At recent concerts in Europe, the great former Velvet Underground leader Lou Reed joined a growing list of venerable artists paying homage to Amy Winehouse since her tragically premature death last month.
Performing in Rome a few days after she passed, Reed paused midway through the title track to his 2000 album Ecstasy for his first tribute: “I’d like to dedicate this show to the great singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. We all loved her,” Reed said before singing an improvised take on “Rehab” with his trademark dry delivery. “Ain’t goin’ to rehab. No, no, no.”
Two days later in Lyon, France, Reed performed VU’s 1967 classic “Sunday Morning,” adding afterward — during the intro to “Femme Fatale” — that he wanted to dedicate the previous song to Winehouse. Check out clips from Reed’s brief yet poignant tributes below:
“Ecstacy”/”Rehab” @ 2:05 (Live in Rome)
“Sunday Morning” (Live in Lyon, France)
“Femme Fatale” (Live in Lyon, France)