Nico (Christa Päffgen, 10/16/1938-7/18/1988) was another player in the Warhol crew. First, she left home at age thirteen and began modeling in Berlin; moving on to Paris, she was sponsored by (Herbert) Tobias, a fashion photographer who renamed her Nico. She took swimmingly to modeling for various fashion magazines in her late teens and early twenties, including Vogue. She next expanded into TV advertising and movies, most notably La Dolce Vita (1959), directed by Federico Fellini. She also became involved with French actor Alain Delon and together they reputedly had a son, Christian Aaron “Ari” Boulogne (b. 1962), though Delon denied responsibility.
In 1965, she entered the music scene via Brian Jones and Bob Dylan. After recording a single a la Marianne Faithfull (“I’m Not Sayin’”), she moved to New York City and became an Andy Warhol Superstar. Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground were already in place as the house band at the Factory, and Andy put her on their first album. Reed was happy to go along: “Here was this Goddess,” he later recalled. “Okay, we’ll have a chanteuse. . . Why not?” (Mary Woronov did her part dancing on stage, enlivening shows with the “whip dance.”) The results of the combo can be heard on The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967): “All Tomorrow’s Parties,” “Femme Fatale,” and “I’ll Be Your Mirror.”
Nico the real femme fatale had dalliances with several rock stars along the way, including not only Lou Reed, but also Brian Jones, John Cale, Jim Morrison, and Iggy Pop. She also starred in Chelsea Girls with Edie Sedgwick and company.
Though addicted to heroin, Nico went on to make several solo albums, starting with Chelsea Girl (1967), and several more movies, mostly in Europe. Eventually, she kept her addiction at bay and began a healthier lifestyle, only to be fatally injured in a bike accident on the Spanish island of Ibiza shortly thereafter. She’s buried in Berlin.
One is left to wonder what exactly made Nico run away from home at such a young age? A wild trajectory from that initial act, to say the least. What a life!
Today's Rune: The Blank Rune.
Tschüss!
8 comments:
Gorgeous picture, Erik. I love the post.
Erik,
I have a favor to ask. I am entering this writing competition and I have the story typed... but I only have 2 people who will read it.. my boyfriend and michelle.... I was wondering if I could have your email address so I could send it to you and get your opinion. I've never had anything published nor been in a writing competition so I don't know if what I have is worthy... if you don't want to leave your email on the comments thats cool mine is Sugarbaby884@netzero.net I would really appreciate it. Thanx!!!
p.s. love the pic today!
Hey y'all! Sheila, I'd be happy to read it. There's a live email link on the profile page, but if that doesn't work, it's:
efrance23@juno.com
~~E'
If I'm correct, she was featured only briefly in "The Doors" movie in the scene of the Warhol party. (I don't know who played her.) Pretty knock out chick if you ask me, with that accent.
Hey Cheri,
yeah, short but intense scenes with Jim Morrison. Nico should be big in Factory Girl, with Sienna Miller playing Edie Sedgwick. Katie Holmes "had to" turn the role down thanks to her little big man, Tom ;)
Hey Erik,
Are you sure you want to watch "Eating Raoul?" Bizarre stuff.
As far as "Mail Order Bride"--just brilliant. I wished my post today, "I Hope You Don't Mind," was that brilliant; however, you and Robin figured it out. --Jim
The self destruction of celebrities is something that has always fascinated me. Here's someone who managed to climb out of it, only to die in a tragic accident. Sad. She was a true classic beauty.
Interesting Blog. Very original
Sara
Thanks all for the comments!
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