I have decided to put some posts together about my greatest influences. A condensed biography, a selection of images and some of my personal favourite tracks.
The first in the series was an easy choice, Nico!
I first came to hear about Nico through her album 'Chelsea Girls', before I had even heard of the Velvet Underground and their work. I was totally struck by her unique voice, low and harsh with a thick German accent.
Nico was born Christa Päffgen, in Nazi occupied Cologne in 1938, to a working class rural family. She left school aged thirteen when she was scouted by a fashion house and invited into the world of teenage modelling due to her cheekbones, perfect skin and full lips.
She moved to New York aged 17 to focus on launching an acting career and landed roles in La Tempesta and La Dolce Vita.
In 1965 she met Brian Jones, Bob Dylan and Jimmy Page and went on to record her first single, 'I'm Not Saying', that summer.
Through Brian Jones she met, possibly the most important meeting in her life, Andy Warhol and instantly was enlisted to act in his experimental art-house films including 'Chelsea Girls' and 'Imitation of Christ'.
When Warhol began to manage, and finance, The Velvet Underground he suggested they take on Nico as a 'chanteuse'. The band reluctantly agreed and Nico came to sing on tracks 'I'll Be Your Mirror', 'Femme Fatale' and 'All Tomorrows Parties' on the album 'The Velvet Undeground and Nico'. The album came out to little acclaim at the time but has since become a classic album, appearing in Rolling Stones '500 Greatest Albums of All Time' list and inspiring millions of musicians.
Following her collaboration with the Velvet Underground she released her debut album as a solo artist 'Chelsea Girl'. The album is made up of cover versions of respected artists such as Jackson Browne and Bob Dylan as well as tracks especially written for her by ex-bandmates John Cale and Lou Reed.
My favourite track off the album is 'Eulogy To Lenny Bruce'. When I first heard it it blew my mind, it was the first 'art music' i had ever heard and I loved the distant dreaminess of it.
After 'Chelsea Girl' Nico went on to release a series of solo albums, my favourite being 'The End'.
In the late 1970's/80's Nico spent a lot of time in Europe, especially the UK. During this time she struggled with a severe heroin addiction, left over from her factory days. This time in her life is documented in the insightful book 'Songs They Never Play On The Radio', written by her keyboard player at the time James Young. The book is an unflinching glimpse at the unglamorous world of a former 'Warhol Superstar' suffocating in her addictions.
Nico died in 1988 from a heart attack whilst riding her bicycle. Tragically she had just kicked her drug habits and had been concentrating on a regime of healthy eating and exercise.
 |
| All images taken from the Nico last fm page |
P.S: Please excuse this post being so picture heavy, there are just too many great shots to chose from!
