Lou Reed

Lou Reed was important in the history of rock. Originally the frontman for The Velvet Underground, he later pursued a successful solo career. Like the Velvet Underground, he was greatly influential on college rock and post punk. Unlike them, however, he was commercially successful. He even had a gold album with New York. Immediately after his death in 2013, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame. It was rumored that this was a "sympathy vote", as he had already been inducted as a member of the Velvet Underground.