is a continuation of a long exploration for Nina Danino into ‘the singer’ as a privileged figure who can access and express both collective and individual profound emotion.
The film offers a fascinating insight into the life of one of the most remarkable, mysterious and iconic cult artists of all time.
After the screening, a panel will discuss her life and years in Manchester and her status as an artist. The panel will include both of Nico’s biographers Richard Witts and Jennifer Otter Bickerdyke and two of her managers and friends, Phil Jones, and Nigel Bageley, and will be hosted by broadcaster, author and cultural commentator John Robb.
Nina Danino, director of Solitude, said:
“I am really excited to be showing Solitude in Manchester – a special place for Nico’s life story, as it is where she re-launched her career as a touring musician with her band The Faction. I’m looking forward to showcasing the excellent work of Graham Dowdall who has created new arrangements for Nico’s songs in a haunting electronic soundtrack. Nico is such a powerful artist, she has been a guide and spirit throughout to me. It’s incredible to have worked with her collaborators and friends, who will also share their insights of Nico at what will be a special evening.”
Best known for her collaboration with the legendary rock band The Velvet Underground, Nico (real name Christa Päffgen) first rose to fame in the 1960s when she became associated with Andy Warhol’s avant-garde art collective, known as The Factory.
It was Warhol who then introduced Nico to The Velvet Underground, a band he was managing at the time, creating one of the most iconic partnerships in rock and roll history. Nico contributed to vocals on The Velvet Underground’s debut album “The Velvet Underground & Nico”, and her deep, haunting voice and enigmatic stage presence became an integral element of the band’s sound and image.
Nico then went on to release her own solo work, including Chelsea Girl (1967), The Marble Index (1968), Desertshore (1970), and The End… (1974).
