Once you search by means of the plethora of quotes attributed to Velvet Undeground maestro and all-around pop music genius Lou Reed about different bands, a tough estimate would counsel over half of these feedback could be disparaging. In actual fact, there’s a superb likelihood that the overwhelming majority of these feedback could be as vicious as his tune’s namesake. Reed was a fire-breathing lover of music, and he was not afraid to torch any band that stepped in the way in which of what he perceived because the sanctity of the artwork kind.
Whether or not it was The Beatles, The Doorways and even a number of the members of his personal band, Reed dished out extra barbs than Mattel throughout his time on earth. Sadly passing away in 2013, Reed’s legacy is one enriched by a listing of songs that explored the intricacies of the human situation and subverted the notions of shimmering pop perfection and the potent and toxic method he might carry bands all the way down to earth.
It’s not simply bands which have felt the wrath of an uncompromising Reed. He made a superb title for himself as some of the hostile interviewees round. He left some journalists quivering and others as burnt ash on the ground. Nonetheless, beneath, we’re wanting again at a few of Reed’s extra chopping takedowns as he spent an entire article decoding and devouring a number of the most interesting acts rock music has ever identified.
Throughout the article, Reed takes on an enormous array of acts. He calls Frank Zappa the “most untalented” individual in rock music earlier than describing Roxy Music as “boring”, referred to Pete Townshend as “talentless” and stated that when you ever met Bob Dylan at a celebration, “you’d inform him to close up.” However his most scathing remark got here for shock rock pioneer and all-around good man, Alice Cooper.
Broadly considered the founding father of shock rock as we all know it, Cooper’s penchant for blood, gore and an entire heap of stage theatrics is the antithesis of Reed’s notion of pop music as an unfettered form of poetry. Reed needed his music to be the dust below the fingernails of the everyman, whereas Cooper most popular to maintain his expertise firmly below the highlight, posing inside intricate stage productions and huge orchestral narratives.
Such a disparity of their musical leanings led Reed to refer to supply a somewhat unflattering touch upon the band. “God, do you really need my opinion on THEM?” It might have in all probability sufficed to showcase his displeasure; nonetheless, Reed was by no means one for curbing his expression and continued: “They’re the worst, most disgusting side of rock music.”
After all, Reed was by no means afraid to vary his thoughts both. Regardless of calling out The Beatles on many events, inside this text, he truly adjustments his opinion and says: “I don’t suppose individuals realise how unhappy it’s that The Beatles broke up.” Nonetheless, judging by their vastly totally different concepts on what rock and roll is, at its coronary heart, means we will probably relaxation assured that Reed held this opinion for a lot of, a few years.
