Darren Arthur "Dizzy" Reed (born June 18, 1963) is an American musician. He is best known as the keyboardist for the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he has played, toured, and recorded since 1990.
Aside from lead singer Axl Rose, Reed is the longest-standing member of Guns N' Roses, and was the only member of the band to remain from their Use Your Illusion era until the 2016 return of guitarist Slash and bass guitarist Duff McKagan.
Reed was born as Darren Arthur Reed on June 18, 1963, in Hinsdale, Illinois, and was raised in Colorado.[1] Reed was described as reclusive and introverted, however he has since denied this.[2] His grandmother began teaching him to play the organ when he was a young child, and before he was out of elementary school, he formed small local bands.[1][3]
Music career
Reed after a Guns N' Roses concert in 2010.
As an adult, Reed pursued a music career in Los Angeles. He was a founding member of the club band The Wild in the late 1980s, with whom he spent five years.[4]
Reed met the classic lineup of Guns N' Roses in 1985 while his band, The Wild, rehearsed in a neighboring studio.[1] He kept in touch, and in 1990 was invited by friend Axl Rose to join their recording of the two Use Your Illusion albums and their subsequent tour.[5]
Reed continues to record and play live with the current Guns N' Roses line-up, and has now been a member of Guns N' Roses longer than any other member besides Axl Rose.[6] Although Reed did not co-write any songs during the Illusion sessions, for Chinese Democracy he co-wrote "Chinese Democracy", "Catcher in the Rye", "Street of Dreams", "There Was a Time", "I.R.S", and "Oh My God". It has also been confirmed that the unfinished demo that did not make the cut on Chinese Democracy, called "Silkworms", was written by Reed and the band's other keyboardist Chris Pitman. The song was re-worked and released as a single under the title "ABSUЯD" in 2021.[7]
Outside of Guns N' Roses, Reed played on albums for his former bandmates Slash, Duff McKagan, and Gilby Clarke. He also guested on former Guns N' Roses bassist Tommy Stinson's 2004 solo effort Village Gorilla Head. Reed is additionally a fan of Larry Norman, a pioneer of Christian music, and played on Norman's Copper Wires album. He has composed music for the film scores The Still Life, released in 2006, and Celebrity Art Show (2008). His debut solo album was released on February 16, 2018.[8]
When he is not touring or recording with Guns N' Roses, Reed frequently tours with his hard rock cover band Hookers & Blow, in which he plays keyboard and sings lead vocals. Hookers & Blow was formed in 2003 by Reed and Quiet Riot guitarist Alex Grossi. The Hookers & Blow lineup also consists of former Type O Negative and current Danzig and Quiet Riot drummer Johnny Kelly, W.A.S.P. bassist Mike Duda and Dizzy's wife Nadja. For his work with Hookers & Blow, Reed was named Outstanding Keyboardist of the Year at the 2007 Rock City Awards ("Rockies"). Hookers & Blow was also named Best Cover Band.[9]
Reed was a member of The Dead Daisies alongside Guns N' Roses guitarist Richard Fortus. Both left the band in 2015 to focus on Guns N' Roses.[12]
Reed played keyboard on the 2019 album You're Welcome by Cokie The Clown, a solo effort by NOFX frontman Fat Mike.
Personal life
Reed was married for 20 years to wife Lisa, an author and special education teacher. They divorced in 2010. They have two daughters: Skye, born in 1992 and Shade, born in 1996.[citation needed] He also has a daughter named Morgan and one son (Justin Gunn-Reed born in 1988) from a previous relationship.[6] In 2017, he also had a grandson, Riley, who is Morgan's son.[6]
In 2005, Reed took the unusual step of seeking admission to a college fraternity well after the traditional age of inductees, and on January 22, 2006, was admitted to the Cornell University chapter of Zeta Psi.[10][13]
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