He spent most of his childhood in long island, where he grew up in a jewish family. A multipleexposure polaroid photograph of lou reed circa 1970 in the rock n rollers heyday. Lou reed, who died in 20, wouldve been 79 on next monday and the bowery electric is throwing a birthday bash on sunday, march 1 in his honor. Bpl presents will continue a virtual weekly programming schedule of archived events, such as author talks, including message from the library and lectures from the night of philosophy and ideas, as well.
A new book describes his physical and emotional excesses. A life, but for such a pivotal musical career, there shouldnt be a dull moment in the book. Brooklyn public library to stage inaugural edition of festival honoring lou reed and tai chi. E a s t embossed around the center hole indicates it was pressed. Lou reed has 36 books on goodreads with 2763 ratings. In 1971, he signed a recording contract with rca records and recorded his. I found that very affecting, it just made so palpable what i had, in a fairly abstract way, taken as one. After his first book of photographs was published, lou reed told a journalist for the independent on sunday that i live on intuition and taking pictures is intuitive. The new york public librarys lou reed archive opens today and to celebrate theyre issuing a limited edition lou reed library card. Faber to publish first comprehensive volume of lou reeds lyrics. Tellingly, the figure in reeds life to whom decurtis is most openly hostile is rock critic lester bangs, who epitomized the ardent, unruly and sometimes loutish engagement with reeds music and persona a book like lou reed.
It was a cheaplybound mimeoed affair, with a stippled. The first part of the book is a compilation of interviews with lou reed taken from different. The new york public librarys lou reed archive opens today and to celebrate theyre. March 2, 1942 lou reed at 1996 book signing event, h. Lou reed, musical genius, lyricist and proud son of freeport, long island, born in brooklyn, new york on march 2, 1942, died in southhampton, long island on october 27, 20. Brooklyn public library to hold lou reed tai chi day artnews. In march 2019, on the occasion of his birthday, the lou reed archive, of some 8000 items, opened to the public at the new york public library of the performing arts with parties, friends, family, fanfare and a drone concert at the largest cathedral in the world. New york city figured so prominently in lou reeds music for so long that its surprising it took him until 1989 to make an album simply called new york, a set of 14 scenes and sketches that represents the. Especially while a member of the the velvet underground in the 1960s, reed broke new. Lou reed and julian schnabel book signing party for berlin. Containing a body of work that spans more than three decades, pass thru fire is a stunning collection of the lyrics of an american original. Mila reynaud lou reed archive, music division, new york public library for the. Decurtis added that after a signing for reeds book of lyrics, reed wept.
Lou reed archive at the new york public library for the. Read a feature unearthing ten things you never knew about lou reed covering the velvet underground, david bowie, andy warhol, lester bangs and more. Ny public library opens lou reed archive, issuing limited edition. Written by lou reed and produced by david bowie and mick ronson. The lou reed archive documents the history of reed s life as a musician, composer, poet, writer, photographer, and taichi student through his own extensive papers, photographs, recordings and other materials. Its emerged that a track from ultraviolence, brooklyn baby, was due to feature lou reed. The nature of lou reeds lyric writing that had been hitherto unknown in rock. Includes printed inner sleeve with lyrics and credits. Anthony decurtis does somewhat better than that with the 500page tome lou reed.
Lou reed illustration by tom bachtell on sunday morning, i rose early. In january 2006, he released a second book of photographs, lou reeds. Lou reed may be punks godfather, but he also figures in a great american poetic lineage including the beats and the new york school and a new book of his. For curated book selections, competitions and special offers sign up to. Lou reed almost accompanied lana del rey udiscover music. Lou reeds guide to new york city the village voice. Lana del rey says lou reed died the day they were supposed to record brooklyn baby together. Tellingly, the figure in reeds life to whom decurtis is most openly hostile is rock critic lester bangs, who epitomized the ardent, unruly and sometimes loutish engagement with reeds. Lou reed, legendary frontman of the velvet underground, and julian. The new york public library for the performing arts is thrilled to announce that the lou reed archive has been processed and is now available to users.
My brilliant and troubled friend lou reed music the. He was born in brooklyn in 1942, then his family moved to a modest. Lana del rey had said that she wanted to work with him. Lou reed march 2, 1942 october 27, 20 was an american rock artist originally from brooklyn, new york, usa. When i was about fourteen i found a copy of a lou reed lyrics book in my local book shop. Beginning march 2, 2017, in honor of the 75th anniversary of lou reeds birthday and our recent acquisition of the lou reed archive, t he library is kicking off a. Political upheaval and the sexual revolution set the scene for lou reed to turn music on its ear with the velvet underground and the support of pop artist andy. Late brooklynborn musician lou reed studied tai chi for 30 years and. Lewis allan reed march 2, 1942 october 27, 20 was an american musician, singer. Lou reed, byname of lewis allan reed, born march 2, 1942, brooklyn, new york, u.
Lana del rey says lou reed died the day they were supposed. I had decided the night before to go to the ocean, so i slipped a book and a bottle of water into a sack and caught a ride to. This album was recorded and mixed at media sound, studio b, n. Its meant to be listened to in one 58 minute 14 songs. Lou reed has been the subject of so many idiosyncratic, bewildering compilations that the release of yet another idiosyncratic, bewildering compilation can either inspire amusement or frustration. If theres one common sentiment shared by all the lou reed tributes that have sprung up in the past few dats, its how reeds music felt like the sound of new york. Reed was the son of toby nee futterman 192020 and sidney joseph reed 192005, an. We were signing prints, and his assistant came in one day and said his dog may have eaten some rat poison. Born in 1942 in brooklyn, lou reed was the lead guitarist, singer and. Lewis allan reed was born in brooklyn in 1942, but spent much of his childhood on long island. Lou reed updated book of lyrics to include final album. The songs of lou reed are a manual of sorts for how to keep living after you have let.