Lou Reed, the man who helped shape the music industry, has died at the age of 71. Rolling Stone reports that Reed died today. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed, by the veteran rocker underwent a liver transplant in May.
Best known as the founder, guitarist and lead singer/songwriter of 1960s band The Velvet Underground, the star went on to have an illustrious solo career, with hits such as ‘Walk On The Wild Side.’
Reed died in Southampton, New York of an ailment related to his recent liver transplant, according to his literary agent, Andrew Wylie, who added that Reed had been in frail health for months.
Reed shared a home in Southampton with his wife and fellow musician, Laurie Anderson, whom he married in 2008.
The punk, New Wave and alternative rock movements of the 1970s, `80s and `90s were all indebted to Reed, whose songs were covered by R.E.M., Nirvana, Patti Smith and countless others.
Many celebrities, both fans and friends, took to Twitter to express their grief at Reed’s passing. Born Lewis Allan Reed in Brooklyn, New York in 1942, Lou Reed grew up in Freeport, Long Island.
He developed an ear for rhythm and blues, forming several bands while still in high school after teaching himself to play guitar simply by listening to the radio.