Dizzy Reed facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dizzy Reed
Reed performing in 2006 with Guns N' Roses
Background information
Birth name	Darren Arthur Reed
Also known as	Dizzy Dizzy F'n Reed
Born	(1963-06-18) June 18, 1963 (age 62) Hinsdale, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	Hard rock heavy metal industrial rock
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Keyboards vocals guitar
Years active	1985–present
Labels	Geffen
Children	4

Darren Arthur "Dizzy" Reed, born on June 18, 1963, is an American musician. He is most famous as the keyboard player for the hard rock band Guns N' Roses. He has been with them since 1990, playing, touring, and recording music.

Besides the lead singer, Axl Rose, Dizzy Reed has been in Guns N' Roses longer than anyone else. He was the only member from their Use Your Illusion album era who stayed until 2016. That year, guitarist Slash and bass player Duff McKagan returned to the band.

In 2012, Dizzy Reed was honored and added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This was for his work as a member of Guns N' Roses. He was also part of a supergroup called The Dead Daisies. In that band, he played with his Guns N' Roses bandmate Richard Fortus.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Dizzy Reed was born Darren Arthur Reed on June 18, 1963. His birthplace was Hinsdale, Illinois, and he grew up in Colorado. His grandmother started teaching him to play the organ when he was very young. Before he finished elementary school, he had already started small local bands.

Dizzy Reed's Music Career

Reed after a Guns N' Roses concert in 2010.

As an adult, Dizzy Reed moved to Los Angeles to follow his dream of a music career. In the late 1980s, he helped start a club band called The Wild. He played with them for five years.

Dizzy Reed first met the original members of Guns N' Roses in 1985. His band, The Wild, was practicing in a studio next to theirs. He stayed in touch with them. In 1990, his friend Axl Rose asked him to join Guns N' Roses. He joined them to record their two Use Your Illusion albums and go on tour.

Dizzy quickly became an important part of the band. He has appeared on every Guns N' Roses album since Use Your Illusion I. As a member of the band, he is known for his keyboard, piano, and backing vocals. You can hear his work on famous songs like "Estranged" and "November Rain". When playing live, he often helps with percussion and backing vocals on older songs.

Dizzy Reed continues to record and perform live with Guns N' Roses. He has been a member of the band longer than anyone else, except for Axl Rose. While he did not write songs for the Illusion albums, he helped write several songs for Chinese Democracy. These include the title track "Chinese Democracy" and "Street of Dreams". He also co-wrote an unfinished song called "Silkworms" with another keyboardist, Chris Pitman. This song was later reworked and released as a single called "ABSUЯD" in 2021.

Other Music Projects

Reed playing with The Dead Daisies in 2013.

Outside of Guns N' Roses, Dizzy Reed has played on albums for his former bandmates. These include Slash, Duff McKagan, and Gilby Clarke. He also played on Tommy Stinson's solo album Village Gorilla Head in 2004. Dizzy Reed is a fan of Larry Norman, a pioneer in Christian music. He played on Norman's Copper Wires album. He has also composed music for movies like The Still Life (2006) and Celebrity Art Show (2008). His first solo album came out on February 16, 2018.

When he is not touring with Guns N' Roses, Dizzy Reed often tours with his hard rock cover band, Hookers & Blow. In this band, he plays keyboard and sings lead vocals. Hookers & Blow was started in 2003 by Dizzy Reed and Quiet Riot guitarist Alex Grossi. For his work with Hookers & Blow, Dizzy Reed was named Outstanding Keyboardist of the Year in 2007. His band was also named Best Cover Band.

Dizzy Reed was also a member of The Dead Daisies with Guns N' Roses guitarist Richard Fortus. Both of them left the band in 2015. They wanted to focus more on Guns N' Roses.

Personal Life

Dizzy Reed was married to Lisa for 20 years. They divorced in 2010. They have two daughters, Skye (born in 1992) and Shade (born in 1996). He also has a daughter named Morgan and a son named Justin Gunn-Reed (born in 1988) from a previous relationship. In 2017, he became a grandfather to Riley, Morgan's son.

In 2005, Dizzy Reed joined a college fraternity, which is unusual for someone his age. On January 22, 2006, he became a member of the Cornell University chapter of Zeta Psi.

Discography

Solo Albums

With Guns N' Roses

Studio Albums

Extended Plays

Live Albums

Compilation Albums

Non-Album Singles

• "Absurd" (2021)
• "Hard Skool" (2021)
• "Perhaps" / "The General" (2023)

Contributions to Soundtracks

With Johnny Crash

With The Dead Daisies

With ... & Blow

Guest Appearances

See also

In Spanish: Dizzy Reed para niños