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Canadian bands Metric, Cowboy Junkies react to death of Lou Reed

Lou Reed, pictured on Oct. 3, 2013. Getty Images

TORONTO — Canadian singer Emily Haines of Metric expressed her grief Sunday about the passing of legendary singer-songwriter Lou Reed.

Reed, who died Sunday at 71, appeared with Haines on the song “The Wanderlust” on Metric’s 2012 album Synthetica. They also performed it together on stage in New York City.

“I am beyond sadness at the loss of my friend,” Haines tweeted. “Sending my love to [Reed’s wife] Laurie. Can’t say anything more just yet. In denial.”
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Haines also said Metric was dedicating its Sunday night concert in Houston to Reed.

Mike Timmins of Cowboy Junkies posted a heartfelt tribute to Reed on the Canadian band’s website.

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The group scored a major hit with its cover of the Reed-penned song “Sweet Jane” — originally released by Reed’s band The Velvet Underground — on the 1988 Cowboy Junkies album The Trinity Session.

“An enterprising record company exec got our version to Lou and he gave the equivalent of two thumbs up…we could have stopped right there and … our foray in to music would have been a success,” Timmins recalled.

“About a year later the band was introduced to Lou at a bistro in Paris after we had each finished our respective gigs. He was kind and gracious to us. His sage words of advice that night, from someone who had been through it all to a young band just starting out, were ‘fire your manager and hire a good lawyer.'”

Timmins said he was thrilled when Reed mentioned the Cowboy Junkies during his concert the following night.

“It doesn’t get a whole lot better than that ….a shout out (before the term existed) from the stage by an idol who is not known for being gratuitous with his praise.”

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WATCH: METRIC PERFORMS “THE WANDERLUST” WITH LOU REED.

WATCH: COWBOY JUNKIES PERFORM LOU REED’S “SWEET JANE.”

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