Metal Machine Music remains Lou Reed's most divisive work. Released in 1975, the double album consisted exclusively of an endless barrage of feedback and formless electronic noise. Although it originally remained in the racks for only three weeks, the debate over its meaning lived on. The common consensus was that Reed submitted the unlistenable tapes to RCA as a form of protest and, calling Reed's bluff, the label released the album. Although predominately reviled, the album had its admirers: Victor Bockris hailed it as the ultimate concept in punk and Lester Bangs raved about its "sick, twisted, dunced-out, malevolent, perverted, psychopathic integrity" and, although not entirely serious, would later refer to Metal Machine Music as "The Greatest Album Ever Made."

As the avant-garde is prone to do, they embraced the atonal and abrasive release as visionary. Notably, Berlin's 11-piece Zeitkratzer brass and string ensemble, directed by Reinhold Friedl, adapted Metal Machine Music as a neo-classical work., much to the iconoclastic guitarist's delight. On St. Patrick's Day in 2002, Reed joined the Zeitkratzer at the Berlin Opera House for a rare performance of his baffling opus.

As this whole scenario defies belief, it was recorded for posterity. On September 4, Asphodel Records will release the DVD, begging the question of whether MMM is truly misanthropic or possibly the missing link.