Support for LAist comes from
Made of L.A.
Stay Connected

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Arts and Entertainment

Photos And Video: Following Lou Reed Through Los Angeles

Support your source for local news!
The local news you read here every day is crafted for you, but right now, we need your help to keep it going. In these uncertain times, your support is even more important. Today, put a dollar value on the trustworthy reporting you rely on all year long. We can't hold those in power accountable and uplift voices from the community without your partnership. Thank you.

The world has been at a standstill since the announcement of Lou Reed's death over the weekend. The cause of death hasn't been disclosed yet, but it's been reported he had undergone a liver transplant in June. The 71-year-old beloved rock legend and former frontman of The Velvet Underground has shaped music since the 1960s, and a even a number of tributes have been dedicated to the musician--from Henry Rollins to Morrissey.

In honoring Reed's indelible mark on music, we take a look back at some of his moments in Los Angeles through video and archived photos.

At the legendary and iconic rock venue, the China Club at the corner of Argyle and Selma, Reed did a solo-performance of "Dirty Boulevard" in 1990 as part of the club's all-star jam session. The night also included performances by Sting, Michael Bolton, and B.B. King.

Support for LAist comes from

Reed walked the red carpet at the 1990 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. In 1999, he was awarded a Grammy for best long-form music video for the feature documentary, Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart.

He made a visit out to West Hollywood's Tower Records (yes, we haven't heard about that place in awhile!) in June 23, 2003 to promote his new CD at the time, NYC Man.


(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
The next day on June 24, he was inducted into Guitar Center's Hollywood Walk of Fame.


(Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
In the All Tomorrow's Parties two-day concert at the Queen Mary in Long Beach in 2004, Reed performed his Velvet Underground song with the same name at the event which was curated by Modest Mouse. "All Tomorrow's Parties" was part of his band's 1967 debut release.


(Photo by Karl Walter/Getty Images)
In a star-studded Gorillaz concert at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Oct. 2010, Reed joined frontman Damon Albarn on stage for track "Some Kind of Nature." Unfortunately, Angelenos eagerly hoped to see the rock-and-roll star in April 2013 perform at the Orpheum Theatre and Coachella Music Festival, but he cancelled a number of shows due to "unavoidable complications," according to Rolling Stone.

R.I.P. Lou. We'll miss you in Los Angeles.

Most Read