Quotes From Ann & Nancy Wilson Of Heart

Nancy: "The lightning bolt came out of the heavens and struck Ann and me the first time we saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show."

Ann: "Led Zepplin, you can't find a better band to pay tribute to."

Nancy: "The effect of music is huge. It is so human, yet it is beyond human."

Ann: "Fleetwood Mac are more like a folk-rock band."

Nancy: "Our ideal of sexuality was much more natural, like nymphs running through the woods."

Ann: "I like the White Stripes and I like the kinda twang American thing right now."


Nancy: "A dream set would include songs by other artists like Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, and other favorites."

Ann: "Separating business from family is never completely possible since Nancy and I run the family business."

Nancy: "Joni Mitchell became a huge influence on us. But it wasn't till after the initial Beatles explosion that you started seeing women come forward as their own songwriters."

Ann: "I never get tired of being with Nancy, and the older I get, the more I love her company, musical and otherwise."

Chrissie Hynde Quotes

"I was a single mom with two kids. What else was I going to do? It was either be in a band or be a waitress."

"I have no sense of patriotism, but I do have a sense of community."

"I don't know any guitar player, any of the real greats, who don't rate Joni Mitchell up there with the best of them."

"Do not insist on working with females, that's just more b.s. Get the best man for the job. If it happens to be a woman, great."

"Songwriting isn't my life; it's just something I do. It was a way for me not to be a waitress."


"I don't know anything about guitars, really. A guitar is just a thing, a tool."

"Music is not my life. Being in a rock and roll band is not my life. It's my hobby. I've got a life, thanks."

"I preferred rock when it was in the dark, when it was a secret between me and the audience, when it wasn't mainstream."

"I just want to keep it basic: four players, boom, boom, boom, a couple notes, three chords. It's like a real small bank job. Just enough to get by. Quick in and out."

"I just want to play guitar and be in a band. Same as I always did."

Prince Quotes

"Despite everything, no one can dictate who you are to other people."

"What's missing from pop music is danger."

"People say I'm wearing heels because I'm short. I wear heels because the women like 'em."

"What If I don't want to sing Purple Rain every time I go on stage? The fans don't want that, either. It's my music, they're my songs."

"One thing I'd like to say is that I don't live in a prison. I am not afraid of anything. I haven't built any walls around myself, and I am just like anyone else. I need love and water."

"Another big influence was Joni Mitchell. She taught me a lot about color and sound, and to her, I'm very grateful."

"But again, it's the record company. If they don't want to promote a song, they don't make the effort to cross it over into other markets, and the fans don't get to know it. It's the same with my albums."

Famous Songs About Famous People

Going To California - Led Zepplin (1971): The lyric "...she plays guitar and cries and sings" is about Joni Mitchell.

Love Reign o'er Me - The Who (1973): Pete Townshend originally wrote this song about British singer Shirley Bassey, whom he had a crush on during his adolescence.

Killing Me Softly With His Song - Roberta Flack (1973): Supposedly inspired by a poem written by Lori Lieberman about singer Don McLean.


Shine On You Crazy Diamond - Pink Floyd (1975) This nine part song was inspired by former lead singer Syd Barrett, who ironically visited the studio while the group was recording. It took awhile to recognise him because no one had seen him for several years.

Hurricane - Bob Dylan (1975): A protest song about boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, who Dylan felt was wrongly sent to prison in the late 60's.

Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton (1978): From the album "Slowhand", this song was written for George Harrison's ex-wife Pattie Boyd.

Empty Garden - Elton John (1982) Written and recorded after the death of John Lennon. The two artists were close friends, with Elton being named Sean Lennon's godfather.

Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses (1987): From their multi platinum selling album "Appetite For Destruction". Axl Rose co-wrote this song about his then girlfriend Erin Everly, daughter of Don Everly of the Everly Brothers.

Black Velvet - Alannah Myles (1989): This song is a tribute to Elvis Presley and hit number one on the U.S. Billboard charts.

Joni Mitchell Quotes

"No one likes to have less than they had before. That's the nature of the human animal."

"My goal as a writer is more to comfort than to disturb."

"People used to say nobody can sing my songs but me, they're too personal."

"I thrive on change. That's probably why my chords changes are weird, because chords depict emotions."

"I hate show business."


"My favorite line in all of literature is Rudyard Kipling's monkey: "My people are the wisest people in the jungle, my people have always said so."

"You know, Neil Young is singing 'Rock n' roll will never die', and Neil never rocked and rolled in his life. I mean, he rocked, but he didn't roll. He has got no swing in him."

"When you reach that kind of successful pinnacle, it is the nature of the business and the press and everything that they go about tearing you down."

"I heard someone from the music business saying they are no longer looking for talent, they want people with a certain look and a willingness to cooperate."

"My style of songwriting is influenced by cinema. I'm a frustrated filmmaker. A fan once said to me, 'Girl, you make me see pictures in my head', and I took that as a great compliment."