FUSE TV - Lou Reed Dead at 71

Legendary musician, Lou Reed, passed away this morning at the age of 71.

According to Rolling Stone, the punk and art rock pioneer's cause of death has yet to be released. But Reed did undergo a liver transplant back in May of this year.

He canceled a scheduled appearance at Coachella, with no official reason given, a month prior to his transplant.

Lou Reed is best known for forming venerated 60s rock band, The Velvet Underground, in which he played guitar, sang and was the principal songwriter.

After leaving the group in 1970, Reed went on to a storied solo career.

The strikingly gifted musician left the world with countless sonic gems including "Sweet Jane," "Rock and Roll," "Walk on the Wild Side," "Satellite of Love," "I'm Waiting For the Man," "Femme Fatale" and many, many more.

After his transplant surgery, Reed's wife, musician and performance artist, Laurie Anderson spoke candidly to the Times of London about her husband's prospects for recovery.

"I don't think he'll ever totally recover from this, but he'll certainly be back to doing [things] in a few months," she said. "He's already working and doing t'ai chi. I'm very happy. It's a new life for him."

Turns out he was actually back to doing things before he even left the hospital. In May, he penned a 1,824-word review of Kanye West's Yeezus. On Kanye, Reed wrote:

"If you like sound, listen to what he's giving you. Majestic and inspiring."

Funny, you'd be hard pressed to find a better way to describe the works of Lou Reed. 

If you like sound, listen to what he has given you.