Vale: Lou Reed.

1966. The Beatles were at the tail end of their moptop era, the Stones were their nasty counterparts. Very few people were listening to the Velvet Underground, despite the massive influence they were to become and remain.

McCartney sang Got To Get You Into My Life, a subtle acknowledgement of marijuana, while the Velvets recorded, Heroin, a full-on description of the drug coursing through their veins. They sang openly about the New York underground scene: drugs, prostitution, sado-masochism, etc.

Like most people, my first taste of Lou Reed was through the first band album, Velvet Underground & Nico, and his second solo album, Transformer. The best-known tracks off those two albums alone are enough to define an entire career. Sunday Morning, I'm Waiting For The Man, Femme Fatale, Venus In Furs, Run Run Run, All Tomorrow's Parties, Heroin, I'll Be Your Mirror, The Black Angel's Death Song, Perfect Day, Walk On The Wild Side, and Satellite Of Love to name only some of them.

Lou was 71 years old.