Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - With just one Top 20 hit in a 40-year career, Lou Reed was still one of the most influential rock `n' roll artists of all time when judged by the impact he had on other musicians and entertainers. Reaction on Twitter was swift on Sunday when news broke that the 71-year-old died of an ailment following a liver transplant earlier this year. Here's a sampling of celebrity tweets:
_ "The news I feared the most, pales in comparison to the lump in my throat and the hollow in my stomach. Two kids have a chance meeting and 47 years later we fight and love the same way _ losing either one is incomprehensible. No replacement value, no digital or virtual fill ... broken now, for all time. Unlike so many with similar stories - we have the best of our fury laid out on vinyl, for the world to catch a glimpse. The laughs we shared just a few weeks ago, will forever remind me of all that was good between us." _ Former Velvet Underground bandmate John Cale.
_ "Mr. LOU REED had himself a dream: Velvet the underground & change the music scene. Now he's up & gone away. (hash)RIP Lou Reed, an un-Perfect Day." _ Filmmaker Kevin Smith.
_ "New York lost one of our greatest gifts today." _Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons.
_ "A musician, artist and trailblazer who played by his own rules." _ Paul Stanley of KISS.
_ "One of the greatest artists of our time." _ Comedian Ricky Gervais.
_ "RIP Lou Reed. Thank you for your beautiful/dark lyrics/music and stance on life. You inspired me from my teenage years right up till today." _ Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue.
_ "Rest in peace. Music lives forever." _ Rapper LL Cool J.
_ "R.I.P Lou Reed - VU was a big influence when weezer was being formed." _ Weezer's official Twitter page.
_ "Cool cat. Hey babe take a walk on the wild side. Encouraging words for a young Virginia." _ Actress Virginia Madsen.
_ "'Where was I when I heard Lou Reed died? A pumpkin patch in Moorpark. A pumpkin patch. In Moorpark.' -- me, to my grandchildren" _ Actor-comedian Patton Oswalt.
_ "I met Lou Reed and told him he gave me tinnitus at a concert in 1989 that never went away and it was worth it. Dirty Blvd. Love to Lou." _ Filmmaker Judd Apatow.
_ "The great & amazing Lou Reed has died my condolences 2 his wife Laurie Anderson.Lou was1of a kind & this colored girl still says dededede..." _ Actress Whoopi Goldberg.
_ "Very sad to hear the news of Lou Reed's passing. Another rocknroll legend has left us mere mortals behind. Thanks for the inspiration, Lou." _ "Glee" star Darren Criss.
_ "My intro to Lou Reed/Velvet Underground was Janes Addiction cover of `Rock n Roll'. He was a singular, unique talent. RIP Lou and thanks." _ Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave.
_ "One of a kind magic street soul, who created a future and history. I'm sad." _ Actress/musician Juliette Lewis.
_ "Lou Reed, my friend, a genius who transcended Rock. My condolences to his family. A poet 1st, he performed like a hit-man on a mission." _ Comedian Richard Lewis.
_ "R.I.P. Lou Reed. Just met at the GQ Awards. The music of my generation. Still Relevant!" _ Actor Samuel L. Jackson.
_ "Lou Reed RIP - always inspired by him - terrible news - only knew him through his art -a great - a singular poet -" _ Actor John Cusack.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
