NICO, the punk
princess of the mid '60's Warhol entourage, joined the Velvet
Underground as a singer in 1965 after a brilliant European career
as a top model and actress. This began a new career for one of
the truly unique vocalists and rock personalities of our times.
Noted for her Teutonic inflections, amazing beauty and
heartbreaking baritone, she exuded a deep-seated sense of European
worldliness and angst. She in many ways set the stage for the
"gloom and doom" English romanticism and the Goth movement so
popular today.
Truly an individualist, in style, presentation and her
approach to material, NICO created a unique vision that in
time became her own personal reality.
NICO "Do or Die" was originally released by ROIR as
a cassette-only in November 1982. It is a collection of
live performances, both solo and with her band, from her
1982 European tour that garnered considerable interest from
collectors, press, her fans and also the followers of The
Velvet Undøerground. It has now been 24-bit digitally remastered
and re-edited for CD release by Doug Pomeroy.
"Drawn from five European
gigs and featuring the best of Nico's many bands, The Blue Orchids, 'Do or Die'
is the greatest hits package Nico never got. The power she unleashes dismisses
any doubts regarding her role in rock and roll. Skillful beauty - spine-chilling isolation" - Alternative Press
"At 44, Nico looks like a shipwreck,
smokes incessantly and is still alluring with her trademark Teutonic lisp and Marlene
Dietrich baritone." - Trouser Press, 12/82. (Live performance)
"The solos were compelling
and excruciating, Nico sat at the keyboard with downset eyes and pumping feet,
wailing anguished poetry like a latter day Cassandra, while her harmonium ostinatos
linked her to New York's '60's minimalists." - Jon Pareles, The New York Times (Live performance)
"The black beauty of Nico's music,
magnificent in it's sound yet terrible in it's scope proves quite
resilient on 'Do or Die.' It is an ironically appropriate title for music by a
woman who has already died several times during her long romance with drugs and
Warholian decadence, yet continually summons up the emotional strength to translate
her tragic experience into strangely uplifting songs."
- David Fricke, Melody Maker, UK
"No better example for the hard-core revivalist than Nico's 'Do or Die.'
An artist trapped by her fan's dreams." - Op
"One of the better '80's Nico titles." - Record Collector, UK
"I'm impressed
by this fabulous collection of live European performances." - Jonathan L, Newsreal
"The original Goth rocker,
Nico's albums are demanding and bleak, but map a unique and starkly
powerful vision that has become more influential with age. One of the
most fascinating figures of rock's fringes." - All Music Guide to Rock
"A lengthy live sampler of
Nico's work minus the production flourishes of her studio albums."
- Trouser Press
"This is the end - my
beautiful friend. May I have some beer, please?" - Track 14, "The End", Nico.
