Rock Icon Dies at Age 71

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Bob Larson/Contra Costa Times/MCT
Bob Larson/Contra Costa Times/MCT

By: Rogelio Santana

Rock and Roll icon Lou Reed, former Velvet Underground front man and solo performer died Sunday Oct. 27 at the age of 71 due to medical reasons.

Lewis Alan “Lou” Reed was born March 2, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York. He had an immense impact in music and pop art.

The Velvet underground, from New York, released their first album in ’68 and were described as progressive and avant-garde. Their mix of rock, ballads and punk can be heard in the album The Velvet Underground and Nico, “ and features the iconic banana image by Andy Warhol on the cover. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in ’89.

Reed was known for his excessive drug use and sexual activity but married artist Laurie Anderson in 2008. They became advocates of various AIDS, LGBT and environmental issues.

 

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