Born 1938 as Christa Päffgen in Cologne, German singer, songwriter, actress, and model Nico had roles in several films, including Federico Fellini’s
La Dolce Vita (1960) and Andy Warhol’s
Chelsea Girls (1966). At the insistence of Warhol, she sang lead on three songs of the Velvet Underground’s debut album
The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967). At the same time, she started a solo career and released
Chelsea Girl (1967).
Her friend Jim Morrison suggested that she start writing her own material. Nico then composed songs on a harmonium, not traditionally a rock instrument. John Cale of the Velvet Underground became her musical arranger and produced The Marble Index (1968), Desertshore (1970), The End… (1974) and other subsequent albums.
In the 1980s, Nico toured extensively in Europe, United States, Australia and Japan. After a concert in Berlin in June 1988, she went on holiday in Ibiza, where she died from a cerebral haemorrhage while cycling in extremely hot weather.
Take a look at these glamorous photos to see portraits of a young Nico as a model in the 1950s and 1960s.
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| Nico at the Opera Ball in Grecian-inspired chiffon evening dress by Heinz Oestergaard, 1956 |
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| Nico wearing a cocktail dress by Oestergaard, photo by Herbert Tobias, Berlin, 1956 |
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| Nico, photo by Jeanloup Sieff, 1956 |
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| Nico in evening gown by Jean Dessès, photo by Willy Maywald, 1957 |
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| Nico is wearing a red lamé suit bordered in gold by Chanel, photo by Georges Saad, 1957 |
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