Lou Reed Takes a 'Walk on the Wild Side'

'New York Rock & Roll History: The 1970s' Book Excerpt

Frank Mastropolo

Sony Legacy

Lou Reed was a member of the Velvet Underground until the downtown band broke up in 1970. “Walk on the Wild Side” was included on Reed’s second solo album, 1972’s Transformer.

In a New York Times story, Reed described the era that spawned “Walk on the Wild Side” as “a very funny period with a very funny group of people doing almost the same thing without anyone knowing anybody else.”

The real-life characters of the song were regulars at The Factory, Andy Warhol’s New York studio at 33 Union Square West. Holly Woodlawn, Candy Darling, and Jackie Curtis were drag queens; Little Joe was actor Joe Dallesandro, and Sugar Plum Fairy was actor Joe Campbell.

“Walk on the Wild Side” was also controversial because of its references to race, drugs and prostitution. RCA Records released an edited single, which became a number 16 hit in 1972, but many DJs played the uncensored album cut.

Reed, who died in 2013, told Mojo, “I know my obituary has already been written. And it starts out, ‘Doot, di-doot, di-doot …’”

Frank Mastropolo is the author of New York Rock & Roll History: The 1970s, part of the New York Rock History series. For more on on our latest projects, visit Edgar Street Books.