Lou Reed described as a 'monster' in new biography

PanARMENIAN.Net - A new biography on Lou Reed has dug up the Velvet Underground frontman's history - accusing him of violence against women, Gigwise reports.

Notes From The Velvet Underground: The Life of Lou Reed is written by Howard Sounes, an author who has worked on similar texts about Bob Dylan (Down The Highway) and Paul McCartney (Fab). The latest text has revealed an allegedly dark history of Lou Reed abusing women.

According to The Daily Beast, accounts from over 140 interviews with Reed associates has uncovered a violent side to the singer-songwriter. Reed's former wife, Bettye Kronstad described how Reed would behave toward her: "He would, like, pin you up against a wall. Tussle you. Hit you … shake you … And then one time he actually gave me a black eye."

Describing Lou Reed as a "monster", the book traces the "pattern" in the behaviour that resulted in more than one women in his company being knocked around.

Speaking on writing a text of this nature, Sounes said: "I loved his music, but you have to go where the story goes".

As well as Reed's abuse toward women, the book details his relationship with other musicians. Racial slurs, calling Bob Dylan a "pretentious kie" and slapping his friend David Bowie are among just some of the wrong doings the Velvets man was accused of in this text.

Notes From The Velvet Underground is due out 22 October.