Salman Rushdie reveals Lou Reed told him famous song was intended for a musical

The British author was speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs.

Author Sir Salman Rushdie has revealed his late friend, singer Lou Reed, told him one of his best known songs Walk On The Wild side was intended for a musical.

The 78-year-old said The Velvet Underground frontman had intended the song, from his 1972 album, Transformer, for use in a musical adaption of author Nelson Algren’s novel Walk On The Wild Side.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, Sir Salman said: “It’s kind of extraordinary to be able to say that I was friends with Lou Reed because when I was at college, I kind of worshipped The Velvet Underground.

“And the idea that I would end up with Lou Reed’s phone number never occurred to me.

“Originally, it (Walk On The Wild Side) was written to go as the t