RIP Lou Reed: Anne Litt Pays Tribute

I’m listening to Chris Douridas as he fills in for me on KCRW while I am back east.

Lou Reed has just died, Chris is playing a thoughtful and moving tribute to Lou, and the day is a little greyer. What a strange day to not be with you on the air, but I can’t think of a better host to pay tribute to Lou than Chris.

I had the privilege of meeting Lou Reed in 1996 when he was a guest on Morning Becomes Eclecticwhen Chris was hosting the show. He was so powerful and crankily signed my box set and my hands literally shook handing the pen to him. I couldn’t speak.

Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground simply made me listen to music differently.

For the first time I truly felt art, performance and music merge. And as a young girl who had not yet been exposed to performance art and the avant garde, they were a revelation.

Lou Reed’s music has informed so much of what I value today in music and art. And that is a gift I had not yet thought about until today.

I’m grateful and sorry I never said thank you properly.

So thank you.

And rest in peace.

— Anne