The most important part of my religion is to play guitar.

In this quote, Lou Reed makes a bold statement about the central role that music, and more specifically the guitar, plays in his life. By saying, "The most important part of my religion is to play guitar," Reed elevates music to a spiritual level, suggesting that his creative expression through the guitar is as meaningful and significant to him as religious practice. This reflects his belief that art, particularly music, can serve as a personal and transformative experience, offering him a sense of connection to something greater than himself, much like religion does for others.

Reed’s statement speaks to the importance of self-expression and the role of artistic practice in shaping one’s identity and worldview. For Reed, playing guitar is not just a pastime or profession, but a vital part of his inner life and personal belief system. It’s a way for him to channel his emotions, experiences, and thoughts into something tangible and powerful. This reflects a broader idea that creativity and art can provide a deeper sense of meaning, community, and purpose, even without a traditional religious framework.

The phrase also highlights Reed’s iconoclasm and rejection of conventional ideas of religion or spirituality. Known for his countercultural attitude, Reed often explored themes of individualism, freedom, and nonconformity in his work. In a way, his assertion that playing guitar is central to his religion challenges the traditional notion of religious devotion and suggests that personal fulfillment and connection to the divine (or something transcendent) can take many forms, including through music and art.

The origin of this quote is attributed to Lou Reed, the iconic musician and frontman of The Velvet Underground. Throughout his career, Reed often blurred the lines between art and life, with music serving as his vehicle for self-expression, rebellion, and exploration of complex themes like sexuality, addiction, and identity. Reed’s comment encapsulates his belief that music, for him, serves as a form of spirituality or devotion, offering him a deeply personal sense of meaning that rivals traditional religious practice.