Lou Reed: Many bigger-selling artists dream of his influence

LOU REED WAS, in no apparent order, a hugely influential singer, songwriter and musician whose impact on both rock's scope of subject matter and its sonic palette was far greater than his sales figures would ever suggest; a frontline member of rock's "Awkward Squad" who delighted in giving interviewers as hard a time as humanly possible; and an iconic presence whose side-of-the-mouth deadpan drawl and impenetrable shades provided several generations of punks with an archetypal posing template.