After building a reputation on the avant garde music scene, they gained the attention of Andy Warhol, who became the band's manager they in turn became something of a fixture at The Factory, Warhol's art studio, and served as his 'house band' for various projects. The band released their first album, now with drummer Moe Tucker and featuring German singer Nico, in 1967, and parted ways with Warhol shortly thereafter. Following several line-up changes and three more mostly unsuccessful albums, Reed quit the band in 1970.Īfter leaving the band, Reed would go on to a much more commercially successful solo career, releasing twenty solo studio albums. His second, Transformer (1972), was produced by David Bowie and arranged by Mick Ronson, and brought him mainstream recognition. The album is considered an influential landmark of the glam rock genre, anchored by Reed's most successful single, ' Walk on the Wild Side'. After Transformer, the less commercial but critically acclaimed Berlin peaked at No.
