Without Lou Reed, we wouldn't have punk rock. We wouldn't have The Sex Pistols, Black Flag, The Clash, Television, Dead Kennedys, or Devo.
Without punk rock, we wouldn't have post-punk. We wouldn't have Joy Division, The Cure, The Smiths, This Heat, Talking Heads, Wire, Gang of Four, Nick Cave, The Feelies, or Swans.
Without post-punk, we wouldn't have alternative rock as it is today. We wouldn't have Pixies, Radiohead, Nirvana, Pavement, R.E.M, The Replacements, Nine Inch Nails, Cocteau Twins, or Weezer.
Without alternative rock, you wouldn't have most indie rock as it is today. You wouldn't have Modest Mouse, Built to Spill, Pavement, The Strokes, Yo La Tengo, The Dismemberment Plan, Arctic Monkeys, Interpol, Deerhunter, or TV on the Radio.
Without Lou Reed, we wouldn't have noise rock. We wouldn't have Sonic Youth, Big Black, The Jesus Lizard, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Fugazi, Boris, or Dinosaur Jr.
Without noise rock, we wouldn't have shoegaze. We wouldn't have My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Slowdive, Galaxie 500, Flying Saucer Attack, or Have a Nice Life.
This is the legacy Lou left behind.