Lewis Allan Reed

Lou Reed, a rock guitarist, singer and songwriter, passed away Sunday, October 27, 2013 from complications related to liver disease.
 

Reed’s early career was dominated by his role as vocalist, guitarist and the principal songwriter for the Velvet Underground. The band failed to become a commercial success, although it later gained a massive cult following and has since become one of the most influential groups in rock history. Reed left the Velvet Underground in 1970, and began a solo career spanning four decades.
 

His solo career was peppered with well-received, successful albums interspersed with commercial failures. Reed’s chameleonic, unpredictable music challenged his fans, but his unique approach to his music helped to open rock to the avant-garde and popularized indie music. Punk, New Wave and alternative rock all owe a debt to Reed as an inspiration for these movements to draw from.
 

An archetypical tough-guy embodying the spirit of rock, Reed grew up as a middle-class accountant’s son. His upbringing on Long Island, subsequent education at Syracuse University, and his life in New York City all played an important role in his musical journey. Reed has been one of the most important figures in rock history, and members of the industry - and outside of it - have been vocal in their tributes since his death.
 

Reed is survived by his wife and longtime companion, Laurie Anderson.