Lou Reed - heroin use, or no?

Saffie · Post by **Saffie** » 14 Jan 2005 05:42

Recently, I read an interview in a book (could have been "Please Kill Me", a history/interviews on the Punk genre) and the person being interviewed (unfortunately, I don't recall who it was, but 'twas not Reed himself) claimed that Lou Reed never actually used heroin. The interviewee, in fact, said that Reed wrote "Heroin" when he was about sixteen, after drinking a few beers. I know, what difference does it make, really... I am, however, curious and wonder if others have read about that possibility, too?

radiofreesimulacrum · Post by **radiofreesimulacrum** » 14 Jan 2005 06:30

In "What's Welsh for Zen" john cale relates an account of Lou Reed shoting up in a bathroom. I don't have the book right at hand so I can't give you the page numbers. I'm sure someone else can get into more detail about other documentations of Lou's drug use.

Jerome · Post by **Jerome** » 14 Jan 2005 06:52

In the book 'Factory Made', Cale is quoted saying the Lou shot him up the first time.

" I was squeamish about the needles. Lou took care of that by shooting me up for the first time. It was an intimate experience, not least because my first reaction was to vomit"

Jerome · Post by **Jerome** » 14 Jan 2005 07:04

I just checked out the website for the book, it's pretty good: http://www.factorymade.com

Has a video archive of interviews including John Cale and lots of the other factory denizens.

Jerome · Post by **Jerome** » 14 Jan 2005 07:06

sorry, http://www.factorymade.org

arjan · Post by **arjan** » 14 Jan 2005 09:07

Jerome wrote:In the book 'Factory Made', Cale is quoted saying the Lou shot him up the first time.

" I was squeamish about the needles. Lou took care of that by shooting me up for the first time. It was an intimate experience, not least because my first reaction was to vomit"

Yup, and that quote was recycled for What's Welsh for Zen, which is where I read it and which is, I think, what Radiofreesimulacrum is referring to.

Saffie · Post by **Saffie** » 14 Jan 2005 09:31

Hey, thanks! I'll check out the webpage - sounds highly intriguing.

bleach · Post by **bleach** » 14 Jan 2005 17:51

I think people are gettng confused - Lou was shooting up SPEED

Chance · Post by **Chance** » 14 Jan 2005 19:20

I'd like to know what Reed is on in the split picture on the back of the third album. He looks wiped out.

Cameo Role · Post by **Cameo Role** » 14 Jan 2005 21:34

Yeah, I was going to say that too Bleach.

Heroin isn't the only drug you shoot up; it's much more effiecent to mainline speed. But one could infer that he's done heroin here and there just because of how hard he was in drugs.