A fan-shot video of an intimate, collaborative performance between Lou Reed and John Mellencamp on the night of September 17th, 1987 has found its way online.
The surprise concert from the two musicians—who were billed that night as local band “Ragin’ Texans”—took place at the Bluebird nightclub in Bloomington, IN. According to reports, the roughly 100 fans in attendance enjoyed performances of Mellencamp’s “Pink Houses”, along with tunes from Reed and The Velvet Underground‘s respective songbooks including “Walk On The Wild Side”, “Sweet Jane”, “Rock & Roll”, and “I Love You, Suzanne”.
The show that night also acted as a public rehearsal for Reed and Mellencamp, as it took place just two days before Farm Aid III in Lincoln, NE where the two men would perform. Also in the smaller venue that night was late Americana guitarist John Prine, who performed after Mellencamp and Reed but doesn’t appear in the video.
Relive the surprise club performance between Mellencamp and Reed in September 1987 in the newly resurfaced video shared by YouTube user ScottishTeeVee below.
Lou Reed & John Mellencamp – Bluebird Night Club – 9/17/87
[Video: ScottishTeeVee]
[H/TÂ Stereogum]