Perfect Day

Lou Reed died of liver disease.

The legendary Velvet Underground frontman and pioneer of modern rock passed away on Sunday (27.10.13) aged 71, and it has now been confirmed he died of complications with his liver, which he had been suffering with for a year.

The 'Perfect Day' star had undergone a liver transplant in April and also had to cancel his Coachella Music and Arts Festival in California due to his illness.

The transplant initially appeared to be a success and Lou was looking forward to the future and to returning to performing.

He wrote on Facebook in June: ''I am a triumph of modern medicine, physics and chemistry. I am bigger and stronger than ever.''

However, more recently the singer and guitarist had taken a turn for the worse and when it was confirmed the disease had entered its final stages he refused further treatment and returned home.

His doctor, Charles Miller, told the New York Times: ''We all agreed that we did everything we could.''

Since the highly influential musician passed away, tributes have come flooding in from some of the most respected people in music.

His former Velvet Underground bandmate, John Cale, said: ''The world has lost a fine songwriter and poet ... I've lost my 'school-yard buddy'.''

David Bowie referred to Lou as a ''master'' while Talking Heads frontman David Byrne said: ''His work and that of the Velvets was a big reason I moved to New York and I don't think I'm alone there. We wanted to be in a city that nurtured and fed that kind of talent.''

. When the Romans conquered southern England in AD 43, they allowed Prasutagus to continue to rule. However, when Prasutagus died the Romans decided to rule the Iceni directly and confiscated the property of the leading tribesmen. They are also said to have stripped and flogged Boudicca and raped her daughters.

Imagined portrait of Boudicca  © Boudicca was queen of the Iceni people of Eastern England and led a major uprising against occupying Roman forces.
Boudicca was married to Prasutagus, ruler of the Iceni people of East Anglia. When the Romans conquered southern England in AD 43, they allowed Prasutagus to continue to rule. However, when Prasutagus died the Romans decided to rule the Iceni directly and confiscated the property of the leading tribesmen. They are also said to have stripped and flogged Boudicca and raped her daughters. These actions exacerbated widespread resentment at Roman rule.
In 60 or 61 AD, while the Roman governor Gaius Suetonius Paullinus was leading a campaign in North Wales, the Iceni rebelled. Members of other tribes joined them.
Boudicca's warriors successfully defeated the Roman Ninth Legion and destroyed the capital of Roman Britain, then at Colchester. They went on to destroy London and Verulamium (St Albans). Thousands were killed. Finally, Boudicca was defeated by a Roman army led by Paulinus. Many Britons were killed and Boudicca is thought to have poisoned herself to avoid capture. The site of the battle, and of Boudicca's death, are unknown.