Buy used: $27.57

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime

FREE delivery Thursday, February 8 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 14 hrs

Select delivery location

Used: Good | Details

Sold by Store in the North

Fulfilled by Amazon

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Image Unavailable

Image not available for
Color:

To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

Jeremy Reed

Follow

Waiting for the Man: The Life and Career of Lou Reed Hardcover – February 3, 2015

by Jeremy Reed (Author)

4.1 19 ratings

See all formats and editions

“All the books about me are bullshit except Jeremy’s.” ―Lou Reed

Lou Reed influenced generations of copyists that took note of his outlaw status, ambiguous sexual orientation characterized by his seventies relationship with the transvestite Rachel, his implacable mystique, and his cool and defiant attitude as the narrator of subcultures.

First published in Britain in 1994 and now available for the first time in America, Waiting for the Man, focuses on Lou Reed as rock’s principal literary avatar, paying special attention to his controversial lyrics and prototypical garage sound. Author Jeremy Reed (no relation) is a fellow poet― one praised by J. G. Ballard as “the most original poet writing today” and by Bjork as “the most beautiful outrageous poet in the world”―and thus he examines Lou Reed’s career through an entirely different lens than other rock biographies. Taking in the sweep of Reed’s career from Velvet Underground to the variants of forty years of resistant solo pioneering, Waiting For the Man accesses the man and his music, with an extraordinary perception and attention to detail.

About the Author

Jeremy Reed (no relation) is an award-winning poet, novelist, and counterculture biographer, who has published over thirty books of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. He performs with the band Ginger Light.

Print length

288 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Omnibus Press
Publication date

February 3, 2015
Dimensions

6.45 x 1.05 x 9.48 inches
ISBN-10

1468310674
ISBN-13

978-1468310672
See all details

Will Hermes
78
Hardcover
57 offers from $19.99
Anthony DeCurtis
504
Paperback
31 offers from $3.14
Lou Reed
96
Hardcover
55 offers from $20.90
Howard Sounes
52
Hardcover
29 offers from $3.69
Lou Reed
158
Hardcover
27 offers from $8.00
Heath
25
Hardcover
26 offers from $26.19

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Omnibus Press; 1st edition (February 3, 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1468310674
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1468310672
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.4 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.45 x 1.05 x 9.48 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #3,051,110 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5,910 in Rock Band Biographies
- #7,778 in Rich & Famous Biographies
- #7,984 in Rock Music (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.1 19 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

Important information

To report an issue with this product or seller, click here.

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Jeremy Reed

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5

19 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Jim A.

The author knows his subject well

Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2017

Verified Purchase

I have read several books on Lou Reed, and still learned a few things I didn't know. Because the book looks at what was happening in his life during the different periods of his recording career you are able to better understand what he was saying in his lyrics. Lou Reed was the ultimate street poet, and wrote from inside of the world he described in his songs.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

I.M. Janky

best lou reed biography

Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2015

Verified Purchase

The best book available on the life and career of Lou Reed. Unbiased and fair.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Thomas N. Shiptenko

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2015

Thank You

Self indulgent writer

Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2015

If you enjoy reading sentence's like this, quote "Intellectualising the record's affinities with classical music, Lou in cerebral speed mode hyped his project into inimitable guitar ballistics". the writer is describing Metal Machine Music. I'd rather listen to all 4 sides of MMM, than read this self wanking writing.

10 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Tommy Stooge

it's all about what ridiculous words can he use to twist into a dumb sentence. He tries too hard to analyze Reed's ...

Reviewed in Canada on August 4, 2015

Verified Purchase

This book has no heart, it's all about what ridiculous words can he use to twist into a dumb sentence. He tries too hard to analyze Reed's personal life sexual and otherwise into the be all and end all of his musical inspiration. But aside from all that, there are too many mistakes. He says Candy Darling didn't make it into Lou's Walk On The Wild Side....Jeremy, please listen to the second verse. Also, in regards to Lou Reed Live, he mentions that there are five tracks, sorry there are six tracks. So far I find the book a self masterbatory effort, it's all "Hey look at me, I'm smart like Lou Reed". For a fun read on Reed, look for Mick Wall's The Life, at least he says right off the bat it's a quickly book!

Stephen Lloyd

The book Lou deserves

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 26, 2014

Verified Purchase

This is superb! I became an admirer of Jeremy Reeds work when I read the first publication of this biography many years ago.
Since that time I have devoured Reed's poetry, fiction and none fiction at every opportunity. I cannot praise his work highly enough. 'Waiting for the man' has always been one of my favourite books.
This new edition maintains its lofty status for me with updated analysis and critique of Lou's later recordings and his lamented passing last year. It is so much more than biography. Beautifully written with a poet's craft and unflinching in its study of this great man's life and work.
If your interested in Lou Reed then you need this book. I seriously doubt it will be bettered unless of course Jeremy Reed should deem it necessary to amend his work in the future. But why would he? It's complete as it is. Unconditionally recommended.

5 people found this helpful

Bizzie

LOL where’s an editor when you need one

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 12, 2018

Verified Purchase

Oh dearie me .... the story is gripping but the writing is so florid, the sentences long & difficult, the author’s thoughts, connections & assumptions often hilariously staggeringly AWFUL, that it can be a demanding read. This is a book in serious need of a good strict editor. If you can ignore/don’t mind the actual writing then I would say you’re sure to enjoy this book. I am enjoying it for quite the wrong reasons. Immensely!!! Unfortunately I was sat in the waiting room to see a Gastro Intestinal surgeon about removing my gallbladder when a typically mad detail from this book (Andy Warhol died from a routine gallbladder op) stopped me in my tracks. In, perhaps, a wonderfully lala gaga Warholian way, maybe this preposterous piece of writing can even be considered to be art as it’s certainly educated, entertained & provoked me!!!
NB: my gallbladder is beyond blame appaz so is staying put, phew!

One person found this helpful

jeremy reed

Jeremy Reed talks about his 2nd Lou Reed biography.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 13, 2014

Verified Purchase

The media could not be loaded.

Waiting for the Man: The Life & Career of Lou Reed
Big City Dilemma
The Dilly

5 people found this helpful

Transformer

Haven`t had a good look at it yet