Heart's Nancy & Ann Wilson: Igniting Rock Star Dreams in Every Fan's Heart
Photo of Nancy and Ann Wilson by Kevin Kane/WireImage
- Photo of Nancy and Ann Wilson by Kevin Kane/WireImage
If you are of a certain age (born before the internet), you know and love the band Heart. If you aspire to be in a rock band, or sing in the shower, you want to have Ann Wilson’s voice—the perfect melding of rock & roll power and musical virtuosity. Not to mention her sister Nancy, who sings AND plays guitar like nobody’s business. They were trailblazers in a still male-dominated arena of rock music in the 1970s and continue to produce and perform amazing music. Who hasn’t sung along to “Barracuda?”
Heart – the ultimate sister-act, power-rock band who helped forge the Seattle music scene – were finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 18. As a fellow alumna of Interlake High School in Bellevue, I have always had a special admiration for the sisters that made it in that most competitive field. The band was introduced and inducted by fellow hometown hero Chris Cornell and the original lineup of Heart -Roger Fisher, Michael Derosier, Steve Fossen, and Howard Leese – have now secured their place among the pantheon of rock gods.
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Kristin and her husband at Nokia Theatre in LA for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony and concert on April 18.
- Kristin and her husband at Nokia Theatre in LA for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony and concert on April 18.
The show included fellow inductees, Lou Adler, Quincy Jones, Public Enemy, Albert King, Donna Summer and of course, Rush (the real reason my husband wanted to go). We were prepared to fly to Cleveland, Ohio to see our musical heroes inducted, but were pleasantly surprised when they announced that this year’s concert would be held in sunny Los Angeles. A welcome respite from a rainy stretch here at home.
The concert was incredible. There were some surprise guest appearances by luminaries like Carole King, Don Henley, Oprah (to introduce her mentor Quincy Jones) and a smirking Jack Nicholson in the audience. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The Wilson Sisters on stage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony with Jeremy Cantrell of Alice in Chains and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam. Photo by Kevin Kane/WireImage.
- The Wilson Sisters on stage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony with Jeremy Cantrell of Alice in Chains and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam. Photo by Kevin Kane/WireImage.
Heart reunited with the original lineup for “Crazy On You,” and then Ann and Nancy played the duet “Dreamboat Annie” – mentioning they wrote the song as kids and their parents chose it as their favorite. Ann and Nancy then had their current band, along with Chris Cornell, Jerry Cantrell and Mike McCready guesting on their final song, an amazing rendition of their anthem, “Barracuda.”
Cornell told a story of long ago, of seeing Ann Wilson’s lipstick red Porsche pull out of a private studio garage as he packed up his gear (after quitting his latest band) into his crummy Dodge Dart. He saw it was Ann and said it was inspiration for him to keep going and to keep playing. I think that kind of worked out well for him.
By the way, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony airs on HBO on May 18. Meanwhile, here’s a back-stage interview with Ann and Nancy Wilson. And, for my fellow female rocker wannabes, the EMP Museum opens a new exhibit called Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power on June 15 – don’t miss it!
