Velvet Underground Co-Founder Lou Reed Dead At 71

Photo via Rolling Stone.

Lou Reed, the influential leader and co-founder of the Velvet Underground, died today (Oct. 27, 2013).

Reed died at a home on Long Island, New York, that he shared with his wife, the artist and musician Laurie Anderson, following complications from a liver transplant he had earlier this year, Andrew Wylie, his literary agent, said.

Reed had a successful solo career following the breakup of the Velvet Underground in the early ’70s. His most successful post-Velvets single was the once-controversial “Walk On The Wild Side,” which reached #16 in the Top 40 in 1972 when it was released, and charted at #10 in the UK.

Check out Rolling Stone‘s obit.

And this obit in the Chicago Tribune.

Great essay by Ann Powers.

Comprehensive obit at Huffington Post.

About Michael Goldberg

Michael Goldberg is a distinguished pioneer in the online music space; Newsweek magazine called him an ‘Internet visionary.’ In 1994 he founded Addicted To Noise (ATN), the highly influential music web site. He was a senior vice-president and editor in chief at SonicNet from March 1997 through May 2000. In 1997, Addicted To Noise won Webby awards for best music site in 1998 and 1999, and also won Yahoo Internet Life! awards for three years running as best music site in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Prior to starting Addicted To Noise, Goldberg was an editor and senior writer at Rolling Stone magazine for 10 years. His writing has also appeared in Wired, Esquire, Vibe, Details, Downbeat, NME and numerous other publications. Michael has had three novels published that comprise the "Freak Scene Dream trilogy": "True Love Scars," "The Flowers Lied" and "Untitled" which can be ordered here. His new book, "Wicked Game: The True Story of Guitarist James Calvin Wilsey," can be pre-ordered from HoZac Books. In November Backbeat Books will publish "Addicted To Noise: The Music Writings of Michael Goldberg," which can be be pre-ordered here.

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