Lou Reed - Interview on 7.30 Report, 2007 (Unedited) 

Lou was always honest and straight forward..Man we could use that today..

Gotta hand it to the interviewer, she did a pretty good job. Lou Reed certainly isn't the easiest person to interview by a long shot!

RIP Lou you were an absolute genius of a musician...

I love Lou. He takes no shit and speaks his mind truthfully.

ah yes " tai chi and the Joy of Living " that's exactly what comes to mind when I see you, Lou, you just radiate happiness

Great songwriter; great music maker; great guy. Miss you Lou!

I thank God, I walked the Earth the same time as Lou Reed.

The interviewer can forever brag about the fact that Lou Reed told her he loved her!

Interviewer sounds nervous, occasionally terrified.

“I can’t argue with an idiot. It’s like talking to a squirrel.” Brilliant.

he's definitely not a social media type RIP

Lou always tells a lot of jokes in his interviews but his interviewers always take him face value

"You're doing okay. Beautiful and in shape." The ole charmer...

He is actually talking in full sentences during an interview.

I can't argue with an idiot, it's like talking to a squirrel lol 😂

wow...reed is almost gushingly polite

How many times can one interviewer go, "hmmmm?" With this one, it's limitless.

"It's like talking to a squirrel"

The sobriety question!! Hahaha … I swear I laugh more watching some Lou interviews than I do most stand up comedy.

he's a very genuine person

I love you Lou Reed, I send you lots of Love brother... God bless you.

very expressive. I love Lou. Very generous.

OK I like to think I've got pretty good people skills but I would never ever even attempt this. I have to actually take my hat off to this interviewer for her valiant attempt. Lou Reed is terrifying, I would crumble into a thousand pieces trying to keep this interview going with him. Had to stop half way through, I was exhausted! Literally like pulling teeth.

Wow - is all I can say. I really liked this interview. I found it affirming.

He's very generous about the people he works with who he admires.

Wow, I love you Lou. Thank you for the gift.

Wonderful interview!

Well he’s full of the joys of spring !

Yup, you can tell Lou did NOT care about this interview, lmao. Rock on, Legend, wherever you are.

Lou had a very rocky relationship with the Australian media LOL...he seemed pretty chill here

He never suffered fools and was always one step ahead of them all.

15:45 Ooh. She has barely started asking her question, and you can already see Lou suddenly getting pissed off, his lips tightening up; he's been around the track enough times to see it coming a mile away and as nice as the interview has been going so far I can hear him muttering to himself, "oh, for Christ's sake..." This girl seemed fairly well-prepared compared to most of the idiots who've talked with him, so she should have known full well not to tread there. It's a little chilling to watch.

I love Lou Reed. But,thé life is so bad bécasse you are not heure today. Thanks Mister Lou Reed for your song. Excuse me for my bad english but I’m french.

He's was a serious guy - but better behaved here than in many other interviews.

Lou is such a stoic person to interview,one of the most difficult people to interview.He seems to be so controversial in his answers…not a happy man.Don’t get me wrong I love his music.Tracy will never forget this interview.

Great interview. Thanks! Lou strikes me as being very jet lagged but still very coherent and elequent. I wonder if he was having liver issues at this point.

Berlin was one of the monuments of music in my life. Spent a summer riding around drinking premixed screwdrivers and ……. There’s a special beauty in this and albums like tonight’s the night

It’s like talking to a squirrel! 😂 ❤️U Lou wherever u are dude

take note at 17:25, where Lou's publicist asks the interviewer (post interview) "so you're not going to do anything about that Sobriety thing, are you?" and Tracy the interviewer says "we can drop it", and the publicist replies back:" yeah, drop it", to which all parties agree. This is an interesting dynamic, which supports Lou's desire to keep his personal life personal. His friend David Bowie was from the same mold as you watch interview after interview to gain insight into the world in which they lived. Fascinating to watch. It's also around this time, that Lou had a Liver transplant done at The Cleveland Clinic. Lou always had a "salty" personality toward interviewers, but it makes me wonder how much of this was his actual discomfort level. You can see at the very end as Lou walks out after the interview, a distended abdomen, which could be a direct result of his liver failing.

Lou will listen to you till the very end.

I’m french girl,so excuse me for my bad english. You miss me dear Lou

'Why did you leave out people who like goats??"-Lou never suffered fools lightly-god bless

Love you so much, Lou. Wish I was born a bit earlier so I could have seen you live

i love how lou sets boundaries

Lou looks shell shocked and like his thoughts are really somewhere else. His strong reaction to the sobriety question. A poignant time perhaps. x

I photographed Lou Reed in 2007 when he was invited to Australia by Fergus Linehan to perform at the State Theatre as part of the annual Sydney Festival. I photographed John Cale at the Enmore Theatre around the same time. I now suspect Lou may have already been ill by this time (2007), although he lived for another six years. I later moved to Detroit. Iggy Pop was from a town called Ypsilanti, not Detroit proper, but it isn't too far from Detroit. Iggy didn't mind having a laugh and 'taking the mickey' during interviews, so it was nice to see Lou also being receptive to interviewers here (2007), unlike his 1974-75 interviews on tour. It makes for a more interesting and insightful look at the artist in question. Sure, interviewers ask stupid questions, and Tracy did in this ABC interview, but Lou was still fairly accommodating. I mean, some interviewers don't even prepare properly or know next to nothing about the people they're interviewing. You might get away with that at a press conference, but not in a one-on-one interview situation. People should've asked Lou more about New York City, the town he's always been so associated with. It has become much safer, but it has also become so gentrified and expensive. Detroit's still unsafe, but that too is getting expensive - at least in the small number of reasonably safe neighbourhoods - Downtown Detroit, Midtown, Woodbridge, Corktown, the Cass Corridor. Rents have skyrocketed in recent years in those areas, while the rest of Detroit is still blighted and deadly.

A really special, special person. R.I.P.

I imagine the interviewer (and anyone else) would shit themselves when copping Reed's 'don't fuck with me' stare down. Reed is in total control all throughout this interview, and I admire the way he is so cool when the interviewer goes out of bounds. He could tell them to fuck off and leave the interview, but he stays seated and calmly stops the interviewers attempt directly and in a polite and respectful manner. He seems to know himself, perhaps that's why he's so cool and in control. RIP Lou Reed

"The only thing we have left to fear is fear itself" - Lou Reed

I dont blame lou for not wanting to talk about either sobriety or drug use. That shits personal, obviously the guy was an old man. Let the 60’s and 70’s be a part of the past, the man was there to talk about his art.

You have to see it from Lou's point of view, god my 1000th interview with the same questions has things really not changed that much at all, well then i will give short answers that end the question, "god that stupid, it's like talking to a squirrel" funny, and your absolutely right lou

This interview makes me a little sad because I know he only has 6 more years to live.

Great interview. Hard to believe it took 30 years to stage Berlin. A great piece of work.

"The people are incredibly nice, always." hahahahahahahahahahhahaahahah

I miss you, Lou

When people make comments about Lou Reed's music they do not know what they are talking about! Sometimes you have to talk about the dark side of society and it is not all sweetness and light like people expect! Their has to be dark before light! I think that was a record by Lou Reed as well! People need to grow up and realise what people go through! Peter Hardy, Southport, 49 Years of Age

I miss this man...the legend

For light relief after enduring this train wreck go to "Lou Reed '74 Australia Funniest Press Conference EVER & Wild side + Rock 'n Roll" video which is extremely hilarious :) the difference being that he got off the drugs (which we dare not speak of) unfortunately; much more agreeable guy back then, and retained his sense of humour. I still love ya Lou!

Another relaxed conversation with Lou.

This is painful.

I love you Lou!

Anyone else notice how much Lou resembled Jerry Lewis?

LOU REED IS VERY, VERY MISSED!!⚘

"Arguing with idiots is like talking to a squirrel"!!!

She did well with Lou, remember by 2007 he’d been shat on by loads of journalists who didn’t understand his work until 30 years after it came out. Lou is the best and will always be

At 15:54 I laughed so hard because right there he shot her down. Apparently he only agree'd to be asked the questions that had been submitted and like any twit interviewer that always has to get to the substance abuse questions, he wasn't having it. Good for him. Why do "journalists" find it so necessary to try and get the dirt on people like Lou Reed and their private lives? We as music fans have no right to know this stuff, we don't own them.

His eyes are kinda....off. His stare is sad.... That's what I can see, I am I wrong?

How sick and tired he is...of the squirrels.

She's so sweet but... Lou is Lou

Maybe if the media had treated Mr, Reed with a little more respect, he might of reciprocated.....But I didn't know him personally, so that's just an observation.

Lou, a real out front human being.

Classic album

I do not blame him for being hard on interviewers. It is truly astonishing how inept some journalists are. Mind boggling how well he handled this.

Are all his interviews done in Sydney?

Better be on top of your game when you interview The Lou.

"It's the parts they left out that I like........ typically." said in a completely deadpan way. Absolutely delicious.

Journalists either make you or break you before the Internet, so ye...artists are always going to be on the defense.

Lou looks pissed lol

I love Mr reed....

Lou was a gifted artist and as with most talented people he was sullen, irascible and ill tempered. Having said that though he suffered ill health and was most likely in pain and endured discomfort. I believe this interview demonstrates his professionalism in that he could have walked out after this lady crossed the line with the insulting reference and "depressing" comment. He was clearly triggered, as expected, but cleverly put her in her place. Respect should have been given and maybe a bit more homework on her part and she may have fared better.

Rage is a music video program televised in Australia broadcast nationally by the Australian Broadcasting Commission. It airs overnight on Friday and Saturday nights

5:40 That was so "gothic" and badass. Hahaha

Man, lou's a tough interview

Very curous interview. Note towards the end where Reed tells the reporter to "drop the question" as it has not been submitted for approval. If so, she took a walk on the wild side of journalism which is not about pre-approved questions. Suspect this was used on 7.30 but not shot for 7.30 which is a show of serious journalistic cred. Interesting dilemma though when q's are pre-approved for a light ent show but then used on a serious current affairs forum.

Lou Reed was a prick but made some of my favourite music of all time. Top ten some. That's saying something because I know more about music than anyone. And have better taste. And better jeans.

and yet here it is. not dropped !

Deep down i really think he was a cuddly teddy bear he just didnt wanna admit to it

" I can't argue with an idiot. It's like talking to a squirrel. " Very direct, and well-spoken. I wish I had said that. But then, " Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he { cannot } enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ' You must be born again. ' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit. " Goodbye Mr. Reed. RIP ?

she has her list of questions & checking them each off is more important than the answer, pretending to be even the slightest bit interested in what he offers up.

Australian people seem so nice! Don't forget lou Reed was at his prime in the 70s. So he has some serious mileage on his body. Hence the different look of burn out....

Lou Never Made Prisoners 🖤

beautiful and in shape

people do get " grumpy " you gotta " snap out of it " smile and cheer up" lol

They should use his pic for anti drug adverts . This is what you end up looking like after years of drug use .

Lou seems vulnerable here. The interviewer must be pretty.

Merci pour ta patience et de répondre à "tracy la journaleuse" Les tarés de service. 😒😌😌😌😌

lou is cool.

O inemitavel Lou

He was amazing! Those who know just know. Fuck those ignorant peeps that don't get it. They get left behind

I thought this was good interview and he was open with her,......I don't understand the complaints...........do they all come from Australians I wonder ??......I thought it was good journalism, she wasn't being a sycophant and tried too have some understanding of him as when he talks about yoga !!.......protect yourself man !!..