Here are a few videos of the “Lulu” play, that they’ve been doing over in Germany. The Lulu stories have been very popular in Germany and they’ve been doing these plays over there for years. It’s all in German language, be aware. Also, these videos are NSFW, as they can get sexual and disturbing.
Lulu deserves to get known in the United States. Maybe Broadway will start doing plays on Lulu after their album is released? Something to think about.
Kev
Lou Reed & Metallica have finally posted the full track to their new song, “The View”.
Like usual this song is getting negative feedback everywhere. Metallica is not the only one getting bashed for this collaboration. Lou Reed is also getting bashed on. In fact, from facebook to forums to blogs, it’s Lou Reed is getting bashed the most. I mean, really? Bashing Lou FUCKING REED! COME ON!
Lou Reed is a rock n’ roll legend himself who made it big with the Velvet Underground and his solo career. I truly believe that most people of today’s generation don’t understand the legacy of Lou Reed. He’s a very important musician.
In this song, Lou is the narrator, he’s the one telling the story. When James is singing, he’s playing a different character. The lyrics are very dark and a bit creepy, yes, but they are supposed to be.
The songs on the album are about a young dancer named, Lulu, who was abused. Sounds like the album is going to be about sexual abuse, rape, and all that stuff. They were inspired by the work of Frank Wedekind, a german play writer. It was also inspired from the silent movie, “Pandora’s Box“.
This isn’t a Metallica album, it’s a side project for both of them. Technically, this is actually Lou’s project, Metallica is just a backing band, period. I’m sure Lou Reed and the boys in Metallica already knew this album is going to create a stir in the music world, but these guys feel that these stories need to be told. They want to help draw more people to the Lulu stories.
They did a very good job of it so far. Despite the negative feedback, the album is already getting a lot of attention. So that’s good. It’s called controversy. Could this album sell well? I think it’ll be successful. It’ll get a lot of people curious and they’ll want to listen.
The LuLu stories are about sexuality and cynicism. When Wedekind first wrote the plays in 1890’s in Germany, he created a lot of controversy there too. Now it’s happening with Lou Reed & Metallica. In my opinion, these songs weren’t made to be for your listening entertainment. They want to get you to know who Lulu is and what she’s about.
As you can see in the lyrics of the song, Lou is telling the story in Lulu’s perspective. So that makes it that Lou is actually playing Lulu herself in the musical.
Listen to the song, here.
After doing research on Lulu and learning about this character, I’m intrigued. It makes me want to read the Frank Wedekind’s plays and see the “Pandora’s Box” 1932 film.
Kev
I think the reason this Lou Reed & Metallica project is getting so much negative feedback is because, there are too many young kids who are strictly into metal, and they don’t really listen to classic rock much. Kids of today’s generation, probably don’t understand the music of Lou Reed that it may be possible that they never listened to Lou’s music before. It’s mostly Lou’s vocals being trashed on. The spoken word style.
If you listen to Lou’s earlier music with the Velvet Underground and his solo albums, especially “Transformer”, Lou always sang that way, the spoken word style. He’s been singing that way for years.
I just think people aren’t used to a spoken word singer fronting a metal band. All of Lou’s songs are very poetic and they all tell stories as well. It’s very appropriate to do them spoken word. He can actually sing for “real” on some of his songs, he only gives the songs whatever feels right.
Lou Reed is a talented artist and storyteller when it comes to his songs. I’ve been listening to Lou’s music for years, I just love his stuff.
I’m liking what I’m hearing in this project so far. It must be hard for young fans in this generation to appreciate Lou Reed. It’s a good thing actually. This Lou Reed & Metallica project will help Lou draw more listeners for his older music.
Kev
Lou Reed & Metallica have posted their first song online, well, a little bit of it anyway. As usual a lot of people are bashing the hell out of it. Saying it’s crap because it’s METALLICA!
Below is a short clip of one of the songs off “Lulu”, the name of this song is titled, “The View”.
What people don’t seem to understand is that these songs on the album were originally supposed to be a German musical for theater. So these songs are supposed to sound like a musical. The way Lou Reed is singing the vocals, that’s the way he always sang. It isn’t really singing really, it’s just spoken word stuff which is what Lou is great at, plus he’s a really poetic lyricist. Maybe this German play was supposed to be backed up by a hard rock band and Metallica was the good fit for that. Everything you’re gonna hear on this album, is all Lou Reed, he composed everything. He just gave these songs to Metallica for them to back him up.
I wouldn’t badly judge this song on a 30 second clip, though. Before saying, “it sucks”, wait until you hear the full song and then you can make your opinion. I liked what I heard so far.
Kev
Seems like Metallica is America’s most hated band. They have a lot of haters, especially on the internet. There are many reasons why people hate Metallica. Basically, all the hate toward Metallica began when Lars Ulrich, threatened to sue Napster back in the day. Also the Metallica hate never stopped when they changed their style of music for the albums, “Load”, “Re-load”, and, “St. Anger”.
When they released their latest album, “Death Magnetic”, a few years ago, Metallica tried their best to give what the fans wanted all along. Thrash metal. That’s exactly what the band did, they gave us the return of thrash/speed metal for “Death Magnetic”. Most people are happy with the album, but of course, some aren’t. A lot of people complain, “Death Magnetic”, for a few reasons. They all say they can’t hear Rob Trujillo’s bass playing and they accused the album of being, “clipped”, in Pro Tools.
Metallica, then did the Big 4 shows with Anthrax, Slayer, and Megadeth, to help keep the metal fanbase going. Of course, I’m sure Metallica is being hated on for that as well. I’m sure they’re being accused of being ego’s, attention whores or they’re just doing Big 4 shows for the money alone, but I disagree with all those.
Next here comes the Lou Reed & Metallica project which they will release an album together called, “LuLu”. A lot of people say this is the worst collaboration in the history of music. Why? Because it’s Metallica. Like I said before, people call them bad guys at almost everything they want to do.
Metallica needs to be respected. Love ’em or hate ’em, they are the kings of metal, period. You may like your other metal bands (like Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Ac/Dc, etc.), but they are not in Metallica’s league. Metallica is pretty much the only metal band who is capable enough of writing memorable songs that are catchy and they can’t leave your head. Metallica is this generation of the Beatles, if you know what I mean by that. They had too many singles that you still hear on the radio today. How many other metal bands get their songs played on the radio? Not too many. Yes, I’m sure other metal bands have got their songs played on the radio many times before, Metallica are the kings of radio.
There are Metallica fans that would only support them for their earlier music in the 80’s they did with Cliff Burton and not like their new music. There are also Metallica fans who would like everything they do (like myself).
Here is a short list of why Metallica needs to be respected.
Well, the huge Big 4 show at Yankee Stadium is tonight. The same bands on the lineup that includes: Anthrax, Slayer, Megadeth and Metallica are all playing tonight at Yankee Stadium.
Will Metallica surprise all of us by inviting Lou Reed to jam with them on a few songs? Will Metallica and Lou Reed play a few songs from their upcoming album, “Lulu” tonight, or even the full album in it’s entirety on stage? Wouldn’t surprise me if that happens.
I’ll be on the lookout for youtube videos of this concert tomorrow, you’ll know they’ll be all over youtube sooner or later.
Kev
The Lou Reed & Metallica website, revealed the album cover of “Lulu” today.
You can check it out, here.
As you can see, look like the whole album is about some girl named, Lulu. Looking at the picture look like something bad happens to her, noticing the blood.
I’m looking forward to hearing the first song off the album.
Kev
Metallica have been pretty quiet about the recording of their new album with Lou Reed for a while, now they are just starting to open up. Lou wrote a song called, “Junior Dad”, which reminded Kirk of his father who passed away. The song was too emotional too him that he had to spend time alone in a different room. The song also made James Hetfield emotional as well.
More on it, here.
Can’t wait to hear the song! I’ve been a long time fan of Lou Reed, and still am. I’ve followed Lou’s career for years. Love his music, so I can’t wait to hear this project. Fuck the haters!
Kev
This project is creating a lot of controversy. A lot of Metallica haters are bashing this project like crazy, but then of course, no matter what Metallica does in music makes them bad guys. I’ll always be a big Metallica supporter and they will always have my back, no matter what they do. I’ll always love the band.
I am looking forward to hearing this project. I hope I’m not the only one. Over at their website, it was said that Lou Reed wrote all the songs for the album, “Lu Lu”. Metallica just backed him up. Like the website site said, Lou originally was going to have the songs for a theatrical play in Berlin, but I guess he decided to give the songs to Metallica instead.
Why would Metallica want to do this project with Lou Reed? The project sound really silly and weird, but honestly, it’s the right thing to do. Lou Reed is a hard rock & metal singer/songwriter, he always has been if you think about it. Especially all the stuff he did with the Velvet Underground. Lou’s original songs may not have distorted guitars and growling voices but they are still hard rock songs.
On top of that, Lou is willing to collaborate with just about anybody in the music business. He already has collaborated with just about everyone in the music business when he performs on stage. In the studio, he collaborated with Nico with the Velvet Underground.
When Lou Reed and Metallica jammed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, it felt right. I certainly felt that Lou was a member of Metallica. The chemistry was there. Watch the video below. Lou looks so awesome with the guys, that’s why the project works.
While this Lou and Metallica project maybe controversial, I think it’s going to be a good one and interesting. Many people accuse these guys of being ego’s and greedy. People think it’s all about money and attention whoring, but it isn’t. It’s about the music. When they jammed together at the Hall of Fame, it just sounded the right thing to do. It’s about the musicianship. The style was the right fit. That’s how I believed it came together. It didn’t come together for nothing.
Plus, I’m sure Lou is a big fan of Metallica and I’m sure Metallica is a big fan of Lou. They always wanted to play music together and it’s the right time for it to happen. I’m looking forward to hearing the first single off of “LuLu”, I’m sure they will release something soon.
Don’t bash something that hasn’t come out yet. Just hear the music first and then you can make your opinion.
Kev
Metallica have been pretty secretive about their new album for a long while, and now I can see why! Metallica revealed the huge news today that the band has collaborated to make their new album with the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Lou Reed!!! Lou collaborated on the whole album with Metallica, not just one or two songs. For you doubters out there who don’t believe it, Metallica posted pics of the band in the studio with Lou just so they can show you that they are not making it up!
Read it on the band’s website, here.
I have a feeling there may be at least one Lou Reed cover song on the new album. Wouldn’t surprise me. Looking forward to it now.
Kev
K'Brocking 
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