Lou Reed in Amsterdam Book signed by Gijsbert Hanekroot

Lou Reed in Amsterdam 1972-1977

Between 1972 and 1977 Gijsbert Hanekroot photographed the American rock musician Lou Reed (1942-2013) on seven occasions in Amsterdam; during concerts and interviews. An extensive selection of these impressive images can be seen in the beautiful photo book Lou Reed in Amsterdam 1972 - 1977. Sebastiaan Vos provides an informative reference to the early years of Lou Reed's solo career and offers an excellently documented description of Hanekroots photographs of Reed.
In 1972 Lou Reed releases his first solo album after leaving the legendary rock band The Velvet Underground two years earlier. He also goes on tour. Reed has a contrary image of sex, drugs & rock 'n' roll. He doesn't hesitate to fool his audience and insult journalists. Already in these early years Reed's solo career has been erratic and reckless. That does not alter the fact that his popularity continues to rise. In the mid-seventies he seems to have found his true form on stage and the rock 'n' roll animal disappears from view to make way for a more 'ordinary' Reed. Musically and lyrically -Reed is a poet - he shows, however, that he is one of the greatest artists in rock music.

Short biographies

In 1969 Gijsbert Hanekroot started as a professional photographer. Just in time to capture the explosion of the rock scene in the seventies. Many iconic photos were the result. This book contains his most important photographs by Lou Reed, including a number of previously unpublished gems.

Gijsbert Hanekroot (Brussels 1945) started working as a rock photographer at the end of the sixties and was one of the first in the Netherlands. In the seventies and early eighties he got an impressive amount of bands and musicians in front of his camera. His craftsmanship as a photographer (he is self-taught), developed parallel to that of pop music. Hanekroot travelled a lot and stood eye to eye with all the icons from this period.

Sebastiaan Vos (Middelstum, 1973) studied Dutch and is an archivist and publicist. In 2016 he wrote the text for David Bowie - The Seventies, with photographs by Gijsbert Hanekroot. For Lou Reed in Amsterdam 1972 - 1977 he gives an informative description of the early years of Lou Reed's solo career and offers an excellently documented description of Hanekroots photographs of the American rock star.