Vicious (Lou Reed song)

1973 single by Lou Reed

"Vicious"

Single by Lou Reed
from the album  Transformer
B-side| "Goodnight Ladies" (US)
"Satellite of Love" (Europe)
Released| April 1973[1]
Recorded| August 1972
Studio| Trident Studios, London
Genre|

* Glam rock[2][3][4]
* proto-punk[5][6]

Length| 2:56
Label| RCA Victor
Songwriter(s)| Lou Reed
Producer(s)|

* David Bowie
* Mick Ronson

"Vicious" is a song written by Lou Reed, released as a single in 1973 and originally featured on Transformer, Reed's second post-Velvet Underground solo album.[7][8]

## Origins

[edit]

Lou Reed told Rolling Stone that Andy Warhol inspired the song: "He said, 'Why don't you write a song called 'Vicious'? And I said, 'What kind of vicious?' 'Oh, you know, vicious like I hit you with a flower.' And I wrote it down literally."[9]

## Reception

[edit]

Cash Box said that "Reed's lyric has a somewhat sarcastic tone that makes the listener take note almost immediately. Here again, he shines with a driving rocker and a great story line that should make this effort a natural hit."[10]

## In popular culture

[edit]

"Vicious" was featured on season 4, episode 5 of the Showtime TV series Billions.[11]

## Personnel

[edit]

* Lou Reed \- lead vocals, rhythm guitar
* David Bowie \- backing vocals
* Mick Ronson \- lead guitars
* Herbie Flowers \- bass
* John Halsey \- drums, cowbell, congas, maracas[citation needed]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 681\. ISBN 9780862415419.
2. ^ Savage, Jon (February 1, 2013). "The 20 best glam-rock songs of all time". The Guardian. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
3. ^ Potter, Jordan (December 20, 2023). "Far Out 40: The best songs of the glam-rock wave". Far Out Magazine. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
4. ^ Mastropolo, Frank (January 12, 2018). "Top 11 Glam Rock Songs". Rock Cellar Magazine. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
5. ^ HistoryCaps (2012). Combat Rock: A History of Punk (from It's [sic] Origins to the Present). BookCaps Study Guides. p. 15\. ISBN 9781621073154.
6. ^ Doran, John (2010). "BBC - Music - Review of Lou Reed - Transformer". BBC Music. Retrieved 17 February 2025. "The proto punk swagger of Vicious."
7. ^ Tosches, Nick (1973-01-04). "Transformer". Rolling Stone.
8. ^ "Thurston Moore: Punk". Rolling Stone. 4 May 2023.
9. ^ "Vicious". Rolling Stone. 1989. Archived from the original on May 29, 2012.
10. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. August 11, 1973. p. 18. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
11. ^ Leeds, Sarene (April 14, 2019). "Billions Recap: The Payback". Vulture. Retrieved January 27, 2022. "Once I heard Lou Reed's "Vicious," I was like, "OMG, Axe is going to kill this guy on their spontaneous fishing trip!" (There's even a Natalie Wood reference, for crying out loud.)"

## External links

[edit]

* Vicious at Lyrics Freak

* v
* t
* e

Lou Reed

* Discography

Studio albums|

* Lou Reed
* Transformer
* Berlin
* Sally Can't Dance
* Metal Machine Music
* Coney Island Baby
* Rock and Roll Heart
* Street Hassle
* The Bells
* Growing Up in Public
* The Blue Mask
* Legendary Hearts
* New Sensations
* Mistrial
* New York
* Magic and Loss
* Set the Twilight Reeling
* Ecstasy
* The Raven
* Hudson River Wind Meditations

Collaborations|

* Le Bataclan '72 (with John Cale and Nico)
* Songs for Drella (with John Cale)
* The Stone: Issue Three (with John Zorn and Laurie Anderson)
* Lulu (with Metallica)

Live albums|

* Rock 'n' Roll Animal
* Lou Reed Live
* Live: Take No Prisoners
* Live in Italy
* Perfect Night: Live in London
* American Poet
* Animal Serenade
* Berlin: Live At St. Ann's Warehouse
* The Creation of the Universe

Compilations|

* Walk on the Wild Side: The Best of Lou Reed
* Rock and Roll Diary: 1967–1980
* City Lights
* Walk on the Wild Side & Other Hits
* Different Times: Lou Reed in the '70s
* The Best of Lou Reed & The Velvet Underground
* A Retrospective
* Perfect Day
* Retro
* The Definitive Collection
* The Very Best of Lou Reed
* Legendary Lou Reed
* NYC Man (The Ultimate Collection 1967–2003)
* The Essential Lou Reed

Singles|

* "Walk on the Wild Side"/"Perfect Day"
* "Satellite of Love"
* "Vicious"
* "Sweet Jane"
* "Street Hassle"
* "I Love You, Suzanne"
* "My Red Joystick"
* "High in the City"
* "September Song"
* "The Original Wrapper"
* "No Money Down"
* "Dirty Blvd."

Featured singles|

* "Tranquilize"

Box sets|

* Between Thought and Expression: The Lou Reed Anthology

Related articles|

* The Velvet Underground
* John Cale
* Nico
* Ostrich guitar
* Metal Machine Trio
* Live at Montreux 2000
* Loureedia
* Rock & Rule
* Rachel Humphreys
* Laurie Anderson
* The Power of the Heart: A Tribute to Lou Reed

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

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