LOU REED: ROCK AND ROLL HEART

Hall of Fame or no Hall of Fame, many rock trailblazers, by the time they reach middle age, become either dead or parodies of themselves. Maybe both. One exception: Lou Reed, the dark poet of the New York concert and club scene, continues to experiment with new forms while staying essentially true to his uncompromised ballads of city life. Rock'n'roll for adults, Reed's alley-junkie lyrics and intense, enigmatic presence spawned numerous pop-music urban legens about the man, onstage and off. What exactly was the relationship of the Velvet Underground to Andy Warhol? To Nico? To heroin? Did Reed really create a double-album of sheer noise (“Metal Machine Muic”) just to break out of a recording contract? Does this satumine performer even possess a sense of humor? It's possible – witness his bemused reaction at finding a 45 he cut at age 14; just one of the highlights as the traditionally guarded Reed opens up about his early influences and continuing evolution. Additional comments by peeers, followers, critics and fellow surviors of the Velvet Underground era and beyond take the viewer/listener for a fascinating rock on the wild side.