Enough has already been written about the late, great Lou Reed. No need for me to add another tribute. However, if you want a vivid reminder of what an original, acerbic, cantankerous, eccentric, self-aware artist he was, listen to his 17-minute, stream-of- consciousness rant on the live 1978 album “Take No Prisoners.’’
Among his subjects are rock critics, fake tits, Democrats, working as a typist for his dad for $40 a week and how he came to write “Walk on the Wild Side.’’ His Lenny Bruce-like monologue, backed by his band’s instrumental of the famous riff from “Wild Side,’’ includes references to Norman Mailer, Gore Vidal, Dorothy Parker, Diana Ross, Jane Fonda, Saul Bellow, Nelson Algren (whose novel “A Walk on the Wild Side’’ inspired the song) and Bruce Springsteen, who was in the audience for the show at New York’s Bottom Line.
Some of my favorite lines:
“I don’t need you to tell me I’m good.’’
“I know you’re not interested in my problems. Neither am I.’’
“I have no attitude without a cigarette.’’
“I will run for office next week and I wouldn’t vote for me either. I am not trustworthy.’’
“It’s like going to bed with a Brontosaurus. It’s out of style.’’
“I do Lou Reed better than anybody.’’
Lou Reed could be a pain in the ass, but he wasn’t a phony. And that’s more than you can say for most of today’s rock stars.
