Lou Reed

Lou Reed
Photographer unknown. Published by Verve Records, a subsidiary of MGM Records at · Public domain · source
Name	Lou Reed
Caption	Reed in 2008
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Lewis Allan Reed
Birth date	March 2, 1942
Birth place	Brooklyn, New York City
Death date	October 27, 2013
Death place	Suffern, New York
Genres	Rock, Art rock, Glam rock, Proto‑punk
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, musician, poet, producer
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1964–2013
Labels	Verve, Polydor, RCA, Sire
Associated acts	The Velvet Underground, John Cale, David Bowie, Metallica, Sonic Youth

Lou Reed Lewis Allan Reed (March 2, 1942 – October 27, 2013) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, poet, and record producer whose work with The Velvet Underground and as a solo artist helped shape alternative rock, punk rock, and indie rock. Known for his deadpan vocal delivery, candid lyricism, and experimentation with guitar timbre and studio techniques, Reed's career intersected with figures from Andy Warhol to David Bowie and movements ranging from New York art scene collectives to international rock music circuits.

Early life and education

Reed was born in Brooklyn and raised in Freeport, New York on Long Island, the son of a furniture salesman and a secretary tied to New York City life. He attended Freeport High School before studying English literature and creative writing at Syracuse University, where he befriended fellow students and future cultural figures including Delmore Schwartz's circle and drew influence from Beat Generation writers and poetry communities. After leaving Syracuse, Reed moved into the downtown New York City arts milieu, connecting with musicians and visual artists in Greenwich Village and SoHo.

Formation of The Velvet Underground and early career

In the mid-1960s Reed co-founded a band that became known as The Velvet Underground with collaborators including John Cale, Sterling Morrison, and Maureen "Moe" Tucker. The group became closely associated with Andy Warhol's Factory, touring with the Exploding Plastic Inevitable multimedia shows and sharing bills with avant-garde artists and performers from the 1960s counterculture scene. Their debut album, produced under the auspices of Verve Records and championed by Warhol and Nico, challenged mainstream rock music norms with songs referencing urban life, addiction, and sexual subcultures, gaining critical esteem among contemporaries such as Brian Eno, Iggy Pop, and David Bowie despite modest sales.

Solo career and musical evolution

After leaving The Velvet Underground in 1970, Reed embarked on a solo career that included albums for RCA Records and collaborations with producers like David Bowie and Giorgio Moroder. His 1972 album Transformer, produced by Bowie and Mick Ronson, yielded the hit single "Walk on the Wild Side", which brought Reed mainstream exposure and provoked discussion among figures in media and censorship debates. Over subsequent decades Reed experimented with glam rock, noise rock, electronic music, and orchestral arrangements on albums such as Berlin, Rock and Roll Heart, New York, and Metal Machine Music, drawing reactions from critics at outlets linked to Rolling Stone, NME, and The New York Times while influencing artists including Patti Smith, R.E.M., The Strokes, and Sonic Youth.

Collaborations and side projects

Reed's career featured high-profile collaborations spanning genres and generations: he worked directly with John Cale on reunion projects and joint recordings, partnered with David Bowie for production and touring, performed with Metallica for a live album and televised appearances, and engaged with alternative acts like Sonic Youth on concerts and recordings. He contributed songwriting and guest appearances for artists associated with labels such as Sire Records and Polydor Records, and participated in multidisciplinary projects with visual artists from the Factory orbit and filmmakers from the New Hollywood and independent film scenes.

Personal life and public persona

Reed's personal life—marked by relationships, struggles with addiction, a public conversion to vegetarianism at times, and eventual advocacy for artistic freedom—was often entwined with his public persona as a candid chronicler of urban experience. He was married twice, most notably to Laurie Anderson from 2008 until his death; Anderson herself is a notable figure linked to experimental music, performance art, and institutions such as the Walker Art Center. Reed's offstage demeanor combined literary ambitions rooted in figures like Delmore Schwartz with a reputation for blunt commentary in interviews with outlets such as Rolling Stone and The New Yorker.

Artistic legacy and influence

Reed's influence is traced across generations of musicians, writers, and visual artists: his work informed the aesthetics of punk rock progenitors like The Ramones and Iggy Pop, inspired alternative rock acts including R.E.M., The Smiths, and The Cure, and resonated with contemporary songwriters from Nick Cave to Arcade Fire. Institutions including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (which inducted The Velvet Underground) and numerous retrospectives at museums connected to Andy Warhol and The Museum of Modern Art have examined his contributions, while scholars and critics at publications such as The Guardian, The New York Times, and Pitchfork continue to assess Reed's role in shaping lyrical frankness, studio experimentation, and the integration of literary influences into rock music's mainstream and underground currents.

Category:American singer-songwriters Category:1942 births Category:2013 deaths