Public memorial service for Lou Reed to be held tomorrow

Singer-songwriter Lou Reed of the Velvet Underground passed away due to complications from liver disease at the age of 71 last month. Now, the family and friends of Reed are holding a public memorial service for the icon.

"New York: Lou Reed at Lincoln Center"
A gathering open to the public - no speeches. no live performances, just Lou's voice, guitar music & songs - playing the recordings selected by his family and friends.

The Paul Milstein Pool & Terrace at Lincoln Center
Thursday November 14th. Time 1:00PM to 4:00PM

(via)

The ultra-influential rocker behind classic tracks like "Sweet Jane" and "Walk On The Wild Side" would often downplay his own art, claiming that what he wrote was only special because he managed to put it in a song.

"I've always believed that there's an amazing number of things you can do through a rock 'n' roll song," he told Kristine McKenna in an interview, "and that you can do serious writing in a rock song if you can somehow do it without losing the beat. The things I've written about wouldn't be considered a big deal if they appeared in a book or movie." (via)

However, because he managed to fit his insights into an easily digestable form like rock and roll songs, Reed influenced countless artists who wouldn't have heard his message otherwise.

As Brian Eno famously said, every person who bought The Velvet Underground & Nico within five years of its release started a band. And no doubt a lot of those so inspired will be on hand to give Reed a proper send-off tomorrow.