October 15, 2002 — One of the most influential musicians in rock, Lou Reed is re-releasing two of his best works on BMG Heritage this fall. The legendary frontman of the Velvet Underground, who went on to have a diverse solo career, is releasing the two-disc live concert, Take No Prisoners for the first time in the U.S. In addition, Lou is celebrating the 30th anniversary of his solo breakthrough Transformer album with the release of a deluxe edition including unreleased bonus tracks.

Take No Prisoners (Arista/BMG Heritage) - Street Date: 9/24/2002:
Reed displays his remarkable powers of provocation on the live Take No Prisoners, to be issued on CD for the first time in the U.S. with new liner notes from David Fricke. Recorded at New York's Bottom Line in May 1978, as punk was beginning its ascent, the album finds Reed lashing out at his audience and the music business in a series of explosive monologues, set against a backdrop of his greatest hits. Reed names names, veering from digressions on Norman Mailer, his high-school athletic career, and the price of drugs during expansive and radically rearranged versions of hits such as "Walk on the Wild Side," "Sweet Jane," and "Coney Island Baby."

Transformer (RCA/BMG Heritage) - Street Date: 10/22/2002:
1972's Transformer was the commercial and critical breakthrough that connected Reed with a mass audience for the first time. Produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson, the album yielded classic tracks such as the now-standard "Walk on the Wild Side," the Warhol-inspired "Vicious," and "New York Telephone Conversation." Now in its 30th anniversary year, Transformer will be reissued October 22nd with new liner notes from Michael Hill and previously unreleased bonus material including acoustic demo versions of "Hangin' Round" and "Perfect Day."

These releases join Rock 'n' Roll Heart, Metal Machine Music, and The Bells, in the Lou Reed-reissue campaign from BMG Heritage, which will continue in 2003 with Coney Island Baby and Street Hassle.