Femme Fatale: The Story Of Nico
Broadcast on BBC Radio 4
Tuesday 6 January 2009 11:30-12:00
captured from iPlayer, 128kbps, 44Khz, runtime 27:57
25.4mb zipfile on megaupload
28 minutes MP3Marc Riley tells the story of Christa Paffgen, who gained legendary status as Nico, singer with Andy Warhol's Velvet Underground.
Christa Paffgen was born in Germany just before the war. After leaving school she worked as a model and actress, travelling widely in Europe and appeared in Fellini's La Dolce Vita.
In the Sixties Christa met some of the biggest names in rock music, including Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison, Brian Jones and Lou Reed. She eventually came to the attention of artist Andy Warhol, who decided to cast her as the lead singer in his newly created band, The Velvet Underground. Their first album, with its signature Warhol drawing of a banana on the front cover, was released in 1967. It is now cited as one of the most influential albums ever recorded and some claim that without Nico it would never have been made. She sang just three songs.
Contributors to the programme include Nico's son Ari and John Cale, who was with Nico in The Velvet Underground and produced a number of her later solo albums.
Presenter/Marc Riley, Producer/Nicola Swords
