Lou Reed Biography

Birth of Lewis Allan Reed, later known professionally as Lou Reed.

Makes early home recordings as a teenager before beginning his professional music career.

Works as a staff songwriter for Pickwick Records, writing commercial songs before forming the Velvet Underground.

Records The Ostrich with studio musicians, leading to his first musical connection with John Cale.

Co-founds the Velvet Underground and becomes its principal singer, guitarist and songwriter.

Releases The Velvet Underground and Nico, later regarded as one of rock music’s most influential albums.

Releases White Light White Heat, pushing the Velvet Underground toward a harsher experimental rock sound.

Releases the self-titled Velvet Underground album, showing a quieter and more intimate songwriting style.

Leaves the Velvet Underground before Loaded is released, ending his first period with the band.

Releases Walk on the Wild Side, his best-known solo single and a major international hit.

Releases his self-titled debut solo album after leaving the Velvet Underground.

Releases Transformer, produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson during the glam rock period.

Releases Berlin, a dark concept album about addiction, jealousy and emotional collapse.

Releases Rock n Roll Animal, a live album that reshapes Velvet Underground songs for arena rock audiences.

Releases Sally Can’t Dance, one of his most commercially successful solo albums.

Releases Metal Machine Music, an abrasive double album built from guitar feedback and electronic noise.

Releases Coney Island Baby, returning to more melodic songwriting after Metal Machine Music.

Releases Street Hassle, mixing spoken narrative, rock arrangements and stark urban storytelling.

Releases The Blue Mask, a critically praised album featuring guitarist Robert Quine.

Releases New Sensations, giving him a more accessible mid-1980s solo sound.

Releases New York, a direct song cycle about politics, poverty, crime and urban life.

Releases Songs for Drella with John Cale, a tribute to Andy Warhol.

Releases Magic and Loss, an album shaped by bereavement, illness and mortality.

Is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Velvet Underground.

Releases Ecstasy, continuing his late-career focus on long-form guitar-based songwriting.

Releases Lulu, a collaborative album with Metallica based on writings by Frank Wedekind.

Dies in East Hampton, New York, after a career spanning the Velvet Underground and five decades of solo work.