Reed, Lou(is Firbank) (1942- )

US rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was a member (1965-70 and 1993) of the New York avant-garde group the Velvet Underground, one of the most influential bands of the period. His solo work deals largely with urban alienation and angst, and includes the albums Berlin (1973), Street Hassle (1978), and New York (1989). His best-known recording is ‘Walk on the Wild Side’ from the album Transformer (1972).

Reed was born in Long Island, New York. He studied literature under poet Delmore Schwartz and set himself the goal of writing rock songs for adults. The Velvet Underground made their debut under the auspices of pop artist Andy Warhol, whose influence infuses Reed's work, from songs describing life at the Warhol Factory to the elegiac album Songs for Drella (1990) with John Cale (1940- ). The Velvet Underground briefly reformed in 1993. In 1997 his song ‘Perfect Day’ was released by the BBC charity Children in Need. In 2000, he released the album Ecstasy.