Lou Reed Biography and Timeline

Birth of Lewis Allan Reed

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

Early Recordings

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

Pickwick Records

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

The Ostrich

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

Velvet Underground

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

Role range: 1965-1970

The Velvet Underground and Nico

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

Role range: 1965-1970

White Light White Heat

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

Role range: 1965-1970

The Velvet Underground

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

Role range: 1965-1970

Loaded

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

Role range: 1965-1970

Lou Reed

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

Transformer

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

Walk on the Wild Side

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

Berlin

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

Rock n Roll Animal

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

Sally Can’t Dance

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

Metal Machine Music

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

Coney Island Baby

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

Street Hassle

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

The Blue Mask

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

New Sensations

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

New York

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

Songs for Drella

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

Magic and Loss

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

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

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

Role range: 1965-1970

Ecstasy

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

Lulu

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

Death of Lou Reed

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

Role range: 1942-2013