Heart (Finally!) Nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Yes, it really is happening!

The nominees were announced last Tuesday and low and behold our beloved sisters from Seattle have finally (make that finally, finally, FINALLY!!) been included :D They along with 14 other hopefuls including Guns n Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers and fellow female rock icon Joan Jett and the Blackhearts are all in the running for the 2012 Induction.

Heart have been eligible for RNRHOF Induction for the last 10 years and have been aggregiously overlooked every year running. Now they have gone from not even making the Rock Hall's "Previously Considered" list straight to being nominated. Most of the nominees come from the "shortlist". In other words, the Hall is proving they actually do have a heart. Or at least, they could.

Let your voice be heard. Vote for HEART in the online fan poll here. This does not affect the outcome of the induction; that task is in the (hopefully) able hands of 1000 "rock experts", 500 or more of which must vote for Heart for them to make it in. But we should vote our hearts out nonetheless. This is Heart's moment and they deserve every minute of it.

~

Now just for fun; late last year I started work on a Heart for the RNRHOF project; posters and music selections/album covers mostly, but before I could release any of them or the full website I had in the works, my computer burned up and is still out of commission. Luckily for me I had sent a few of my finished works to my best friend who, in true heroic amazingness, kept them and was able to send them to my phone so that I may post them in celebration of this incredible and momentous occasion! Here we have a promo poster of sorts, and a matching set of front and back album covers with a poster to match too. Posters measure 11x17 inches and the coverart is standard cd case size 475x475 pixels. I have another large set that needs a bit of tweaking that I will hopefully be able to post soon. As always, I hope you all like them :)

Grey typography set -

There You Go iTunes / Amazon

Barracuda iTunes / Amazon

These Dreams (Live) iTunes / Amazon

Make Me iTunes / Amazon

I Didn't Want to Need You iTunes / Amazon

Crazy On You iTunes / Amazon

Closer to the Sun iTunes (Album Only)

Battle of Evermore (Live) Legal Sounds

Dog & Butterfly (2009) Amazon Exclusive

Alone iTunes / Amazon

Love Alive iTunes / Amazon

Hey You iTunes / Amazon
*Please note all links are to US iTunes and Amazon pages

Photo Credit: Mark Britain and Amber McDonald

Editing: Nikayla Crews

No Copyright Infringement intended

Musical Selections: Nikayla Crews and Amy Johnstone

All Music Copyright Heart Amalgamated

Ann and Nancy: Moms Who Rock

Pandora.com has Moms Who Rock! Check out the new page for 4 mini webisodes with Ann and Nancy as they discuss being rock n roll mommas. Lots of cute, funny stories and Ann and Nancy are just as beautiful and sweet as can be. I absolutely loved these. ♥

Ann and Nancy in Rockstars of Science Campaign

Ann and Nancy, along with 6 other celebrities including fellow female rock icon Debbie Harry, are appearing in the Rockstars of Science 2010 Campaign which will premiere in December!

Autism Speaks, the nation's leading autism science and advocacy organization, is pleased to announce that Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D., its chief science officer, has been named a "Rockstar of Science" by Geoffrey Beene Gives Back® and GQ Magazine who have joined forces, along with the Entertainment Industry Foundation/SU2C, to bring together eight celebrity musicians--rock icon Debbie Harry (Blondie), Bret Michaels, Timbaland, Keri Hilson, Heart (Ann and Nancy Wilson), Jay Sean and B.o.B -- and seventeen of the nation's top medical researchers, including Dr. Dawson as well as two Nobel Laureates. - Press Release

After I found the press release my good friend Kristen immediately went in search of more information and found this GORGEOUS picture that will be featured in the campaign ads.

I mean, LOOK AT THEM!

You can download the entire 2010 Campaign in PDF form here. And please check out RockstarsOfScience.org for more information.

Gorgeous Photos from the Topeka Show!

Ann and Nancy were UNBELIEVABLY gorgeous last night in Topeka. Love the jackets and necklaces!

    

   

   

Credit: Kris Know

Ann and Nancy's iTunes Celebrity Playlist Podcast!

This was such a treat to hear today. 35 minutes of Ann and Nancy talking about music they love. Great stories and insights, lots of funny moments. They are just so, so amazing. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did :)

Click here to download the FREE podcast. Must have iTunes.

Nancy on 96.3 KKLZ!

Here is the 2nd of the 8 interviews Nancy did on the 28th :D It's a short one but there's some great stuff in it anyhow. And it's always wonderful to hear Nancy laugh :)



Big thank you to Matt who ran the interviews for sending me the info! :D

Kallaway on the Rise Interview with Nancy!

Nancy did 8 radio interviews the morning of the 28th! So far this is the only one I've seen air. Will post the others as I get them :)



Big thank you to Matt who ran the interviews for sending me the info! :D

Acoustic Performance for Michelle Obama Fundraiser

Ann, Nancy and Craig Perform at the Michelle Obama/Barbara Boxer Fundraiser on the 27th! :D

Heart Performs on Dancing With the Stars!

Heart was AMAZING on Dancing With the Stars this week. Here are some photos from the show :D

Gorgeous shots by Adam Larkey.

Here's a screencap I took of our beautiful smiley Ann ♥

Check out this Facebook group for more (not taken by me).

And in case you missed the performance :D

Ann and Nancy's "Day In Rock"

On the 18th Ann sat in for Paul Shaffer's Day in Rock:



And Nancy took the reins on the 27th :D

Nancy Interview with Chop Shop Radio!

Short new Nancy interview taped from the road. Aired the week of Oct. 11th :)

New Ann and Nancy Interview

Here is a great interview Ann and Nancy did with Honolulu DJ Dave Lawrence at HPR from earlier this month. :)

Heart Rolls Into Street Date Studios In A “Red Velvet Car”

Say the name Heart to any fan of classic rock and immediately you’ve got a sing-along on your hands. It’s impossible to think of the band without busting into one of rock’s great power ballads. Whether it’s “Alone,” “These Dreams” or “What About Love,” Heart literally wrote the soundtrack to the American love story, and their music has helped define the sound of rock ‘n roll for over a generation. Last month they released a brand new album called Red Velvet Car featuring two hot new singles (“WTF” and “Hey You”).

Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson rode their Red Velvet Car right into the Street Date studios last month to preview songs from the new album, and treat a handful of lucky fans to some all-time hits from their treasured catalog.

There are few things more enjoyable sitting back and listening as Ann and Nancy Wilson swap stories about the good old days (and bad old days) of their lifetime in rock ‘n roll. In our wide-ranging interview presented in the clip below, the two tell tales of sleazy promoters from the 70′s, of encounters with legends like Elton John and Steely Dan, and of near-death experiences halfway around the world (beware the Japanese rock festival!). Click play to hear these classy sisters (they still get along, after all these years) tell the tale in their own words.

Heart began their Street Date session by debuting three songs off their new album. For everyone in the room, this was the first time these new tunes had ever been heard. In typical Wilson Sisters fashion, they shared a charming story about each song before getting down to business. Those stories are captured here – hit play on the videos below to watch Heart perform their new songs and get the full story behind “Hey You,” “Red Velvet Car” and “WTF.

Hey You:



Red Velvet Car:



WTF:



As thrilling as it was to hear the new material, the real joy of Heart‘s studio session came when they switched gears and asked “anybody want to hear some old stuff?” In unison, the response from the room was “YES!” Without missing a beat, the duo dove into their signature hard rock tune “Barracuda.” For many people the song marks a watershed moment in rock ‘n roll – a lightening-flash revelation that saw women rockers finally lashing out against the male-dominated industry. The song cut right through the sleaze that surrounded so many parts of the business, and remains one of the most anthemic rock songs ever written (that guitar riff is no slouch either, and ranks among the all-time greats). Heart closed out their Street Date appearance with a rare performance of their treasured, but lesser-known classic “Dog & Butterfly.” Hit play below to hear the stories and watch these killer performances.

Dog & Butterfly:



Barracuda:



Like what you hear? Check out Red Velvet Car, the new album from Heart, at iTunes and Amazon.


Source

Ann and Nancy to be Featured in GQ!

From the Twitter stream of Michelle Hynek on September 9th. They look so cute!!! :D

GQ photo shoot today with Heart, Robert Hanewich and photographer Kurt Iswarienko.

Not sure when this will run. Will update when I do :)

Thank you to Kristen for finding this picture!

Performing Songwriter: Hi-Res PDFs

Performing Songwriter is offering two Hi-Res PDF files from past interviews with Ann and Nancy :D

The indomitable Ann and Nancy Wilson speak about maintaining the integrity of their sound. (From Sept/Oct 2004, Issue 80)

Hi-Res PDF Price: $0.49

Heart’s guitar slinger recalls her early days with sister Ann as a folk-rock act and revisiting the classic songs from Dreamboat Annie. (From Jul/Aug 2008, Issue 111)

Hi-Res PDF Price: $0.99

Venus Zine: The Greatest Female Guitarists of All-Time

This is a cool feature on Nancy from Venus Zine. :)

 A born guitarist: Nancy Wilson, most famous for her guitar prowess in the band Heart, started playing at age 8. Born in 1954, she grew up in Southern California and Taiwan before her Marine Corps father retired to the Seattle suburbs. “I fell in love with the guitar immediately,” she says from her Los Angeles home in February 2008. In the same way that her sister Ann Wilson was born to sing, Nancy Wilson says she’s definitely a born guitar player.

The self-taught guitarist says she has a good ear for picking things up and imitating what she’d heard on vinyl records. She mastered guitar by playing songs by Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Page, and Pete Townsend. “Before Heart, I played nonstop and way into the night, and I just couldn’t put the guitar down,” Wilson says. “I didn’t mind that my fingers hurt. I had to know every song that I loved.”

Favorite guitars: Wilson has a soft spot for classic guitars because they have the most character and soul. She has a Gibson Les Paul Special that she’s played since the ‘70s and continues to play now. She also loves the Martin guitar and has worked with the company on a new design. “I designed it in the style of the Martins that Crosby Stills Nash and Young used to play because that’s the sound I grew up with and learned,” she says.

Expert advice: Wilson’s primary advice for aspiring guitarists is to have fun. She recommends learning to play by ear instead of concentrating on reading music. “Learn every three-chord song first,” she says. “You know, ‘Gloria’ or ‘Wild Thing,’ and ‘Louie Louie.’ Play with other musicians and bang on the piano and have a party.” She thinks it’s best for aspiring musicians to make stuff up and not take themselves so seriously. “Sometimes they think, ‘I must educate myself in the ways of music.’ But if you’re going to play rock in particular, it’s really about having a good time and getting off.”

A different kind of sexy back: Wilson says she has mixed feelings about the music industry right now. On the one hand, she feels that MTV has created a manufacturing process for sexualizing popular music. She feels that the late ’60s and ’70s was a time of cultural exploration, expression, and groove; whereas today, mainstream music tends to involve image perfection and being sexy. “The ’70s was definitely a sexy time in music,” Wilson says. “It just wasn’t sexy in the way that sexy is today. Today’s sexy is pre-fab, and there’s a very narrow definition about what’s supposed to be sexy, which to me is largely unsexy compared to the more natural look of sexiness. I think [Heart] always had a lot of sexual prowess with our music and on stage and in our early videos before MTV but it was way more of a natural idea.”

On the other hand, Wilson is excited about music that’s coming from underground sources. She says she’s glad there are sites such as YouTube that allow people to access music on their own. “When you create a groundswell inside culture that’s outside of the box, you have something great happening in music,” Wilson says. “It feels much more like the ’70s again to me — before everything got so corporatized. I’m really hopeful for music right now. The business itself is dying on the vine because a lot of the corporate mentality has choked itself to death. Maybe that’s a good thing. It’s gonna be more about what people love and what people want now.”

Keeping score: Wilson composes music for a number of  films, including Elizabethtown and Vanilla Sky. She most recently scored music for a CNN program called Heroes in 2008. “I’ve got a lot of crazy instruments like the Japanese koto and mandocello that I use for scoring — I have no idea how to play them, but I just play them anyway,” Wilson says. “There’s all kinds of fun to be had.”


Source

Get Into Heart's Red Velvet Car

VH1 News Piece that ran the week of 8/30-9/6

Heart to Perform at Brian Boitano's Skating Spectacular

Olympic gold medalist Brian Boitano has announced that the hard rock group Heart will perform as part of his skating spectacular show in Sioux City.

"This is the first time I've featured a top female rock group," he said during a teleconference interview at City Hall. "I've been a fan for years. They impressed me so much."

Boitano and other international figure skaters will perform Dec. 16 at the Tyson Events Center. He noted the show will be broadcast nationwide Dec. 26 on NBC.

One of the draws to performing in Sioux City, he noted, is that his sister, Jill Kolegraff, lives in Okoboji. He said she will bring her children to the show.

"It's sort of impossible to chose just 10 of their songs," Boitano said of Heart. "Everyone wants to skate to 'Barracuda,' " a song that became Heart's second million-seller. "It's sort of hard to chose just 10 songs."

Heart features sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, who stormed the charts since the late 1970s with such hits like "Crazy On You," "Magic Man," "These Dreams" and "If Looks Could Kill." They have sold more than 30 million records and have had 21 Top 40 hits.

He explained having Heart perform will impact the skaters' choreography and costumes. Even the stage will be different, he said, in order to showcase the singers.


If You Go

When:
Dec. 16

Where:
Tyson Events Center


Source

AOL's Top 10 Heart Songs

A few of our top 10 Heart songs -- which span over three of the band's first four albums -- made sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson the queens of '70s hard rock. After a slight career slump, the group returned in the mid-'80s with a more mainstream pop rock sound, scoring them some of their biggest hits, ever. This list counts down the best Heart songs throughout the band's four-decade career.


10. 'Who Will You Run To'
Penned by Diane Warren, one of the era's most successful songwriters, this Heart song warned an ex-lover that he would never find a love as good as the one he was leaving behind. "Who's gonna love you baby as good as I," protests Ann Wilson. The second single from Heart's 1987 album 'Bad Animals,' the track reached No. 7 on the Hot 100 chart.

9. 'Straight On'
Like every song on the double-platinum 1978 album 'Dog & Butterfly,' 'Straight On' was written by the Wilson sisters with their childhood friend Sue Ennis. The track utilized gambling metaphors like "Now I know I gotta play my hand" and "Got the feel of fortune / Deal me in" to describe a romantic pursuit, highlighted by the aggressive lyric, "I'm comin' straight on for you."

8. 'Never'
The second single from Heart's self-titled 1985 album, 'Never' was one of the band's few '80s hits that Ann and Nancy Wilson had a hand in writing. They co-wrote the track with Holly Knight, who had written hits for female rockers like Pat Benatar and Tina Turner. 'Never' was Heart's first Top 5 hit.

7. 'Barracuda'
Heart's 1977 hit 'Barracuda' has become one of the most recognizable classic rock songs, thanks to its distinctive chugging guitar riff. The song has received numerous references in films and in TV shows -- and was even used during Sarah Palin's 2008 vice presidential campaign. The sisters were not pleased and fired off a cease-and-desist letter, though McCain's campaign continued to use the song.

6. 'All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You'
Written by "Mutt" Lange, the No. 2 hit 'All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You' weaved a soap opera-style tale about meeting a stranger for a one-night stand and having his child. Some time later the two characters met again, leading to the dramatic line, "You can imagine his surprise / When he saw his own eyes."

5. 'Crazy on You'
'Crazy on You' was the group's first single and remains one of the most popular Heart songs. Appearing on the 1976 album 'Dreamboat Annie,' the song peaked with an explosive chorus led by Ann's strong voice. Heart performed 'Crazy on You' during the 2007 VH1 Rock Honors, and the song appeared on the video game 'Guitar Hero II.'

4. 'Magic Man'
'Magic Man' was an autobiographical song Ann wrote about her boyfriend and Heart manager, Mike Fisher, and a conversation she had with her mother about leaving home. "Try to understand," Ann sang, "He's a magic man, mama." The song was Heart's first Top 10 hit, peaking at No. 9 in 1976.

3. 'Alone'
In his search for a power ballad, Heart producer Ron Nevison found 'Alone,' a song written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, whose past credits include 'True Colors,' and 'Like a Virgin.' Although the demo presented to the band had no guitars, the completed version mixed piano-driven verses with a soaring rock chorus, and became Heart's second No. 1 single.

2. 'What About Love?'
By 1985, Heart had only scored two Top 10 hits in their career. Then the band signed with Capitol Records and released a self-titled record with a more commercial sound. The album's first single, 'What About Love?,' re-established the group as a force, peaking at No. 10 on the pop chart.

1. 'These Dreams'
After Stevie Nicks passed on recording 'These Dreams,' the mid-tempo pop song found its way to Heart, and gave Nancy Wilson a rare chance to sing lead. Much of her recording session was spent trying to recreate the raspsy tone in her first take, which had been recorded when she was sick. 'These Dreams' became the group's first No. 1 hit, and our top Heart song.


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Ann and Nancy on The Today Show

In case you missed it, here is Ann and Nancy's interview from the Today Show 8/31. :)

And the web-only backstage video. :)