China Remembers Lou Reed

Though his libertine bent would seem to run counter to the sentiments of the Chinese authorities, Lou Reed has been a big topic of discussion in China since his Oct. 27 death.

Photo: John Smierciak, File/AP

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

Reed’s name was the sixth-highest trend on the Sina Weibo microblogging platform the week after his death, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Phonetically known as “Lu Lide,” or, in abbreviation, “Lao Li” (“Old Li”), Reed’s achievements on the blogosphere go beyond his musical skills and impact on American culture.

Some bloggers even cite positively his role in overthrowing communism as the idol of Czech firebrand Vaclav Havel.

More relevantly, he is seen as the forebear of Joy Division, U2 and Nirvana, groups with strong followings in China.

There were even mentions of a connection to Chinese culture, as Reed was a well-known adherent of the ancient martial art taichi.

When he visited Henan Province in 2007, Reed practiced taichi and was photographed doing so. The photo was reproduced everywhere on the Chinese net.