Nico (1938–1988)
Nico (1938–1988)
German singer. Name variations: Christa Paffgen or Paeffgen or Päffgen. Born Christa Päffgen, Oct 16, 1938, in Cologne, Germany; died of cerebral hemorrhage after bicycle accident during holiday with son, July 18, 1988, in Ibiza, Spain; children: (with actor Alain Delon) son Ari.
Worked as model in Paris; had small part in film, La Dolce Vita (1960); recorded British single "The Last Mile" (1965); met Andy Warhol in NY and appeared in his film, The Chelsea Girls (1966); through Warhol, met Lou Reed and John Cale and joined their Velvet Underground; left group after 1 album, Velvet Underground and Nico (1967); recorded solo album, Chelsea Girl (1968), which included songs by Reed and Cale; released albums The Marble Index (1969) and Desertshore (1971); performed at London's Rainbow Theatre with Kevin Ayers, Cale, and Brian Eno (June 1, 1974), resulting in album June 1st, 1974; released solo album, The End (1974); career suffered due to dependency on heroin and methadone; dropped by Island (1975), performed solo on club circuit (1970s–80s); released Drama of Exile (1981) and last album, Camera Obscura (1985).
See also James Young, Nico: The End (1993).