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LA writer and political blogger Mickey Kaus was the instigator of Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground performing in 1968 at a student assembly at Beverly Hills High School. Mickey has talked about it before, but today's a day for remembering Lou Reed. The post is at the Daily Caller. Sample:
3) They played “Pale Blue Eyes” and “I Can’t Stand It.” During lunch hour they played “Heroin” and “Sister Ray.” Steve Wasserman was disciplined for getting up and dancing. 4) In order to get the assembly approved by the school authorities I had to write up a little page-long pitch, which if I remember right described their songs as the “expression of apocalyptic nihilism.” It must be hilarious now. I should try to find it. For some reason, they approved the assembly, after the Velvets’ manager Stephen Sesnick assured the Girls’ Vice Principal that there were no drug references in any of their songs. 5) Why did they do it? My impression was that Sesnick wanted to connect with “the kids.” 6) Years later, I’m told, Lou Reed denied this event ever happened.
Previously on LA Observed:
When The Doors played LA high schools and clubs
Write-in candidate is a Beverly Hills sleeping lion
Ritchie Valens, garage band success was 17
If nothing else candidate Kaus is having some fun
