Lou Reed facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lou Reed
Reed performing live at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland, Oregon, 2004
Background information
Birth name	Lewis Allan Reed
Born	(1942-03-02)March 2, 1942 New York City, U.S.
Origin	Freeport, New York, U.S.
Died	October 27, 2013(2013-10-27) (aged 71) East Hampton, New York, U.S.
Genres	Rock experimental proto-punk glam rock art rock noise rock
Occupation(s)	Musician singer songwriter composer photographer
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1958–2013
Labels	Pickwick Verve MGM Cotillion RCA Arista Sire Warner Bros.

Lewis Allan Reed (born March 2, 1942 – died October 27, 2013) was an American musician, songwriter, and poet. He was the guitarist, singer, and main songwriter for the rock band The Velvet Underground. He also had a successful solo career for over 50 years.

Even though The Velvet Underground wasn't super famous at the time, they became one of the most important bands in underground music and alternative rock history. Lou Reed was known for his unique singing voice, poetic lyrics, and experimental guitar playing. These qualities were his trademarks throughout his long career.

He played guitar and sang in doo-wop groups during high school. Later, he studied poetry at Syracuse University with Delmore Schwartz. While in college, he also worked as a radio DJ, hosting a late-night show about avant garde music.

After college, he worked for Pickwick Records in New York City. This company made low-budget records. Lou Reed worked there as a songwriter and musician. He met John Cale there, and they formed The Velvet Underground in 1965 with Sterling Morrison and Angus MacLise.

The band became known in the avant-garde music scene. They caught the eye of artist Andy Warhol, who became their manager. The band often performed at Warhol's art studio, The Factory. In 1967, they released their first album, Velvet Underground & Nico, with drummer Moe Tucker and singer Nico. Soon after, they stopped working with Warhol. After more albums and band changes, Reed left the group in 1970.

After leaving the band, Lou Reed started a very successful solo career. He released twenty solo studio albums. His second album, Transformer (1972), was produced by David Bowie. This album helped him become famous, especially with the hit song "Walk on the Wild Side". Transformer is seen as a key album in glam rock music.

Later, his album Berlin (1973) was praised by critics and reached No. 7 in the UK. Rock 'n' Roll Animal (1974), a live album, sold very well. Sally Can't Dance (1974) reached No. 10 in the US. In the 1980s, Reed became popular again with albums like The Blue Mask (1982) and New Sensations (1984). His 1989 album, New York, was a big success with both critics and fans.

The Velvet Underground reunited in the 1990s. Reed also made more albums, including Songs for Drella with John Cale. This album was a tribute to Andy Warhol. Magic and Loss (1992) became his highest-charting album in the UK, reaching No. 6.

He created music for plays based on 19th-century writers. One of these became the album The Raven. In 2008, he married his third wife, Laurie Anderson. He also recorded the album Lulu with the band Metallica. Lou Reed passed away in 2013 from liver disease. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: with The Velvet Underground in 1996 and as a solo artist in 2015.

Biography

Early Life and Music (1942–1964)

Lewis Allan Reed was born on March 2, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in Freeport, Long Island. His parents were Toby and Sidney Joseph Reed. His family was Jewish, and his grandparents came from Russia to escape unfair treatment. Lou Reed once said that even though he was Jewish, his "real god was rock 'n' roll".

He went to elementary and junior high school in Freeport. His sister said that as a teenager, he sometimes felt very anxious and was a bit shy. However, he was very focused on things he loved, especially music. He learned to play guitar by listening to the radio. In high school, he played in several bands, showing an early interest in rock and roll and rhythm and blues. Lou Reed also had dyslexia.

Lou Reed's first recording was with a doo-wop group called the Jades. He played guitar and sang backing vocals. In 1958, after a talent show, the group recorded a single called "So Blue". Even though it didn't become a hit, it was played on the radio, giving Reed his first airplay. His passion for music often caused disagreements with his parents.

After a difficult period, Reed went to Syracuse University in 1960. He studied journalism, film directing, and creative writing. He was part of the ROTC program but said he was later removed for a prank.

He played music on campus with various bands. In 1961, he started hosting a late-night radio show called Excursions on a Wobbly Rail. The show played doo wop, rhythm and blues, and jazz. Reed said he was inspired by jazz musicians like Ornette Coleman.

At Syracuse, he studied with the poet Delmore Schwartz, who became his friend and mentor. Reed said Schwartz taught him how to use simple language to create powerful writing. Reed later dedicated a song to Schwartz. He wanted to bring the depth of novels to rock music. In 1964, he graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in English.

Forming The Velvet Underground (1964–1970)

The Velvet Underground, 1968

In 1964, Lou Reed moved to New York City. He worked as a songwriter for Pickwick Records. He even sang on some recordings for the company. For Pickwick, Reed wrote a song called "The Ostrich". It was a funny song that made fun of popular dance music.

His bosses thought the song could be a hit. They put together a band called the Primitives to help promote it. This band included Reed, John Cale, Tony Conrad, and Walter De Maria. Cale noticed that Reed tuned all his guitar strings to the same note. This created a unique "drone" sound.

Reed and Cale became friends and lived together. They invited Reed's college friend, guitarist Sterling Morrison, and Cale's neighbor, drummer Angus MacLise, to join them. This is how The Velvet Underground was formed. When they got their first paid show, MacLise left because he didn't want to get paid for art. Moe Tucker, Sterling Morrison's sister, took his place as drummer. Even though the band didn't sell many records at first, they are now seen as one of the most important bands in rock history. Lou Reed was the main singer and songwriter.

The famous artist Andy Warhol soon noticed the band. Warhol helped them become part of his art shows. Many of Reed's songs were inspired by the artists and people around Warhol. Reed always said Warhol was a great mentor. Warhol also encouraged the band to work with German singer Nico. Reed wrote several songs for Nico to sing, and they were briefly a couple.

The Velvet Underground & Nico was released in March 1967. It didn't sell many copies at first. But later, Rolling Stone magazine called it one of the greatest albums ever. Many musicians say this album inspired them to start their own bands.

By the time the band recorded their second album, White Light/White Heat, Nico had left. Warhol was also no longer their manager. In 1968, John Cale left the band. Doug Yule joined as the new bassist and singer. The band's sound became more pop-oriented. They released two more albums with this lineup: The Velvet Underground (1969) and Loaded (1970). Lou Reed left The Velvet Underground in August 1970.

Solo Success and Glam Rock (1970–1975)

After leaving the Velvet Underground, Lou Reed moved back home with his parents. He worked as a typist for his father's tax company. In 1971, he signed a record deal with RCA Records. He recorded his first solo album, Lou Reed, in London. This album had new versions of songs that were meant for The Velvet Underground. Critics didn't pay much attention to this album, and it didn't sell well.

However, Lou Reed's next album, Transformer, was a big success. It came out in November 1972. David Bowie and Mick Ronson helped produce it. This album made Reed famous, especially in the UK. The song "Walk on the Wild Side" became his signature song. It talked about the unique people who were part of Andy Warhol's art studio. The song's lyrics were daring but managed to avoid being censored on the radio. It was Reed's only song to reach the top 20 on the US singles chart.

Ronson's musical arrangements added new depth to Reed's songs. For example, "Perfect Day" features beautiful strings. This song became popular again in the 1990s.

Reed married Bettye Kronstad in 1973. His 1973 European tour featured guitarists Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner. They played songs from his new album Berlin and older hits. When Berlin first came out, some critics didn't like it. But over time, it has been recognized as a great album. Berlin reached No. 7 on the UK Albums Chart.

After Berlin, Reed released the live album Rock 'n' Roll Animal in February 1974. This album featured live versions of Velvet Underground songs like "Sweet Jane" and "Rock and Roll". The powerful guitar arrangements made the album very popular. It became Reed's best-selling album, reaching No. 45 in the US.

Later that year, in August 1974, he released Sally Can't Dance. This album became his highest-charting album in the United States, reaching No. 10.

Later Career and Collaborations (1980–2012)

Reed performing live during a benefit concert for A Conspiracy of Hope at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, 1986

Lou Reed married British designer Sylvia Morales in 1980. She inspired several of his songs, including "Heavenly Arms" from his 1982 album The Blue Mask. This album was highly praised by critics. They called it a "great record" and "deeply felt". After Legendary Hearts (1983) and New Sensations (1984), Reed became well-known enough to appear in commercials for Honda scooters.

His 1984 album New Sensations was his first to chart in the US Top 100 since 1978. The song "I Love You, Suzanne" was played on MTV.

In 1985, Reed performed at the first Farm Aid concert. He also played bass for Roy Orbison. In 1986, he released Mistrial. That same year, he joined Amnesty International's "A Conspiracy of Hope" tour. He spoke out about political issues in New York City. He also sang on the anti-Apartheid song "Sun City".

His 1989 album New York talked about important topics like crime and HIV/AIDS. It became his second album to sell over 500,000 copies. Reed was nominated for a Grammy Award for this album.

Reed met John Cale again at Andy Warhol's funeral in 1987. They worked together on the album Songs for Drella (1990). This album was a tribute to Warhol. In 1990, the original Velvet Underground lineup reunited for a show in France. They toured Europe again in 1993, including a performance at the Glastonbury Festival.

Reed released his sixteenth solo album, Magic and Loss, in 1992. This album focused on life and death, inspired by friends who had passed away. In 1994, he appeared in a tribute concert for The Who. That same year, he and Sylvia Morales divorced.

The Velvet Underground was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. At the ceremony, Reed, Cale, and Tucker performed a song for their bandmate Sterling Morrison, who had passed away. In 1996, Reed released Set the Twilight Reeling. He also contributed music to Time Rocker, a play based on H. G. Wells' The Time Machine.

From 1992, Reed was in a relationship with artist Laurie Anderson. They worked on several recordings together. They got married on April 12, 2008.

In 2000, Reed worked on another play inspired by writer Edgar Allan Poe. In 2003, he released a 2-CD album called The Raven, based on this play. It featured actors like Willem Dafoe and David Bowie.

In 2003, Reed released a book of his photographs called Emotions in Action. He released two more photo books later. In 2004, a remixed version of his song "Satellite of Love" reached No. 10 on the UK Singles Chart.

Reed performing in Málaga, Spain, 2008

In 2006, Reed performed at a tribute show for Leonard Cohen. He played a heavy metal version of Cohen's "The Stranger Song". In December 2006, Reed performed a series of shows based on his Berlin album. These shows were later released as a live album and film in 2008. In 2007, he released Hudson River Wind Meditations, an album of peaceful, ambient music. He also recorded the song "Tranquilize" with the Killers.

Reed performing at the
Hop Farm Festival in Paddock Wood, Kent, 2011

In 2008, he started a new group called Metal Machine Trio. They played improvised instrumental music. Reed also voiced the villain Maltazard in the 2009 film Arthur and the Revenge of Maltazard.

In 2009, Reed performed with Metallica at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 25th anniversary. In 2010, he was featured on the song "Some Kind of Nature" by Gorillaz. In October 2011, Metallica and Reed released a collaboration album called Lulu. It was based on plays by a German writer. The album received mixed reviews.

In 2012, Reed worked with the band Metric on their song "The Wanderlust". This was the last original song he worked on.

Death and Legacy

Lou Reed had been ill for several years. He practiced tai chi in his later life. In May 2013, he had a liver transplant. He wrote on his website that he felt "bigger and stronger" after the surgery. However, on October 27, 2013, he passed away from liver disease at his home in New York. He was 71 years old.

His wife, Laurie Anderson, said his last days were peaceful. Many famous musicians like David Bowie, Patti Smith, and Iggy Pop paid tribute to him. Former Velvet Underground members also shared their sadness.

On the day he passed, bands like Pearl Jam and the Killers dedicated songs to him. A public memorial was held in New York City. In 2014, Lou Reed was announced as a solo inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Patti Smith inducted him at the ceremony in 2015.

His letters and personal items were given to the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. In 2022, the library held an exhibition of his archive.

An asteroid, 270553 Loureed, was named in his honor. A type of spider with a velvet body, found in Spain, was named Loureedia because it has a velvet body and lives underground.

Equipment

Guitars

Lou Reed used many guitars throughout his career. His main guitar during the Velvet Underground days was a 1964 Gretsch Country Gentleman. He changed it a lot. He also played various Fender Telecasters, especially custom-built ones. Other electric guitars he played included:

• Carl Thompson
• Steve Klein
• Epiphone Riviera
• Steinberger Synapse Transcale ST-2FPA Custom
• Gibson ES-335TD
• Fender Electric XII twelve-string
• Gibson SG

Amplifiers

Lou Reed used different amplifiers to create his sound, including:

• Jim Kelley Amplifiers
• Fender 'wide panel tweed' Deluxe Amp 5C3
• Soldano SLO 100 100-Watt Tube guitar amplifier
• Tone King Imperial 1×12 Combo guitar amplifier
• Sears Silvertone 1484 Twin-Twelve

Discography

Filmography

Images for kids

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  Lou Reed as a high school senior, 1959

See also

In Spanish: Lou Reed para niños