Nico
b. Christa Paffgen (Pavolsky), 16 October 1938, Cologne, Germany, d. 18 July 1988. Introduced to a European social set which included film director Federico Fellini, Nico began an acting career with a memorable appearance in LA DOLCE VITA. Briefly based in London, she became acquainted with The Rolling Stones’ guitarist Brian Jones, and made her recording debut with the folk-tinged I'm Not Saying. Nico then moved to New York, where she was introduced to Andy Warhol. She starred in the director's controversial cinema-verité epic, CHELSEA GIRLS, before joining his newfound proteges, the Velvet Underground. Nico made telling contributions to this seminal group's debut album, but her desire to sing lead on all of the songs brought a swift rebuttal. She resumed a solo career in 1967 with CHELSEA GIRL which included three compositions by a young Jackson Browne, who accompanied Nico on live performances, and I'll Keep It With Mine, which Bob Dylan reportedly wrote with her in mind. Lou Reed and John Cale, former colleagues in the Velvet Underground, also provided memorable contributions, while the latter retained his association with the singer by producing her subsequent three albums. Here Nico's baleful, gothic intonation was given free rein, and the haunting, often sparse use of harmonium accentuated her impressionistic songs. In 1974 she appeared in a brief tour of the UK in the company of Kevin Ayers, John Cale and Brian Eno, collectively known as ACNE. A live album of the concert at the Rainbow Theatre in London was subsequently released. That same year, following the release of THE END, the singer ceased recording, but re-emerged in the immediate post-punk era. Her Teutonic emphasis inspired several figures, including Siouxsie Sioux of Siouxsie And The Banshees, but Nico's own '80s’ releases were plagued by inconsistency. Signs of an artistic revival followed treatment for drug addiction, but this unique artist died in Ibiza on 18 July 1988, after suffering a cerebral haemorrhage while cycling in intense heat.