Nico

Nico

Nico in 1966, photographed by Gerard Malanga.
Background information
Birth name Christa Päffgen
Born 16 October 1938(1938-10-16)
Origin Cologne, Germany
Died 18 July 1988 (aged 49)
Ibiza, Spain
Genre(s) Art rock, folk music, proto-punk
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Actress
Instrument(s) Vocals
Harmonium
Harpsichord
Tambourine
Piano
Voice type(s) Contralto[1]
Years active 1963–1988
Associated acts The Velvet Underground
John Cale
Lou Reed
Kevin Ayers
John Cooper Clarke

Christa Päffgen (16 October 1938?[2] – 18 July 1988) was a German singer-songwriter, fashion model, actress, keyboard player and a Warhol Superstar, best known by her pseudonym Nico. As a musician she is remembered for both her time in The Velvet Underground and her solo work.

Contents

Career

Early days

Nico made her early fame as a model. After leaving school at 13, she started selling lingerie and soon was spotted by fashion insiders. A year later, her mother found her work as a model in Berlin.

While on a modeling assignment in Ibiza, she met the photographer Herbert Tobias, who gave her the name "Nico" after his ex-boyfriend, filmmaker Nico Papatakis. She soon moved to Paris and worked for Vogue, Tempo, Vie Nuove, Mascotte Spettacolo, Camera, Elle, and other fashion magazines in the late 1950s.

She also claimed to have been briefly hired by Coco Chanel. Despite having dropped out of school at an early age, Nico eventually became fluent in English, Italian, Spanish, and French.

Before breakthrough

After appearing in several television commercials, Nico landed a small role in Alberto Lattuada's film La Tempesta (1958), and then appeared in Rudolph Maté's For the First Time with Mario Lanza later that year.

In 1959, she was invited to the set of Federico Fellini's La dolce vita and attracted the attention of the acclaimed director, who gave her a minor role in the film. By this time, she had moved to New York to take acting classes under the guidance of Lee Strasberg.

After splitting her time between New York and Paris, she landed the lead role in Jacques Poitrenaud's Strip-Tease (1963). She recorded the title track, which was produced by Serge Gainsbourg but not released until 2001, when it was included on CD as part of the French compilation Le Cinéma de Serge Gainsbourg.

During this period she gave birth to a son, Ari (born 1962), who was fathered by French actor Alain Delon. Although the child was raised mostly by Delon's parents, Delon always denied his paternity.

Start of musical career

In 1965, Nico met The Rolling Stones' founder and guitarist, Brian Jones, and recorded her first single, "I'm Not Sayin'" for Andrew Loog Oldham's Immediate label.

Actor Ben Carruthers introduced her to Bob Dylan in Paris that summer. It is said that Dylan wrote the song "I'll Keep It With Mine" for her shortly afterwards.

After being introduced by Bob Dylan, she began working with Andy Warhol and Paul Morrissey on their experimental films, including Chelsea Girls, The Closet, Sunset, and Imitation of Christ.

The Velvet Underground and Nico

While appearing in Warhol's films, Nico was introduced to The Velvet Underground, at that time the backup group for Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitable, a multimedia performance featuring film, music, lights and dancers. She soon began to work with the Velvet Underground, singing lead vocals on three songs ("Femme Fatale", "All Tomorrow's Parties" and "I'll Be Your Mirror") and backing vocals on another ("Sunday Morning") on their debut LP, The Velvet Underground and Nico.

Released in 1967, the album became influential and lauded within rock music and art circles. Nico had a short-lived romantic relationship with the main singer and songwriter, Lou Reed. Around this era, she was also romantically involved with prominent musicians including John Cale (also from The Velvet Underground), Jim Morrison of The Doors, Jackson Browne, Brian Jones, Tim Buckley and Iggy Pop.

Shortly after the Exploding Plastic Inevitable tour drew to a close in early 1967, Nico and The Velvet Underground parted ways. The exact reasons for her departure have not been made public, though both Reed and former Velvet Underground bassist John Cale played significant parts in various aspects of her solo career.

Over the course of the next 20 years, she recorded a series of critically acclaimed albums, working with the likes of Brian Eno and Phil Manzanera. Cale was particularly involved in her music, producing four of her albums as well as arranging and playing various instruments on the recordings.

Solo career

1960s

For her debut album, 1967's Chelsea Girl,[3] Nico recorded songs by, among others, Bob Dylan, Tim Hardin, Jackson Browne and Velvet Underground members Lou Reed, John Cale and Sterling Morrison, co-writing one song, "It Was a Pleasure Then", with Reed and Cale, an eight-minute piece with guitar and violin solos.

Chelsea Girl is a traditional chamber-folk album that influenced the style of artists such as Leonard Cohen, with strings and flute arrangements superimposed by its producer. Nico was not satisfied with the finished album and had little say in production matters.

For her LP The Marble Index, released in 1969,[4] Nico wrote the lyrics and the bare bones of the music, mainly consisting of see-sawing harmonium chords. The arrangements were written by John Cale, who fleshed out Nico's songs with an array of folk and classical instruments. Frazier Mohawk produced the album. Nico's harmonium became her signature instrument for the rest of her career. The album combines classical elements with a European folk sound.

1970s

Nico released two albums of her own in the 1970s: Desertshore (1970)[5] and The End (1974)[6], and contributed one track to a third, 1 June 1974.[7] They were produced by John Cale (Desertshore was co-produced with Joe Boyd), who also played on each of the albums. On Desertshore, Cale plays most of the instruments. Nico wrote the music, sang, and played the harmonium. On The End, Cale plays a wide range of instruments including xylophone, synthesizer, acoustic guitar, and electric piano. That album featured Brian Eno, who played on the 1 June 1974 live album with Nico, Cale and Kevin Ayers (whose solo albums she contributed to).

On 13 December 1974, Nico was the support act at Tangerine Dream's infamous concert at Reims Cathedral in Reims, France. The promoter had so greatly oversold the capacity of the venue that members of the audience could not move or reach the outside, eventually resulting in some fans urinating inside the cathedral hall.[8] The Roman Catholic Church denounced these actions, ordered the rededication of the cathedral and banned future gigs on church property.

1980s

Nico returned to New York in late 1979 where her comeback concert at CBGB in early 1980 was glowingly reviewed in the New York Times. She began playing regularly at the Mudd Club and other venues with Jim Tisdall accompanying her on harp and Gittler electric guitar, and they went on a sold-out tour of twelve cities in the East and Midwest. The Chicago appearance was voted best concert of the year by the alternative music press.

Nico recorded her next studio album, Drama of Exile, in 1981.[9] It was a departure from her earlier work with John Cale and featured a mixture of rock and Middle Eastern arrangements. She recorded her final solo album, Camera Obscura, in 1985, with John Cale back as producer and The Faction (James Young and Graham Dids)[10] an experimental collection that featured Nico's version of the Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart song, "My Funny Valentine".

Nico lived in Salford, Greater Manchester near her manager Alan Wise, and later formed a 'domestic partnership' with John Cooper Clarke in Brixton.[11] She was a vegetarian.[12]

A number of Nico's performances towards the end of her life were recorded and released, including 1982's Heroine, 1986's Behind the Iron Curtain and Live In Tokyo, and her final concert, Fata Morgana, recorded on 6 June 1988, edited extracts of which were also released on Hanging Gardens.

Philippe Garrel films

Between 1970 and 1979, Nico made about seven films with French director Philippe Garrel. She met Garrel in 1969 and contributed the song "The Falconer" to his film, Le Lit de la Vierge. Soon after, she was living with Garrel and became a central figure in his cinematic and personal circles. Nico's first acting appearance with Garrel occurred in his 1972 film, La Cicatrice Intérieure. Nico also supplied the music for this film and collaborated closely with the director. She also appeared in the Garrel films Anathor (1972); the silent Jean Seberg biopic, Les Hautes Solitudes, released in 1974; Un ange passe (1975); Le Berceau de cristal (1976), starring Pierre Clementi, Nico and Anita Pallenberg; and Voyage au jardin des morts (1978). His 1991 film J'entends Plus la Guitare is dedicated to Nico.

Death

Nico's grave in Berlin
A signpost to Nico's grave and some personal lines on the reverse by Ben

Nico was a heroin addict for over 15 years. The biographer Richard Witts speculated that the habit was caused by her traumatic experiences of war and of being an illegitimate child.

In the book Songs They Never Play on the Radio, James Young, a member of Nico's band in the 1980s, recalls many examples of Nico's fiendish behaviour due to addiction. But just before her death she had managed to kick the habit and had embarked on a regimen of exercise and healthy eating.

On 18 July 1988, while on holiday with her son in Ibiza, Spain, Nico had a minor heart attack while riding a bicycle and hit her head as she fell. A passing taxi driver found her unconscious and had difficulty getting her admitted to local hospitals. She was incorrectly diagnosed as suffering from exposure and died the next day. X-rays later revealed a severe cerebral hemorrhage as the cause of her death.

Nico was buried in her mother's plot in Grunewald Forest Cemetery in Berlin. A few friends played a tape of "Mütterlein", a song from Desertshore, at her funeral.

Legacy

Nico has been an influence on many acts. Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, Stevie Nicks, Patti Smith, Morrissey, Björk, Coil, Jocelyn Pook, Fabienne Shine (who covered "All Tomorrow's Parties"), Dead Can Dance as well as numerous contemporary goth bands have all cited Nico as a major influence. Two of her songs, "The Fairest of the Seasons" and "These Days", both written by Jackson Browne and taken from Chelsea Girl, are featured in Wes Anderson's film The Royal Tenenbaums.

Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon named his daughter 'Nico Blue' partly after Nico. Blind Melon's album Nico was released after Hoon's death.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch, a movie written by John Cameron Mitchell, mentions Nico as an influential woman artist in its song, "Midnight Radio". Song is written by Stephen Trask.

The Cult recorded the song "Nico", which celebrates the life of the singer, on their 2001 album Beyond Good And Evil.

For her 2002 album, Kissin' Time, Marianne Faithful recorded "A Song for Nico", cowritten with Dave Stewart.

Nico was portrayed by Christina Fulton in The Doors (1991). She was later portrayed by Meredith Ostrom in the 2006 film, Factory Girl, which chronicles the life of fellow "Warhol superstar", Edie Sedgwick.

Natasha Khan from Bat for Lashes has quoted Nico as an influence in particular Desertshore. During 2007 she would start concerts with "Le Petit Chevalier" from that record.[13]

The rock band Anberlin named one of their songs after her: "Dance, Dance Christa Päffgen". The song also makes reference to her death, and her drug use.

Acoustic Ladyland have a song called "Nico" on their album Last Chance Disco.

Austin based band Shearwater dedicated their album Palo Santo to the memory of Nico. The opening song ("La Dame Et La Licorne") depicts Nico's tragic death at Ibiza, Spain.

Two Nico tribute concerts took place in Europe in the autumn of 2008 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Nico's birth and the 20th anniversary of her death. On 11 October 2008, John Cale, James Dean Bradfield (of the Manic Street Preachers), Fyfe Dangerfield of the Guillemots and others appeared on stage at the Royal Festival Hall in London. On 17 October 2008 at the Volksbuehne in Berlin, Nico's ex-boyfriend Lutz Ulbrich presented another tribute concert, which featured Marianne Rosenberg, Soap & Skin, Marianne Enzensberger and James Young, the keyboardist from The Faction, Nico's last band. Nico's son, Ari Boulogne (sometimes called Ari Päffgen), made a brief appearance on stage at the close.

Discography

Studio albums

Year Title
1967 The Velvet Underground and Nico
1967 Chelsea Girl
1969 The Marble Index
1970 Desertshore
1973 The End
1981 Drama of Exile (released in two versions)
1985 Camera Obscura

Live albums

Year Title
1974 June 1, 1974
1982 Do or Die: Nico in Europe
1985 Nico Live in Pécs
1986 Live Heroes
1986 Behind the Iron Curtain
1987 Nico in Tokyo
1988 Fata Morgana (Nico's Last Concert)
1989 Hanging Gardens
1994 Heroine
2003 Femme Fatale: The Aura Anthology (Drama of Exile expanded, plus live disc)
2007 All Tomorrow's Parties (live double album)

Compilation albums

Year Title
1998 Nico: The Classic Years
2002 Innocent & Vain — An Introduction to Nico
2003 Femme Fatale — The Aura Anthology (Re-issue of Drama of Exile with bonus tracks plus Live at Chelsea Town Hall 9.8.85)
2007 The Frozen Borderline - 1968–1970 (Re-issue of The Marble Index and Desertshore with bonus tracks)

Singles

Year Title
1965 I'm Not Sayin' / The Last Mile (45 RPM Single)
1981 Saeta / Vegas (45 RPM Single, Flicknife Records FLS 206)

Books

Film and play

References

  1. ↑ http://www.musicianguide.com/biographies/1608004031/Nico.html
  2. ↑ The date and location of her birth are disputed. Most sources state 16 October 1938, Cologne, Germany.
  3. ↑ Nico: Chelsea Girl
  4. ↑ the marble index
  5. ↑ Desertshore
  6. ↑ The End ...
  7. ↑ June, 1 1974
  8. ↑ Orange Appeal - 25 years of ambient pioneers Tangerine Dream
  9. ↑ Drama of Exile
  10. ↑ Camera Obscura
  11. ↑ BBC - Music - Help/How to find
  12. ↑ Nico (I) - Biography
  13. ↑ "Bats for Lashes - Live at Maxwells NJ". Punkcast (2007-07-24). Retrieved on 2007-12-12.

External links

Nico
Studio albums:
The Velvet Underground and Nico  · Chelsea Girl  · The Marble Index  · Desertshore  · The End  · Drama of Exile  · Camera Obscura
Live albums:
June 1, 1974  · Do or Die: Nico in Europe  · Live Heroes  · Behind the Iron Curtain  · Fata Morgana (Nico's Last Concert)  · Hanging Gardens
Compilation albums:
Reich der Träume  · Innocent and Vain: an Introduction to Nico  · Walpurgis-Nacht
Persondata
NAME Päffgen, Christa
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Nico
SHORT DESCRIPTION German model, singer
DATE OF BIRTH 16 October 1938
PLACE OF BIRTH Cologne, Germany
DATE OF DEATH 18 July 1988
PLACE OF DEATH Ibiza, Spain