Walk on the Wild Side 1st performed in NYC

"Walk on the Wild Side" is the 1972 hit song by American rock musician Lou Reed from his album Transformer. Produced by David Bowie, it serves as an iconic counterculture anthem that highlights the gritty, transgressive side, and bohemian subculture of New York City. The song provides a localized snapshot of downtown NYC in the early 1970’s .

The song uses the lives of five Andy Warhol “superstars” whom Reed knew to varying degrees to paint that picture. Holly Woodlawn: Hitchhiked across the U.S. from Miami to New York, shaving her legs and plucking her eyebrows to transition. Candy Darling: An actress and muse who frequently starred in Warhol's films. Little Joe (Joe Dallesandro): A model and actor who made a living doing hustles on the streets of the city. Sugar Plum Fairy (Joe Campbell): A ballet dancer and actor who hit the NYC streets looking for soul food.Jackie (Jackie Curtis): An actor, writer, and drag queen known for a chaotic, fast-paced life in the underground scene.