Our Favourite David Bowie Story
In light of the news that David Bowie could be revisiting Berlin for a new album, Classic Rock’s Ian Fortnam tells us the story of the night Bowie met Lou Reed…or did he?
When Bowie first went to America back in ‘71 he was thrilled to find that the Velvet Underground were playing a hometown show at New York’s Electric Circus (he fancied himself as the band’s number one British fan) and determined to make an impression, spent the entire gig front-and-centre ostentatiously mouthing along to all the words.
After the gig he made for the dressing room panting with anticipation at meeting his idol, Lou Reed. Upon knocking on the door he explained to one of the other band members that he’d like to meet Lou. Looking bemused the fella disappeared only to return with the vocalist in tow. Bowie spent ten magical minutes talking to Lou about songwriting before the two parted on good terms.
The following day he told his local guide how brilliant the Velvets’ show was and how it had been one of the highlights of his life to make the acquaintance of Lou Reed. It was at this point that it was finally pointed out to him that Lou Reed had in fact left the band the previous year and he’d actually been speaking to his replacement, Doug Yule.
