The Life of Lou Reed

Notes from the Velvet Underground

The definitive biography of Lou Reed, one of modern music's most influential artists.

**** Compelling ... Sounes takes pride in carefully debunking the myths that have crept in from Reed's own fictionalisations

Controversial ... Sounes' book pushes the standard Reed narrative

A must read... Sounes chronicles Reed's turbulent, and often brutal, relationships with men and women... and the wayward talent that produced such classics as Walk On The Wild Side.

Howard Sounes is known for writing detailed and revelatory biographies of a wide range of extraordinary personalities, including the murderers Fred and Rosemary West (Fred &amp; Rose), the American Charles Bukowski (Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life), and the musicians Bob Dylan (Down the Highway) and Paul McCartney (Fab). Each book is based on extensive original research. For more information visit www.howardsounes.com

**** COMPELLING - The Sunday Telegraph 
 
CONTROVERSIAL ... Sounes' book pushes the standard Reed narrative - The New York Times 
 
Lou Reed, who died in 2013, was best known to the general public as the grumpy New Yorker in black who sang 'Walk on the Wild Side'. To his dedicated admirers, however, he was one of the most innovative and intelligent American songwriters of modern times, a natural outsider who lived a tumultuous and tortured life. 
 
In this in-depth, meticulously researched and very entertaining biography, respected biographer Howard Sounes examines the life and work of this fascinating man, from birth to death, including his time as the leader of The Velvet Underground - one of the most important bands in rock'n'roll. 
 
Written with a deep knowledge and understanding of the music, Sounes also sheds entirely new light on the artist's creative process, his mental health problems, his bisexuality, his three marriages, and his addictions to drugs and alcohol. 
 
In the course of his research, Sounes has interviewed over 140 people from every part of Lou Reed's life - some of whom have not spoken publicly about him before - including music industry figures, band members, fellow celebrities, family members, former wives and lovers. 
 
This book brings Lou Reed and his world alive.

Howard Sounes

The Life Of Bob Dylan

'Engagingly written and scrupulously researched' Observer 
 
An UPDATED EDITION of Howard Sounes' classic, definitive biography to mark the legendary Bob Dylan's 80th birthday 
__________ 
 
Bob Dylan was the first figure in the history of popular music to challenge the domination of the three-minute pop song and to bring serious ideas and poetry into the song lyric. A true revolutionary, he was also the first pop performer to adopt the attitudes and lead the life of a bohemian artist. In doing so he not only defined the direction which popular music would take in the second half of the twentieth century, he also defined the lifestyle which would come to be associated with the rock artist. 
 
This new edition of Howard Sounes' critically-acclaimed classic biography of Dylan includes a new chapter that brings the legend's life story right up to date. It gives the complete picture of the man, the artist and performer. Meticulously researched and including hundreds of interviews with Dylan's closest associates, the brand new chapter also covers the last ten years of Dylan's life, and the last (and previously unpublished) interview with Dylan's first serious girlfriend. 
 
Written by the acclaimed biographer of Paul McCartney and Lou Reed, this is a compelling, fast-paced and revelatory read, which takes the reader on a journey from Dylan's childhood in a Minnesota mining town to the status he enjoys today as one of the most iconic figures of contemporary culture.

Howard Sounes

Books by Howard Sounes

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