28 Oct – Influential American rock musician Lou Reed, who is also known for his affiliation with the Velvet Underground, his music in films such as "Satellite Of Love" in "Velvet Goldmine" and "Perfect Day" in "Trainspotting", was confirmed dead at his home in Southampton, New York, on Long Island as of Sunday morning, 27 October. He was 71. Andrew Wylie, Reed's literary agent, said that the musician died due to complications related to his liver transplant earlier this year, which was performed as Reed had been suffering from liver failure. Born Lewis Allan Reed on 2 March 1942 in Brooklyn, he started songwriting at a young age. His talents led Pickwick Records to form a band called "The Primitives" around him, which also involved Welsh musician John Cale and Tony Conrad. The band later evolved into the Velvet Underground with the addition of guitarist Sterling Morrison and drummer Maureen Tucker. However, in 1970, Reed left the band to go solo.
Aside from music, Reed was also involved in acting in various films, such as "One Trick Pony" in 1980, "Get Crazy" in 1983, "Blue In The Face" in 1995 and "Prozac Nation" in 2001. He had also directed short documentaries, such as "Red Shirley" in 2010, which was an interview with his cousin as she was about to turn 100. On his death, his longtime friend John Cale said, "The world has lost a fine songwriter and poet ... I've lost my school-yard buddy."