How Lou Reed saved the day for union

Georges De Keerle/Getty Images

Lou Reed performs at a 1990 concert at Wembley Stadium in London. Reed died Sunday at the age of 71.

Lou Reed famously hated critics. His tussles with the press over the years became legendary.

But I have a personal memory of Lou that could blow his journalist-loathing image out of the water.

RELATED: LOU REED, FOUNDER OF THE VELVET UNDERGROUND, DEAD AT 71

Back in 1991, when I — along with hundreds of other Daily News workers — went on strike, I found myself part of the “party committee.” Our group was tasked with setting up a high-profile fund-raising event for the cause, and at our first planning meeting I made the mistake of getting up to go to the bathroom.

When I returned, the other committee members smiled widely at me and announced: “Good news — you’re getting the talent!”

PHOTOS: IN MEMORIAM: STARS WE'VE LOST IN 2013

Oh, joy.

While I’d reviewed hundreds of shows before, I had never actually booked one. In casting wildly around for who this novice talent booker could possibly snag for the event, I got wind that Lou was a union kinda guy. I got in touch with him and he agreed to perform before I’d even ended my pitch. He knew everything about the strike and about The News, and he talked, at length, about his strong feelings about workers rights.

RELATED: LOU REED DEAD AT 71: AN APPRECIATION

Lou Reed, man of the people. Who knew?

Not only did Lou agree to be our headliner, he helped us find the proper venue for the event. That turned out to be a quite hip place at the time, a club known as The Building, in what was then “The Flower District” in the West 20s.

Snagging Lou as our headliner helped me draw other talent, like the Roaches, Pete Seeger and — believe it or not — Q-Tip, of A Tribe Called Quest.

Come the day of the event, Lou showed up dutifully, required no special treatment and performed more songs than we originally agreed upon. He played his hit “Walk on the Wild Side,” plus some songs from the “New York” album, which showed his deep love for, and identification with, this city. It was a glorious night that packed the house and even drew then-Mayor Dinkins.

The day after the show, I called Lou to thank him profusely and he practically purred. He also assured me that I didn’t have to write nice things about his albums just because of this, which was great because I didn’t always find them as surprising or fresh as they might have been. In dealing with Lou directly, however, I did find that sense of surprise. Turns out, rock’s Prince of Darkness was, secretly, a mensch.

jfarber@nydailynews.com