Nico: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Nico (born Christa Päffgen) was a fashion model, actress, and singer. The date and location of her birth are disputed. Most sources state October 16,1938, Cologne, Germany. However, at least two other sources have put her birthdate at March 15, 1943, in Budapest, Hungary. All sources record her death as occurring on July 18, 1988, Ibiza, Spain.

Nico is best known as the female lead vocalist (along with male lead Lou Reed) on the Velvet Underground's first album. Nico made her early fame as a fashion model for various publications across the globe. As a young girl she moved to Paris and met the famed photographer Tobias, who christened her "Nico" after his ex-boyfriend, filmmaker Nico Papatakis. Nico worked for Vogue, Tempo, Vie Nuove, Mascotte Spettacolo, Camera, ELLE, and various other fashion magazines in the late 1950s. She was also hired by Coco Chanel.

After appearing in several commercials, Nico landed a tiny role in Alberto Lattuada's La Tempesta (1958). She then appeared in Rudolph Maté's For the First Time with Mario Lanza. In 1959, she was invited to the set of Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita and attracted the attention of the acclaimed director, who promptly gave her a sizable role in his film. By this time, Nico had moved to New York to take acting classes with Lee Strasberg. After splitting her time between New York and Paris, she landed the lead role in Jacques Poitrenaud's Strip-Tease (1963). For that film, Nico recorded the title track, which was produced by Serge Gainsbourg but was not released.

In 1964, Nico met The Rolling Stones' Brian Jones and recorded her first single, I'm Not Sayin for Andrew Loog Oldham's Immediate label. Jones introduced her to Bob Dylan and through Dylan, she met Andy Warhol. She began working with Warhol and Paul Morrissey on their experimental films, including Chelsea Girls. The Closet, Sunset, and Imitation of Christ.

While appearing in the Factory films of Warhol, Nico was introduced to The Velvet Underground who were the backing group for Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitable--a multimedia performance featuring film, music, lights and dancers in a sort of total experience theatre. Eventually, Nico began recording with the Velvets and sang three songs on their debut album. The official word is rather sketchy, but shortly after the release of the Velvet Underground's Banana Album, (The Velvet Underground and Nico), Nico quit and moved on to begin her career as a solo artist. Over the course of the next 20 years, Nico, recorded a series of critically acclaimed albums, working with the likes of Brian Eno, Phil Manzanera, and John Cale. Cale, specifically, produced several of Nico's albums as well as arranging and playing various instruments on the recordings.

For her debut album, 1968's Chelsea Girl, Nico recorded songs from, among others, Bob Dylan, Tim Hardin, Jackson Brown, Lou Reed, and John Cale. For her seminal collection, The Marble Index, released in 1969, Nico wrote all the words and music. The album was arranged by John Cale, and is considered the first rock album to completely abandon conventional structures and instrumentation. For this album, Nico played and recorded upon a harmonium, which became her signature instrument for much of the rest of her career. Cale produced both 1970's Desertshore and 1973's The End. Nico continue to tour and record up until the end of her life. In the 1980s, she recorded Drama of Exile (1981) and Camera Obscura(1985). A substantial number of Nico's performances towards the end of her life were recorded and have been released. Most noteworthy of these are 1982's Heroine, 1986's Behind the Iron Curtain, and her final concert, Fata Morgana, recorded on June 6, 1988.

Nico formed a 'domestic partnership' with John Cooper Clarke. [1]

On July 18, 1988, Nico was injured while riding her pushbike near her home in Ibiza. She hit her head and was administered to a local hospital. X-rays revealed severe bleeding in her brain. She died several hours later.

Select Discography

• The Velvet Underground and Nico (Collaboration with The Velvet Underground; 1967)
• Chelsea Girl (1968)
• The Marble Index (1969)
• Desertshore (1970)
• The End (1973)
• June 1, 1974 (1974)
• Drama of Exile (1981)
• (1982 tour diary)
• En Personne en Europe (live cassette)
• Nico Live in Pécs 1985
• Camera Obscura (1985)
• Behind the Iron Curtain (1986)
• Nico in Tokyo (1987)
• Fata Morgana (Nico's Last Concert (1988)
• Hanging Gardens(1989)
• Heroine (1994)

• Young, James. Songs They Never Play On the Radio. Bloomsbury Publishing Ltd: London. 1992.
• Bockris, Victor and Gerard Malanga. Omnibus Press: London. 1995 (reprint).
• Witts, Richard, Virgin Books: London. 1992.

Nico Icon dir. Susanne Ofteringer (1995)