Quick Facts
| Canonical Name | Lou Reed |
| Born | March 2, 1942 |
| Birthplace | Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States |
| Country | United States |
| Occupations | film director, musician, music executive, singer, singer-songwriter, guitarist, photographer, composer, songwriter, poet, actor, record producer |
| Instruments | guitar, voice |
| Gender | male |
| Genres | rock music, proto-punk, alternative rock, noise rock, experimental rock, glam rock, folk rock, psychedelic rock, blue-eyed soul, art rock, spoken word, drone music, rock |
| Associated Acts | The Velvet Underground |
| Active Years | Active since 1964 |
| Website | www.loureed.com |
Identity and Aliases
Biography
Lou Reed was an American musician from Brooklyn, New York City, whose career was closely tied to The Velvet Underground. He worked as a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and composer, while also pursuing writing, photography, acting, production, and film work.
Reed’s music spanned rock music, proto-punk, alternative rock, noise rock, experimental rock, glam rock, folk rock, psychedelic rock, blue-eyed soul, art rock, spoken word, and drone music. His solo catalog includes albums such as Transformer, Berlin, Sally Can’t Dance, Metal Machine Music, Coney Island Baby, Street Hassle, The Blue Mask, New York, Ecstasy, The Raven, and Lulu.
Beyond his solo releases, Reed was associated with groups including Metal Machine Trio, The Roughnecks, and The Conspirators, and he also collaborated with Artists United Against Apartheid. He was married to Laurie Anderson and remained active in music from 1964 until 2013.
Career Timeline
Musical Roles
Reed worked primarily as a singer, singer-songwriter, guitarist, composer, and songwriter. He also had credits as a record producer, music executive, film director, actor, poet, and photographer.
Bands and Projects
Releases and Appearances
MusicBrainz lists several release entries connected to Lou Reed. These entries may include solo releases, guest appearances, live recordings, and catalogued metadata records.
MusicBrainz-listed Releases and Appearances
Recorded Performances & Appearances
MusicBrainz-listed recording entries connected to Lou Reed include:
Musical Style and Instruments
Reed’s music moved through rock, proto-punk, alternative rock, noise rock, experimental rock, glam rock, folk rock, psychedelic rock, blue-eyed soul, art rock, spoken word, and drone music. His work often balanced direct rock songwriting with more exploratory and unconventional textures.
Genres
Instruments
Collaborations and Guest Relationships
External Identifiers & Authority Control
Lou Reed maintained an official website at loureed.com, and his name is also associated with profiles and identifiers on MusicBrainz, Discogs, Spotify, IMDb, VIAF, ISNI, GND, and the Library of Congress.
Semantic Graph Data (Knowledge Graph)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who was Lou Reed most closely associated with?
A: He was best known for his work with The Velvet Underground. That band is the central association in his career.
Q: What kind of music did Lou Reed make?
A: His work covered rock music, proto-punk, alternative rock, noise rock, experimental rock, glam rock, folk rock, psychedelic rock, blue-eyed soul, art rock, spoken word, and drone music.
Q: What instruments did Lou Reed play?
A: He is associated with guitar and voice. Those were central to his work as a performer.
Q: What were Lou Reed’s main roles in music?
A: He worked as a singer, singer-songwriter, guitarist, composer, songwriter, record producer, and music executive. He was also active as a poet, actor, photographer, and film director.
Q: Where was Lou Reed born?
A: He was born in Brooklyn, New York City, at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center.
Q: When was Lou Reed born?
A: He was born on March 2, 1942.
Q: When did Lou Reed die?
A: He died on October 27, 2013.
Q: What are some albums associated with Lou Reed?
A: Associated albums include Transformer, Berlin, Street Hassle, New York, Ecstasy, and The Raven. His catalog also includes Lou Reed, Coney Island Baby, and Metal Machine Music.
Q: What other groups was Lou Reed connected to?
A: He was associated with Metal Machine Trio, The Roughnecks, and The Conspirators. He is also linked to Artists United Against Apartheid.
Q: What is Lou Reed’s official website?
A: His official website is loureed.com.