Happy Birthday Lou Reed: Bridge School Set In 1997 + 2013 Tribute

Today marks what would be the 75th birthday of late rock ‘n’ roll legend Lou Reed. The Velvet Underground’s co-founding frontman was a one-of-a-kind artist that influenced many of his contemporaries and countless followers. An icon of the gritty New York scene of the 1970s, Lou’s career continued to evolve in the decades that followed leading to his death at age 71 on October 27, 2013. It was revealed today that his widow Laurie Anderson has teamed with the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts to house Lou Reed’s career-spanning archives featuring “approximately 300 linear feet of paper records, electronic records, and photographs, as well as approximately 3,600 audio and 1,300 video recordings.”

In honor of his birthday today, here’s a look back at one of the sets he played at the Bridge School Benefit in 1997 and a song played in tribute to Lou Reed at the 2013 installment of Neil & Pegi Young’s Bridge School Benefit Concerts mere hours after his death. The annual Bridge School Benefit Concerts have hosted a who’s who of musical legends after the past 30+ years. Lou Reed participated in the 1997 Bridge School Benefit Concerts at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California as part of a bill that also featured the Dave Matthews Band, Blues Traveler, Metallica, Alanis Morriseette and of course Neil Young. Reed abided by the concerts’ tradition and went unplugged for sets on October 18 and 19, 1997 with one of his better bands: guitarist Mike Rathke, bassist Fernando Saunders and drummer Tony Smith.

The Concert Vault has pro-shot video of both sets including the more dynamic one from the 18th. While the footage below features 10 songs, Setlist.FM notes Reed ended his set that night with “Sweet Jane” which appears to be missing. Yet there’s plenty to love including a dry but potent “I’ll Be Your Mirror” from Lou’s Velvet Underground days, a powerful “Perfect Day,” snarling “Vicious” and frenetic “New Sensation.” It’s Reed at his late ’90s best, take a look:

• 0:00:00 – I’ll Be Your Mirror
• 0:02:43 – Perfect Day
• 0:06:43 – The Kids
• 0:11:57 – Vicious
• 0:16:46 – Hang On To Your Emotions
• 0:21:36 – Turning Time Around
• 0:24:52 – Talking Book
• 0:29:49 – New Sensations
• 0:35:41 – Pale Blue Eyes
• 0:40:36 – Dirty Boulevard

As mentioned, news of Lou Reed’s death was made public just before the second of two 2013 Bridge School Benefits. My Morning Jacket led a tribute to Reed by performing “Oh! Sweet Nuthin'” off The Velvet Underground’s iconic Loaded LP backed by Neil Young and Elvis Costello at Shoreline on October 27, 2013. Watch fan-shot footage of the cover captured by TheSignatureLibrary: