My Colleague's Dad Beat Up Lou Reed

Glasgow, 1960s

My colleague told me this story about her dad, and it's too good not to share. We'll call him LD.

Glasgow, some time in the 1960s. LD is managing the Crazy Daisy, a popular casino and occasional celebrity haunt. One night, in walks 'Perfect Day' singer Lou Reed. He's sat at one of the tables, talking to a group of women. They're trying to bag a celebrity, of course, but he starts to make some lewd comments about their appearance.

The women are evidently uncomfortable with these continuous remarks, so LD steps in and politely asks him to cool it.

Well, Reed doesn't take too kindly to this, and gets out of his chair. “Who the FUCK do you think you're talking to?” he asks, squaring up.

Within seconds, the two of them have a hold of each other and the fight ends up on the floor, shirts pulled untucked and brylcreamed hairstyles dishevelled. Security dives in and they're separated quickly.

LD didn't mention if Reed was thrown out. I expect he was.

I'm sure my colleague said this all happened in Glasgow, but Google only suggests a nightclub in Sheffield in the 70s. Whether I'm remembering wrong, or it's just not documented, I don't know.