David Letterman's show, the key lyric being: "...This is the age of video violence..." I never got around to listening to it closely, and doubt I ever will now that I'm in my 60's. At one point in the program Reed bitterly referred to his detractors as something like "Puritan prigs immersed in misery." He sounded every bit as bigoted as those who excoriated him. But who among us hasn't uttered the regrettable? I'm glad others cannot hear or read the thoughts of my worst moments. I owned only one Reed album -- Rock n Roll Animal, a live, five-song, 40 minute piece that features soaring guitar work by Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter. Rock n Roll runs 9:55. It features a lyric millions of baby boomers and everyone born later can relate to: "...One fine mornin', she puts on a New York station/and she couldn't believe what she heard at all/She started dancin' to that fine-fine-fine-fine music/ooohhh, her life was saved by rock 'n' roll..." To my surprise, it was not written by Reed but by Benjamin Griffey, Marten Laciny and Thomas Kuechler. Of course, it will always be Reed's.
PBS in NYC will air a Hendrix doc at nine this evening.
I was on assignment today and didn't get to the book shop. Back at 'em tomorrow.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
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