MUMBAI: Ex-Velvet member and iconic rocker Lou Reed is recovering from a life saving liver-transplant in the US.

The 71- year old American rocker of ‘Walk On The Wild Side’ and ‘Perfect Day’ isn't back to full strength, but "he's already working and doing t'ai chi, his wife Laurie Anderson has said.

She had told media that Reed "was dying" before the operation several weeks ago at Ohio's Cleveland Clinic.

She said, "I don't think he'll ever totally recover from this, but he'll certainly be back to doing [things] in a few months. I'm very happy. It's a new life for him."

Reed, who has spoken of his past alcohol and drug use, co-founded influential 1960s group The Velvet Underground, whose songs included the addiction-themed ‘Heroin’ and ‘I'm Waiting for the Man.’

Reed had earlier cancelled a series of dates planned for April.