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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZNICO(b Christa Paffgren, c'40, Berlin; d 18 July '88, Ibiza, following a bicycle accident) Singer, actress; German model best-known for association with the Velvet Underground. She appeared in Fellini's La Dolce Vita '59; moved to London mid-'60s, was involved with Rolling Stone Brian Jones, leading to single for Andrew Loog Oldham's Immediate label 'The Last Mile' '65, prod. by Jimmy Page. Went to NYC '66, appeared in Andy Warhol film Chelsea Girls, joined Velvets: Velvet Underground And Nico '67 displayed haunting drone on 'All Tomorrow's Parties' and 'I'll Be Your Mirror'; debut solo LP Chelsea Girl '68 featured Bob Dylan's 'I'll Keep It With Mine', rumoured to have been written for her but actually intended for Judy Collins. She gigged regularly in NYC, Jackson Browne and Tim Buckley opening shows for her; The Marble Index '69 prod. by John Cale, Desert Shore '71 by Joe Boyd featured her gloomy gothic harmonium. She attended one-off Velvets reunion in Paris '72 with Cale and Lou Reed; The End '74 incl. her version of the Doors' oedipal title song, and featured Roxy Music's Phil Manzanera. Concert appearance with Cale, Brian Eno and Kevin Ayers released as June 1, 1974; regular live appearances kept her legend alive and she released Drama Of Exile '81; by mid- '80s she was back in vogue with resurgence of interest in the Velvets. Do Or Die '83 and Behind The Iron Curtain '86 were live sets, with her interpretation of such European songs as David Bowie's 'Heroes', the latter album made with her new group the Faction. Icon '96 on Cleopatra compiled out-takes and live stuff c '80 and interviews. |