Lewis Allen "Lou" Reed (born March 2 1942) is an American rock and roll singer-songwriter, originally from Brooklyn, New York. As a member of the The Velvet Underground in the 1960s, Reed broke new ground for the rock genre in several important dimensions, influencing rock music in general, introducing more adult and intellectual themes to what was then considered a music genre for children and teenagers.
Reed first found prominence as the guitarist and principal singer-songwriter of The Velvet Underground. The band, which lasted from 1965 until 1973 (with Reed departing in late 1970 during the Loaded sessions), gained relatively little notice during its life but is often considered the seed from which most alternative traditions of rock music sprang. As the Velvets’ songwriter, Reed wrote about such taboo subjects as S&M ("Venus in Furs"), transvestites ("Sister Ray"), transsexuals ("Lady Godiva's Operation"), prostitution ("There She Goes Again"), and drug use (“I’m Waiting for the Man”, "White Light/White Heat", “Heroin”). As a guitarist, he made innovative use of abrasive distortion, volume-driven feedback, and nonstandard tunings. Reed's flat, New York voice, stripped of superficial emotions and, like Bob Dylan's, flaunting its lack of conventional training, was no less important to the music's radical effect.
Reed began a long and varied solo career in 1972. He scored a hit that year with "Walk on the Wild Side". For more than a decade he then seemed purposely to evade mainstream commercial success. One of rock's most volatile personalities, Reed made inconsistent albums that frustrated critics who wished for a return of the Velvet Underground. The most notable example is 1975's infamous double LP of recorded feedback loops, Metal Machine Music, upon which Reed later commented, "no one is supposed to be able to do a thing like that and survive."
More on [ Lou Reed ]
Almost Famous :: A
Before Night Falls :: B
Blue in the Face :: B
Faraway, So Close :: F
Lost Highway :: L
Lulu on the Bridge :: L
Velvet Underground, The :: V
Music :: Arts and Entertainment

A Tribute to Lou Reed - French-language site includes a bio, pics and sound files.
Meta Description: [ a tribute to Lou Reed ]
All Music Guide: Lou Reed - Comprehensive solo discography and bio.
Artist Direct: Lou Reed - Includes links to MP3, lyrics, pictures, and video.
Meta Description: [ Lou Reed feature on ARTISTdirect. Includes free downloads, music videos, bio, discography and merchandise information ]
Brilliant Careers: Lou Reed - The Velvet Underground founder gave us heroin, the exalted transvestite and euphoric nastiness. Who knew salvation could sound so good? From Salon.com.
IMDb: Lou Reed - Reed's film and video appearances, from the Internet Movie Database.
Meta Description: [ Lou Reed - Filmography, Awards, Biography, Agent, Discussions, Photos, News Articles, Fan Sites ]
Kabish.com: Lou Reed Tablature Page - Guitar tablature and chords.
Meta Description: [ Lou Reed tabs (tablatures), chords available free at Kabish Guitar, Bass Tablature, Lyrics Archive. ]
Lou Reed - Official site at Reprise Records, including a bio, audio clips, news and photo gallery.
Lou Reed E-mail List - Subscription information.
Meta Description: [ Lou Reed E-mail Discussion Lists ]
Lou Reed Guitar Archive - Lyrics and guitar tablatures/chords for virtually all Reed songs, from the pre-Velvets era to his latest work.
Meta Description: [ lou reed and the velvet underground: guitar chords, tabs and lyrics ]
Lou Reed/Sister Ray Enterprises - Reed's official site, with information on his latest projects, a timeline, online diary and discography.
Meta Description: [ official website for Lou Reed. ]
Metacritic: Ecstasy - Links to reviews for Reed's April 2000 CD, Ecstasy.
Metal Machine Music - The most controversial album of Reed's career, and its effects on listeners. Includes audio clips.
New York City Man - An unofficial fansite for Reed.
Ride Into the Sun - Fan listing for Reed from thefanlistings.org.
Rolling Stone.com: Lou Reed - Biography, audio, video, discography, album reviews, and news.
Meta Description: [ Rolling Stone gives you total Lou Reed coverage including free music, videos, photos, music news and exclusive Rolling Stone articles. ]
The Lou Reed Solo Albums - Lyrics and MP3 samples of all Lou Reed solo songs.
Meta Description: [ lou reed discography with mp3 samples ]
The New York Times - A Conversation with Lou Reed - Lou Reed discusses his rock music career. Streaming video of a live interview by The New York Times. Fee required.
Meta Description: [ Lou Reed discusses his rock music career, the Velvet Underground, and influences from Andy Warhol to Edgar Allan Poe. Streaming video of a live interview by The New York Times. Fee required. ]
The Rock 'n Roll Animal Web Page - Concert setlists, discographies and videos.
Meta Description: [ Lou Reed complete official and unofficial discography. Concerts listing and known audiotapes, including selected setlists from different concerts and Tours. All Lou Reed backing bands: See who has played in any of his bands him and when. Links and much more!, Fireworks Splice HTML ]
The Unofficial Lou Reed Club - From Yahoo! Groups. Includes pictures, links, information, news, chat.
Meta Description: [ theunofficialloureedclub2: The Unofficial Lou Reed Club ]
The Wild Side of Lou Reed - Details on Reed's pre- and post-Velvet Underground recordings, plus selected poems and interviews; from the creator of the Velvet Underground Web Page.
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