Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Lou Reed

Role / Field:

Pioneering American rock musician, songwriter, and poet known for transgressive art.

Born:

1942-03-02

Died:

2013-10-27

Century / Era:

1942s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Lewis Allan Reed (March 2, 1942 – October 27, 2013) was an American musician, songwriter, and poet. He was the guitarist, lead singer, and principal songwriter for the rock band the Velvet Underground and had a solo career that spanned five decades. Although not commercially successful during its existence, the Velvet Underground came to be regarded as one of the most influential bands in the history of underground and alternative rock music. Reed's distinctive deadpan voice, poetic and transgressive lyrics, and experimental guitar playing were trademarks throughout his long career.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Reed began his musical career in 1964 as a pop songwriter for Pickwick Records. Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison, and Angus MacLise formed the Velvet Underground in 1965. After building a reputation in the avant garde music scene, the Velvet Underground gained the attention of Andy Warhol, who became the band's manager. The Velvet Underground became something of a fixture at The Factory, Warhol's art studio, and served as his "house band" for various projects. The band released its first album, now with drummer Moe Tucker and featuring German singer Nico, in 1967, and parted ways with Warhol shortly thereafter...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alexander Belyaev — Contemporary (Died in 1942) (1942): Pioneering Soviet science fiction writer, known as 'Russia's Jules Verne'
• Ama Ata Aidoo — Contemporary (Born in 1942) (1942): Pioneering Ghanaian writer, poet, and academician celebrated for feminist themes.
• Amitabh Bachchan — Contemporary (Born in 1942) (1942): Iconic figure of Hindi cinema, celebrated for versatility and enduring stardom.
• Aaron Swartz — Contemporary (Died in 2013) (2013): Pioneering programmer, activist, and hacktivist known for RSS, Markdown, and progressive organizing.
• Ahmed Fouad Negm — Contemporary (Died in 2013) (2013): Iconic Egyptian vernacular poet, celebrated for revolutionary and patriotic verse.
• Alden W. Clausen — Contemporary (Died in 2013) (2013): American businessman, former President of the World Bank and Bank of America CEO.
• Andrei Linde — Shared historical date (03-02 · Born) (1948): Pioneering theoretical physicist known for inflationary cosmology and the multiverse concept.
• Bedřich Smetana — Shared historical date (03-02 · Born) (1824): Father of Czech Music, known for Má vlast and The Bartered Bride.
• Abu Bakr — Shared historical date (10-27 · Born) (573): First Rashidun Caliph and esteemed companion of the Prophet Muhammad.
• Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi — Shared historical date (10-27 · Died) (2019): Iraqi militant leader and founder of the Islamic State (IS)
• 1942 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1942
• March 2 (03-02) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 2
• 2013 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2013
• October 27 (10-27) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on October 27

Frequently Asked Questions about Lou Reed