25 May 2025

English glossy music monthly UNCUT presents another Ultimate Music Guide.
This time the late genial LOU REED is the focus of attention.

This 148-page deluxe edition celebrates 60 years of Lou’s mature songwriting.
Whether it was the influential sedition of his early work, his unexpected rebirth as
a pop star via the intervention of David Bowie, the adversarial, unexplained soundworld
of Metal Machine Music, through to Lulu, his album with Metallica and his last ambient works, his was a career to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Outside of the music there was clearly a lot going on. For all Laurie Anderson’s efforts
to posthumously rehabilitate Reed as a dog lover, Tai chi master and amateur watch repairer, loving partner, family member and electronics whiz, we’re still compelled
by the jaggedness of the man. The horrifying onstage schtick. The interviews that
make your blood run cold. It’s rage-filled, often misanthropic and it’s complicated.

These days, Lou’s archives (his tapes, his doo wop records, college accreditations, and clippings archive; his swords, but not his hats) are in the special collections department of New York Public Library. One of the most interesting artefacts to be discovered, however, may have been one of the first, found behind Lou’s work desk.

You can purchase a copy and have it sent to your home. Info HERE.

WAVES OF FEAR
(One of my Reed’s favs)