Lou Reed

Lou Reed (born Lewis Allen Reed on March 2, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York), is a rock and roll singer-songwriter of Jewish descent. Hailed as the ?Godfather of Punk,? Reed has greatly influenced punk and alternative rock.

Related Topics:
March 2 - 1942 - Brooklyn - New York - Rock and roll - Singer-songwriter - Jewish - Punk - Alternative rock

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Reed first gained prominence as the guitarist and principal singer-songwriter of The Velvet Underground. The band, which lasted from 1965 until 1972 (with Reed departing in late 1970), gained little notice during its lifetime but is often considered the ?big bang? from which most alternative rock sprang. As the Velvets? songwriter, Reed wrote about such taboo subjects as S&M (?Venus in Furs?) and drug addiction (?I?m Waiting for the Man,? ?Heroin?). As a guitarist, he made innovative use of abrasive distortion and peculiar tunings.

Related Topics:
Guitar - The Velvet Underground - 1965 - 1972 - 1970 - Big bang - Taboo - S&M - Drug addiction

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Reed has had a long and varied solo career. Although he scored a hit with 1972?s ?Walk on the Wild Side,? he has purposefully evaded commercial success and has released albums that have frustrated even his fans (most notably 1975?s infamous Metal Machine Music, upon which he later commented that 'no one is supposed to be able to do a thing like that and survive'). Yet, for the most part, Reed has been widely admired by fans, music critics and fellow songwriters.

Related Topics:
1972 - Walk on the Wild Side - 1975 - Metal Machine Music

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Reed has lived in New York City for most of his life and much of his music evokes the city.

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