Nico

Nico was a German-born singer-songwriter, model and actress.

Early Career

After several film appearances, including a cameo in Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita, and after releasing a single in 1965 (a version of the Gordon Lightfoot song, "I'm Not Sayin'"), Nico was introduced by artist Andy Warhol to the band, The Velvet Underground. She contributed vocals to several songs on the band's debut album before striking off as a solo performer.

Solo Work

The first two solo albums, Chelsea Girl (1967) and The Marble Index (1969), were recorded with varying amounts of help from Velvet Underground personnel, and are considered her most accomplished works -- although with the former, she was dissatisfied with flutes and strings added to the mix without her permission. Several albums followed, of varying but generally high quality.

Personal Life

Nico famously struggled with heroin addiction for roughly 20 years, and had the tumultuous personal life that comes with hard-core drug use. She was reportedly drug-free at the time of her death, in 1988, from a cerebral hemorrhage suffered in a bicycle accident.

Fast Facts

1. Actual Name: Christa Päffgen
2. Born: October 16, 1938
3. Died: July 18, 1988
4. Origin: Cologne, Germany
5. Years Active: 1965–1988

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