Lou Reed To New York Magazine: "What Are You, A Fucking Asshole?"
Lou Reed isn't the sunniest guy in the world. Nor is he the most humble. Or so it's often alleged. Still, proven or not, it's not very surprising that he got bent out of shape in his responses to New York magazine's questions about his new Sirius radio show New York Shuffle once the interviewer, Andrew M. Goldstein, started asking about Reed's finances. Note: Reed's co-hosting the show with its producer, Hal Wilner. Remember Reed getting pissy at an audience member when he and Julian Schnabel discussed Lou Reed's Berlin at the Tribeca Film Festival? This time he doesn't bring up Lester Bangs. He does, however, bring up "a fucking piece of shit," among other things.
NY MAGAZINE: Your show is called the "New York Shuffle." As music has been migrating from local stores and radio stations to satellite radio and the Internet, do you think there's still such a thing as a New York sound?LOU REED: I think these days it's more of a Brooklyn sound. It's not out of New York anymore; it's all out of Brooklyn. I go out there to listen to music. A lot of the stuff we played, when we checked out where it came from, it was from Brooklyn.
NY MAGAZINE: The music industry is going through a lot of turmoil, obviously, with labels closing and record stores shutting down all over the country. What role do you think radio plays today?
LR: Stations should pay attention to what people really want to listen to and not have these restrictive playlists. That's what I think. I'm not usually the one someone turns to about advice on how to make money.
NY MAGAZINE: Sirius's impending merger with XM is anticipated to boost earnings. Do you own any stock in the company?
LR: What are you, a fucking asshole? I'm here telling you the truth about music and you want to know if I have stock in the fucking radio? You fucking piece of shit. What did I do to deserve that?
NY MAGAZINE: Moving on. You've got a film out, you've got your radio show, you've got a new book of photography coming up -- is there a new album in the works?
LR: No. Nothing I feel like talking about. Good-bye.
To be fair to Reed, Goldstein is a bit snarky from the beginning. His first two questions: "How did this show come into being? Did Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin wine and dine you?" and "What kind of audience do you envision when you're doing a show? The commuter from Staten Island?" Seems he was egging Reed on to get just this sort of reaction. Success. Read the rest at Vulture.
Posted at 1:07 PM by brandon
Tags: Lou Reed
Fuck Lou Reed. He's overrated and obviously a dick.
Score = -44
The reviewer was the dick. Lou Reed was there to talk about music - new music - not stock deals. Alot of the music we listen to today evolved from his work - and that is how he rates.
Score = 8
Lou Reed is alright in my book.
Score = 13
Hey, looks like you guys remembered how to update a blog today! good work ;)
Score = 0
that was a horriblly stupid question...the reviewer deserved a good bashing. Congrats to lou for being honest!
Score = 4
That journalist deserves a cherry bomb to the face.
Score = 2
Hahahahaha, he's still got it.
Score = 4
Wilner wasn't at Tribeca talking with Lou, it was Julian Schnabel.
Anyway -- the reporter obviously knew what he was doing and got what he wanted. sad, because it was a waste of an interview. Lou's views on music are genuinely interesting -- he could have just stuck to the music and had a fine interview -- guess he thought getting Lou to react would sell more magazines though.
Score = 13
You're totally right. Fixed.
Score = -1
Lou Reed is a fucking asshole. If you think otherwise do your homework.
Score = -22
Fucking nay-sayer! You try creating something.
Score = 4
Anyone who uses this retort is a fucking moron. "You try creating something"? Oh, so I have to get a record contract and release albums in order to have an opinion about music? Paris Hilton wrote and produced some of the material on her album, so I guess she must be qualified, right? Fuck off, anyone who thinks that way. Seriously. You're an idiot. You might as well just say, "Because I said so."
That said, I dig Lou. Some interviewers are such cunts.
Score = 3
considering that was a tenacious d quote, i have a hard time believing the poster was serious. chill out dude.
Score = 5
Regardless, I hear that argument used seriously far too often, on the internet. Dumb as shit, it is.
Score = -7
Evidently its far more original to phrase things as if you were Yoda. Thanks for clearing that up for me.
Score = 1
No, it's called the English language. You can do wonders with it, really.
Score = -1
No, I wasn't being serious. It was a Tenacious D quote. I'm just glad somebody here got my joke. Get a fucking sense humor Matt.
Score = 5
its ok buddy, i get the tenacious d reference.
you try creating something like inward singing!
Score = 3
A lot of creative geniuses are fucking assholes. So fucking what?
Score = 3
Love Lou the way he is. Btw, what's the best book there is to read about VU?
Score = -1
Uptitght: The Velvet Underground Story. Maybe it's on Amazon.
Score = -2
Andrew M. Goldstein was obviously baiting Lou Reed, which shouldn't be surprising. NY magazine is a piece of dog shit. The only good thing to read in that magazine are reviews on restaurants. Its a glorified Zagat with a douchey slant on NYC social studies. I'm surprised Lou would even accept the interview in the first place. Besides, who gives a shit if Lou Reed is an asshole or not.
Score = 9
Andrew M. Goldstein was obviously baiting Lou Reed, which shouldn't be surprising. NY magazine is a piece of dog shit. The only good thing to read in that magazine are reviews on restaurants. Its a glorified Zagat with a douchey slant on NYC social studies. I'm surprised Lou would even accept the interview in the first place. Besides, who gives a shit if Lou Reed is an asshole or not.
Score = 0
Reed asks for any snark that can be delivered due to this: His show is called New York Shuffle, and he answers: nothing is happening in NY, it all comes from Brooklyn.
cough... so why isn't your show called Brooklyn Shuffle?
Oh and by the way Lou, we never forgave you for what you did to Nico. And you haven't done anything worthwhile in 40 years. Bye!
Score = -7
Re-read the question asked to him, Poindexter. He's responding to a question specifically about the "New York sound," not the title of his program. Why would he change the title of a program based on his answer to a question that doesn't even deal with the title?
Also, Brooklyn is STILL in New York - shocking I know, but I guess you can always find a flimsy thing like that to bitch about if you try hard enough.
Score = 3
Uh....Brooklyn IS New York, so is Manhattan, so is Staten Island, so is Queens and lets not forget the Bronx. Go back to the suburbs. Lou Reed is genius. He has every right to be a dick if he wants in my book. This interviewer deserved much worse, a good beating and maybe even a curbing. New York Magazine sux big time...it's like the whole thing is written by French maitre'ds
Score = 1
isn't this par for the course Lou? (certainly no 'take no prisoners')...looks like our man in NYC is mellowing w/age...
love ya, lou, don't ever change
Score = 0
hehe, Reed is funny. dude is an old school artist, art based on integrity, not commercialism. I don't think this interviewer "got what he wanted", what the hell does it benefit this guy to have annoyed Lou Reed? he thought he was talking to some regular baby boomer type, I guess. who on earth, when presented with a chance to interview Lou Reed, would ask about stocks? would be the furthest thing from my mind.
Score = 1
The question about stock may have been related to the fact that Howard Stern was paid in stock when he went to sattelite radio. That being said, it's a silly question because it's just a specialty show, not a daily occurrence with lesbians and dwarves (I'm guessing..). However, let us never forget that Lou Reed is a miserable creep who has spent forty years living off four records. Four wonderful records to be sure, but that was a long time ago. 'Transformer' is amusing, in a David Bowie knock-off way, but that's about it for his solo records. Everything else he did has aged just horribly, and 'Berlin' is the worst kind of self-important cabaret bullshit. I also blame him for inflicting Antony & the Johnsons on the world. His wife's a jerk, too.
Score = -4
cale is way cooler.
Score = 8
John Cale had to go to art school to learn how to be cool. For Lou Reed, it just came naturally.
Score = -10
you're so far up your own ass. aren't you late for an interpol concert or something?
Score = 2
You tell 'em, Lou.
Score = -5
Philstines the lot of ya...You owe your entire little hipster identities to Lou. So go watch your new coldplay vinyl turn or whatever else your good at.
Score = 2
I used to work at an indie movie theater in NYC and before I knew Lou was a grumpy guss, he and his missus came in for a show, bought tickets, but seemed confused. I just waltzed up, helped them figure out the title, Laurie said "oops, I've seen this already", and I said "Well you kids can see whatever the hell you want". And went on my break. Lou said "thanks" but they left. If I had known then what an edgy guy Lou was, I would have been too scared to say anything.
Score = 2
That was an absolutely retarded question on behalf of the interviewer. Why the hell would they think Lou Reed has stock in those companies? Lou Reed, thank you. Keep those a$$holes in check. In fact, you are entitled to.
Score = -2
Lou is the king. This article reaffirms how fucking cool he is. Now I just wish he'd record a decent follow-up to Ecstasy...
Score = -2
lou reed would be way fucking cooler if he just came out of the closet
Score = 3
Whether you think Lou Reed is an arsehole or not, you cant base you decision on a convo with NYM. Especially as its probably been heavily edited.
Score = 0
i like lou reed. i've always read about how much of a dick he was, so when i had the opportunity to meet him in person i was really drunk and nervous. when i approached him and his entourage of people and he was supercool. i cant remember what i said but we talked for a good five minutes or so and he was funny and cool.
i guess what im trying to say is i made an ass out of myself in front of lou reed and he was really cool about. and if you bait someone with questions like that of course theres going to be some backlash.
Score = 0
i like lou reed. i've always read about how much of a dick he was, so when i had the opportunity to meet him in person i was really drunk and nervous. when i approached him and his entourage of people and he was supercool. i cant remember what i said but we talked for a good five minutes or so and he was funny and cool.
i guess what im trying to say is i made an ass out of myself in front of lou reed and he was really cool about. and if you bait someone with questions like that of course theres going to be some backlash.
Score = 0
Lou Reed is an icon and has been in the biz for ages. He has every right to go off.
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Lou Reed is an icon and has been in the biz for ages. He has every right to go off.
Score = -2
Who the heck is lou reed?
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Some washed up old rocker?
Score = 1
no one has the "right" to tell an interviewer he is a fucking piece of shit when asked a less than perfect or off topic question. even a musician who you think is reeeeeally cool. its this kind of blind adoration of celebrities that makes somebody like Lou Reed feel like he's entitled to be an asshole. at the end of the day, it doesnt matter if you are a great artist or a gravedigger, status doesnt give anybody the right to act above the laws of basic decency.
Score = 1
Clearly this dude Goldstein was baiting Lou. What a dick. I wish I had the opportunity to speak with Lou Reed about music, and this dude wants to talk stock options. Andrew Goldstein, if you wanna talk bears and bulls, call Jim Cramer, you idiot. I can't believe New York Magazine hires these goofballs when there are so many more talented writers out there who would love to talk shop with Lou Reed.
Score = -1
Clearly this dude Goldstein was baiting Lou. What a dick. I wish I had the opportunity to speak with Lou Reed about music, and this dude wants to talk stock options. Andrew Goldstein, if you wanna talk bears and bulls, call Jim Cramer, you idiot. I can't believe New York Magazine hires these goofballs when there are so many more talented writers out there who would love to talk shop with Lou Reed.
Score = -2
lou reed ftw
Score = 0
right on, Lou. little punk had no manners.
Score = -1
He can't sing.
He can't paly.
AND ... he's a dick.
Why do you care about this asshole?
Score = -1
Do you folks really think that a Q&A in a magazine bares any resemblance to a transcript of the conversation between the interviewer and subject? It really doesn't.
First of all, the questions asked by the interviewer are usually written entirely after the fact. Most of the time, the subject answers a question only tangentially related to what the interviewer asked, or goes off on a completely different subject halfway through, or comes out and says something interesting without a provoking question. The questions are retrofitted to the subject's statements as needed to give the piece a narrative shape and tempo.
As for the subject's statement's themselves -- do you think rock musicians, actors, even writers talk in the complete, coherent sentences you see? Hardly. They hem and haw, start a sentence three times, interrupt themselves, trail off, and generally make absolutely no sense. Usually, musicians are the worst offenders. In order to make the piece followable and interesting, the writer cobbles together sentences and fragments to form a single coherent thread of conversation. Heck, sometimes, a writer will just say what we're pretty sure the subject was trying to. So long as the writer doesn't fabricate statements and assertions out of whole cloth, he's working well within the bounds of established and accepted conventions for the format, and has a lot of room to maneuver.
So basically, we don't know if Mr. Goldstein was being a jerk or not. He could have been twice as obnoxious, he could have been obsequious and kissing Reed's ass the whole time. What we do know is that at some point, he asked Lou Reed if he had stock in the company, and Lou Reed called him an asshole. Was he baited? Possibly. But he really should know how to deal with the media a bit better by now. A simple "No comment; I never answer questions on that kind of topic" would have worked fine, and not given the writer any material.
Score = 2
I think that "What are you, a fucking asshole?" is a fine response to an entirely inappropriate question. I'll keep it in mind and maybe use the line myself.
Score = -1
Who in thee heck is Lou Reed? That is what this ole, out of touch 51 year ole New Jersey hausfrau wishes to know.
Score = 0
Let's not forget Lou Reed being famous for expressing that Jim Morrison was a talentless hack. Reed is an idiot, an overrated idiot.
Score = 0