50 Amazing Facts About Terry Reid, “Superlungs” of Rock ‘n’ Roll

Terry Reid never had a chart hit, but his voice could part clouds. Known as “Superlungs” for his jaw-dropping vocal range and raw emotive power, Reid left a trail of awe-struck musicians in his wake — from Aretha Franklin to Jimmy Page. In honor of his passing, here are 50 incredible facts about the man whose music moved mountains and whose name echoed through the halls of rock legend.

  1. Terry Reid was born on November 13, 1949, in Little Paxton, England.
  2. He started performing in clubs by the early 1960s — before he was old enough to drive.
  3. Reid was just 15 when he joined Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers as lead singer.
  4. He opened for the Rolling Stones on their 1966 UK tour — at only 16 years old.
  5. Aretha Franklin once said, “There are only three things happening in England: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Terry Reid.”
  6. He famously turned down Jimmy Page’s offer to front Led Zeppelin — and recommended Robert Plant instead.
  7. He also turned down Ritchie Blackmore’s offer to join Deep Purple.
  8. Reid’s nickname “Superlungs” came from his staggering vocal power and range.
  9. His first solo album, Bang Bang You’re Terry Reid, came out in 1968.
  10. Reid wrote “Without Expression” at 14; it was later recorded by The Hollies, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and REO Speedwagon.
  11. He supported Cream, Fleetwood Mac, and Jethro Tull on tour in the late ’60s.
  12. Reid played the Miami Pop Festival in 1968 and brought the house down.
  13. He toured the U.S. twice with the Rolling Stones, including their legendary 1969 tour.
  14. Reid performed at Mick and Bianca Jagger’s wedding in Saint-Tropez in 1971.
  15. At the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival, Reid played alongside Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso.
  16. Gil and Veloso lived in Reid’s Notting Hill apartment during their exile from Brazil.
  17. His 1973 album River was produced by Tom Dowd and engineered by Eddy Offord.
  18. The River sessions featured future Yes drummer Alan White and percussionist Willie Bobo.
  19. Reid’s Seed of Memory album (1976) was produced by Graham Nash.
  20. That album’s release was derailed when ABC Records filed for bankruptcy.
  21. Reid’s 1979 album Rogue Waves was recorded at the Beach Boys’ Brother Studios.
  22. He took a break from solo work in the ’80s to do session work for Don Henley and Bonnie Raitt.
  23. His 1991 comeback album The Driver featured a cover of “Gimme Some Lovin’” and appeared on the Days of Thunder soundtrack.
  24. Reid’s 1970 track “Dean” appeared in the British crime film The Criminal.
  25. He played a caddy in the 2005 golf film The Greatest Game Ever Played.
  26. Rob Zombie used three of Reid’s songs in The Devil’s Rejects (2005).
  27. “Be Yourself,” which Reid wrote for Graham Nash, was featured in Up in the Air (2009).
  28. He performed at the original Glastonbury Fayre in 1971 with an extended jam called “Dean.”
  29. Reid played one last show with Nicky Hopkins and Joe Walsh in a band called The Flew.
  30. Hopkins’ performance with The Flew was his final public appearance before his death.
  31. Reid’s 2012 Live in London album was recorded without overdubs at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club.
  32. He had annual residencies at Ronnie Scott’s and called it his favorite venue.
  33. Reid regularly played UK festivals, including Glastonbury, Rhythm Festival, and Secret Garden.
  34. His UK band featured top-tier players like Ash Soan, BJ Cole, and David Tench.
  35. He started a four-year L.A. residency called “Big Monday” at The Joint in the 2000s.
  36. Robert Plant, Eric Burdon, Keith Richards, and Bobby Womack were known to drop by.
  37. His song “Rich Kid Blues” was covered by Marianne Faithfull and The Raconteurs.
  38. Chris Cornell recorded his song “To Be Treated Rite” for a 2020 posthumous album.
  39. Joe Perry collaborated with Reid on three songs for Sweetzerland Manifesto (2018).
  40. Rumer covered his song “Brave Awakening” and joined him onstage at the Jazz Cafe.
  41. Reid’s Superlungs box set, released in 2004, compiles his EMI studio recordings from 1966–69.
  42. He co-wrote songs with DJ Shadow and French trip-hop act Shine.
  43. Reid’s songs appeared in over a dozen films and TV shows.
  44. He played himself in the 1970 documentary Groupies and appeared in Glastonbury Fayre.
  45. His life was chronicled in the 2016 documentary Superlungs.
  46. He once had to cancel a 2025 tour due to medical issues but had planned to return.
  47. He was known to jam backstage with anyone from Roger Daltrey to Joe Walsh.
  48. Reid’s stage charisma earned him a cult following on both sides of the Atlantic.
  49. His powerful blend of blues, soul, rock, and Latin rhythms made him impossible to pigeonhole.
  50. Though he never had a chart hit, Terry Reid was one of the most respected voices in rock history.

Terry Reid was a singer’s singer, a musician’s musician — and one of the great “what ifs” of rock history. But more than that, he was a true artist who followed his own path, no matter where it led. His music will forever be passed from crate-digger to crate-digger, from roadie to headliner, and from one generation of dreamers to the next. Rest in power, Terry. You were always happening.