Reactions To Lou Reed’s Death

With just one Top 20 hit in a 40-year career, Lou Reed was still one of the most influential rock ‘n’ roll artists of all time when judged by the impact he had on other musicians and entertainers. Reaction on Twitter was swift on Sunday when news broke that the 71-year-old died of an ailment following a liver transplant earlier this year. Here’s a sampling of celebrity tweets:

Photo: John Smierciak, File/AP

Performing at the Lollapalooza music festival, in Chicago, Ill.

– “The news I feared the most, pales in comparison to the lump in my throat and the hollow in my stomach. Two kids have a chance meeting and 47 years later we fight and love the same way – losing either one is incomprehensible. No replacement value, no digital or virtual fill … broken now, for all time. Unlike so many with similar stories – we have the best of our fury laid out on vinyl, for the world to catch a glimpse. The laughs we shared just a few weeks ago, will forever remind me of all that was good between us.” – Former Velvet Underground bandmate John Cale.

– “Mr. LOU REED had himself a dream: Velvet the underground & change the music scene. Now he’s up & gone away. #RIP Lou Reed, an un-Perfect Day.” – Filmmaker Kevin Smith.

– “New York lost one of our greatest gifts today.” –Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons.

– “A musician, artist and trailblazer who played by his own rules.” – Paul Stanley of KISS.

– “One of the greatest artists of our time.” – Comedian Ricky Gervais.

– “RIP Lou Reed. Thank you for your beautiful/dark lyrics/music and stance on life. You inspired me from my teenage years right up till today.” – Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue.

– “Rest in peace. Music lives forever.” – Rapper LL Cool J.

– “R.I.P Lou Reed – VU was a big influence when weezer was being formed.” – Weezer’s official Twitter page.

– “Cool cat. Hey babe take a walk on the wild side. Encouraging words for a young Virginia.” – Actress Virginia Madsen.

– “‘Where was I when I heard Lou Reed died? A pumpkin patch in Moorpark. A pumpkin patch. In Moorpark.’ — me, to my grandchildren” – Actor-comedian Patton Oswalt.

– “I met Lou Reed and told him he gave me tinnitus at a concert in 1989 that never went away and it was worth it. Dirty Blvd. Love to Lou.” – Filmmaker Judd Apatow.

– “The great & amazing Lou Reed has died my condolences 2 his wife Laurie Anderson.Lou was1of a kind & this colored girl still says dededede…” – Actress Whoopi Goldberg.

– “Very sad to hear the news of Lou Reed’s passing. Another rocknroll legend has left us mere mortals behind. Thanks for the inspiration, Lou.” – “Glee” star Darren Criss.

– “My intro to Lou Reed/Velvet Underground was Janes Addiction cover of ‘Rock n Roll’. He was a singular, unique talent. RIP Lou and thanks.” – Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave.

– “One of a kind magic street soul, who created a future and history. I’m sad.” – Actress/musician Juliette Lewis.

– “Lou Reed, my friend, a genius who transcended Rock. My condolences to his family. A poet 1st, he performed like a hit-man on a mission.” – Comedian Richard Lewis.

– “R.I.P. Lou Reed. Just met at the GQ Awards. The music of my generation. Still Relevant!” – Actor Samuel L. Jackson.

– “Lou Reed RIP – always inspired by him – terrible news – only knew him through his art -a great – a singular poet -” – Actor John Cusack.