Lou Reed, born Lewis Allan Reed on March 2, 1942, was a profoundly influential American musician, singer, and songwriter whose work with the Velvet Underground—a band co-founded with John Cale—revolutionized rock music in the 1960s. Their avant-garde sound, combining raw guitars with poetic, often controversial lyrics, did not initially lead to widespread fame. However, the Velvet Underground's influence on the development of punk and alternative music was enormous, and their legacy grew over the decades following their breakup. Reed was the principal songwriter and a vocal stylist who became known for his conversational delivery and for exploring taboo subjects rarely touched upon in mainstream music of the time.

After leaving the Velvet Underground in 1970, Reed embarked on a solo career that would see him release iconic songs such as "Walk on the Wild Side" and "Perfect Day." His solo work often oscillated between the visceral and the tender, with his albums capturing various snapshots of city life and human experience. Albums like "Transformer," produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson, and "Berlin" are considered classics. Reed's work remained evolutionary; his 1989 album "New York" earned him critical acclaim for its narrative-driven tracks that depicted the city's complexities with unflinching honesty. Lou Reed passed away on October 27, 2013, leaving behind a legacy as a defiant and uncompromising artist who consistently pushed the boundaries of rock music.

Genres

Classic Rock

Glam Rock

Permanent Wave

Rock

Singer-songwriter

Related Artists

David Bowie

Iggy Pop

Patti Smith

Talking Heads

John Cale

The Stooges

Television

Leonard Cohen

Nico

Brian Eno

Tom Waits

New York Dolls

Latest Release

Forever Changed

Lou Reed•

Letizia Dei•

Vertere String Quartet

Album - 11 Tracks - Released February 29, 2024