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Lou Reed was an iconic American musician, singer, and songwriter who reshaped rock music with his poetic lyricism and experimental approach, serving as the principal force behind The Velvet Underground and later achieving solo stardom.Born in Brooklyn, Reed co-founded The Velvet Underground in 1964 with John Cale. Despite minimal commercial success during their existence, the band became massively influential. After leaving in 1970, Reed launched a solo career highlighted by the David Bowie-produced album 'Transformer' (1972), featuring the hit 'Walk on the Wild Side'. His work explored taboo themes like drug addiction, sexuality, and urban decay across 20+ solo albums until his death from liver disease.

• Underwent electroconvulsive therapy as a teenager, allegedly to 'cure' his bisexuality - an experience he later addressed in the song 'Kill Your Sons'.
• Survived severe heroin and amphetamine addictions during the 1970s, with his 1975 album 'Metal Machine Music' (an hour of guitar feedback) widely interpreted as an act of self-destruction.
• Married transgender woman Rachel Humphreys in the 1970s, inspiring songs like 'Coney Island Baby'; later married avant-garde artist Laurie Anderson in 2008.
• Died at 71 from liver failure after a lifelong struggle with substance abuse and hepatitis, having undergone a liver transplant shortly before his death.