Rock pioneer Lou Reed is dead at 71. The cause of death is not known yet. Reed underwent a liver transplant in May. He was a founding member and main songwriter of The Velvet Underground, the ultimate cult band that mixed literature, avant-garde and rock 'n' roll. John Cale, Lou Reed, Nico, Sterling Morrison and Maureen Tucker became household names among serious music lovers
His solo career went through ups and down, but he never made a dull album in his lengthy career. Albums like "Berlin", "Rock 'n' Roll Animal", "The Blue Mask", "New York", and "Magic and Loss" will stand the test of time. The city of New York has lost on his greatest talents.