Lou Reed has survived and is recovering after having a liver transplant.

71 year old Reed was admitted to Mayo Clinic in Cleveland after refusing to go to any hospital in New York claiming they are “dysfunctional”.

His wife Laurie Anderson said that the surgery was life saving and that the donor liver “started working immediately”.

She said in an interview with the Times: “It's as serious as it gets. He was dying. You don't get it for fun. (It was) a big surgery which went very well.”

Reed was forced to cancel several performances back in April because of his condition and Anderson admitted that he was even put on life support whilst waiting for a liver transplant.

Reed is famous for being the guitarist, vocalist and main songwriter for legendary band The Velvet Underground before later embarking on a solo career.

He is said to be recovering well after the surgery.

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