A thoughtful and insightful feature examines Lou Reed’s rapidly growing influence on the new wave of British and American rock acts, positioning him as a quiet architect of the post-Velvet Underground sound. Nick Kent analyses how Reed’s raw, street-level songwriting and detached cool have inspired a new generation, including bands like Mott the Hoople and Roxy Music. This October 1972 NME piece captures the exact moment when Lou Reed’s solo career and Velvet Underground lega