Nico

Nico was a German singer, songwriter, actress and model who rose to fame in the 1960s. She had roles in several films, including Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita (1960) and Andy Warhol's Chelsea Girls (1966). She also sang on three songs of The Velvet Underground's debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967), which is considered one of the most influential albums in rock history. Nico started her solo career with the album Chelsea Girl (1967), which featured songs written by Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, Tim Hardin and Lou Reed. She then collaborated with John Cale, a former member of The Velvet Underground, who produced and arranged her next four albums: The Marble Index (1968), Desertshore (1970), The End... (1974) and Drama of Exile (1981). These albums showcased Nico's distinctive voice and her original compositions on the harmonium, a pump organ. Her music was dark, experimental and avant-garde, blending elements of folk, rock, classical and ambient music. Nico also covered songs by David Bowie, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix and others. Nico was known for her enigmatic persona and her unconventional beauty. She was a muse for many artists, such as Warhol, Reed, Cale, Dylan and Brian Jones. She had a turbulent personal life, marked by drug addiction, depression and troubled relationships. She had a son, Ari Boulogne, with French actor Alain Delon, who denied paternity. She was married briefly to Italian filmmaker Filippo Schiariti in the early 1960s. She also had affairs with Jim Morrison, Iggy Pop, Leonard Cohen and others. Nico died in 1988 at the age of 49 from a cerebral haemorrhage after falling off her bicycle in Ibiza. She was buried in the same island, where she had spent her last years. Nico's legacy as an influential and innovative artist has been recognized by many musicians and critics. She has been cited as an inspiration by artists such as Björk, Siouxsie Sioux, Morrissey, Patti Smith, Nick Cave, Bat for Lashes and Lana Del Rey. She has also been the subject of several biographies, documentaries and tribute albums.