Marriage did nothing to curb Reed's drug and alcohol use, and his next album, Berlin, was a tough listen, documenting the violent breakdown of a relationship. Two successful albums followed, somewhat repairing his reputation, but Reed's self-destructive urge to reject popular success led him to release his most challenging album yet, Metal Machine Music. When his marriage ended, Reed began a relationship with an enigmatic transsexual male called Rachel. The relationship lasted for three years, inspiring the most romantic album of Reed's career, Coney Island Baby.

Read by Demetri Goritsas

Abridged and produced by Sara Davies. Show less