Watch John Cale’s Tribute to Lou Reed One Year After His Death

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It’s been exactly one year since rock legend Lou Reed died at age 71. To pay tribute, Reed’s former Velvet Underground bandmate John Cale released a re-recording of his 1982 tune “If You Were Still Around.” The video mixes new footage of an emotional, tearful Cale with old footage of Reed.

Cale also shared a statement, Pitchfork reports, alluding to the rockers’ at times contentious relationship:

A Moth and a Candle met. They decided to become friends. Everyone enjoyed watching their discourse – especially the risk takers. Then one day a big rain came. The Moth couldn’t fly and the Candle puttered out. Everyone laughed in bitter awe and blamed the rain. Most however knew the deeper truth – the Candle remains lit and the Moth will stay close.

 

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