Nico

10/16/38 - 6/18/88

Christa Paffgen, artistically known as Nico, started off her fame with a career in the modeling industry when she dropped out of school at the age of thirteen. She was then spotted selling lingerie, scouted, and pushed by her mother to find a modeling job in Berlin. 

Nico met Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones in 1965, and after that there were various idols whom she recorded with. It is said that her career was short lived but influential in a way that too-few people will ever understand.

She went through so many hardships, and an incident that sticks out is when she was raped by a US Air Force Sergeant. She wrote about it in her song "Secret Side" which appeared on her album The End..., and it's emotional and heartbreaking. It is said that Bob Dylan wrote for her the lyrics to her song "I'll Keep It With Mine," and she couldn't have performed it any better. She was also involved musically with Lou Reed, The Velvet Underground and John Cale, all who saw the beauty in her.

Look at pictures of her and see she's gorgeous in a raw and sandy way. Listen to her voice and you will hear how she has been hurt. Dissect the lyrics of her songs and you will eventually understand. Nico is impeccable in an imperfect manner and an unnoticed part of the 1960s era of music.

-Kassandra Small