Heart (band)

Heart is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1973. The band evolved from previous projects led by the founding members Roger Fisher (guitar) and Steve Fossen (bass guitar), including The Army (1967–1969), Hocus Pocus (1969–1970), and White Heart (1970–1973). By 1975, the original members Fisher, Fossen, and Ann Wilson (lead vocals and flute), along with Nancy Wilson (rhythm guitar, vocals), Michael Derosier (drums), and Howard Leese (guitar, keyboards and backing vocals) formed the lineup for the band's initial mid- to late-1970s success period.<ref name="auto1">Template:Cite web</ref> These core members were included in the band's 2013 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Heart rose to fame with music influenced by hard rock and heavy metal<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> as well as folk music. The band underwent a major lineup change between the late 1970s and the early 1980s; by 1982 Fisher, Fossen, and Derosier had all left and were replaced by Mark Andes (bass) and Denny Carmassi (drums). Though the band's popularity fell off during the initial years with the new lineup, they staged a comeback in the mid-1980s, buoyed by major radio hits that continued into the 1990s. Heart disbanded in 1998, though they have regrouped and resumed touring and recording multiple times since then, with the Wilson sisters being the only consistent members.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Heart's US Top 40 singles include "Magic Man" (1975), "Crazy on You" (1976), "Barracuda" (1977), "What About Love" (1985), "Never" (1985), and "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You" (1990), along with no. 1 hits "These Dreams" (1986) and "Alone" (1987).<ref name="BB-Hot100">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Heart has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, and has sold over 50Template:Nbspmillion records worldwide, including approximately 22.5Template:Nbspmillion albums in the United States.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> They have placed top-ten albums on the Billboard 200 in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2010s.<ref name=":0" /> Heart was ranked number 57 on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" and ranked number 49 on Ultimate Classic Rock's Top 100 Classic Rock Artists.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

1967–1972: Early bands and formation

In 1965,<ref name=AnkenyAllmusicHeartBio>Template:Citation</ref> bassist Steve Fossen formed The Army, along with Roger Fisher on guitar, Don Wilhelm on guitar, keyboards and lead vocals, and Ray Schaefer on drums.<ref name=Sfossen>Fossen, SteveTemplate:Nonspecific</ref><ref name="Music Legends">Template:Cite web</ref> They played for several years in and around the Bothell, Washington, area, northeast of Seattle. They frequently played Bothell High School, Inglemoor High School, and Shorecrest High School, as well as many taverns and club venues. In 1969, the band went through lineup changes (Gary Ziegelman—former lead singer of Buffalo Clancy—on lead vocals, Fisher on guitar, Fossen on bass, James Cirrello on guitar, Ron Rudge on drums, and Ken Hansen on percussion) and took on a new name, Hocus Pocus.<ref name=Sfossen />

The name White Heart came from a discussion Roger Fisher's brother Mike Fisher had with Michael Munro, who had come up with the name White Hart (without the "e" – a reference to Arthur C. Clarke's Tales from the White Hart) for a band with Toby Cyr on lead guitar. Fisher asked and received permission to use the name for the Army, added the "e", and the Army became White Heart. For a brief time in 1970, this lineup shortened its name to Heart. The band subsequently went through more personnel changes. In 1971, White Heart consisted of Steve Fossen, Roger Fisher, David Belzer (keys), and Jeff Johnson (drums).<ref name="auto1"/> The band eventually stuck to the name Heart, which has been their name since 1973.

Mike Fisher was set to be drafted into the army. Nancy Wilson has stated that when he did not report for duty, his home was raided, he slipped out a rear window, escaped to Canada, and became a Vietnam War "draft dodger".<ref name=believer07>Kelly, Maura. "Interview with Nancy Wilson" Template:Webarchive, The Believer, August 2007. Retrieved October 1, 2008.</ref> One day in 1971 or 1972,<ref name=Inconsistencies>Refer to discussion on talk page.</ref> Mike crossed the border to visit family, and by chance met Ann at a Hocus Pocus (or White Heart<ref name= Inconsistencies />) show.<ref name=BioAnnWilson>Template:Citation</ref> According to Nancy, that meeting was "when she and Michael fell in love"<ref name=believer07 /> and Ann decided to follow Mike back to Canada. Steve Fossen finished his college education before he also decided to move to Canada in late 1972,<ref name=Sfossen /><ref>Bebe Le Strange Epic Records Press Kit. 1980. "Steve Fossen was a founding member of Heart in 1972 and 1973 after completing his music major in college".</ref> and Roger followed in late 1972 or early 1973. With the addition of Ann, Brian Johnstone (drums), and John Hannah (keyboards), the band Heart was officially formed. Ann's sister Nancy Wilson joined in 1974,<ref name="BioHeart">Template:Citation</ref>{{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst||date=__DATE__ |$B= Template:Fix }} and soon after became romantically involved with Roger.

1975–1976: Commercial breakthrough

The group played numerous shows around their new home in Vancouver, and they recorded a demo tape with the assistance of producer Mike Flicker and session-guitarist and keyboard player, Howard Leese.<ref name=Whitaker2003> Template:Citation </ref> Hannah and Johnstone had left by this time, and soon after Leese became a full-time member. Flicker produced the band's first five albums.<ref name=Brown2008p33>Template:Citation</ref> This team recorded the debut album, Dreamboat Annie, at Can-Base Studios in Vancouver, later known as Mushroom Studios. Mike Derosier eventually joined Heart as full-time drummer.<ref name=Brown2008>Template:Citation</ref> Some of the same Canadian investors who had backed the studio also backed a separate company called Mushroom Records, which was managed by Shelly Siegel.<ref name=Billboard1974> Template:Citation </ref><ref> Template:Citation </ref>

The album was picked up by Siegel and sold 30,000 copies in Canada within the first few months of its release in September 1975.<ref name=AnkenyAllmusicHeartBio/><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Sales were assisted by the band opening a Rod Stewart concert at the Montreal Forum in October, a gig they were offered a day before the concert when the previously scheduled opening act canceled.<ref name="auto2">Template:Cite web</ref> The radio success of "Magic Man" led concert organizers to offer the spot to Heart. The band flew from the West Coast of Canada to Montreal overnight for the performance.<ref name="auto2"/> Siegel soon released the album in the US. Helped by two hit singles in 1976 ("Crazy on You" and "Magic Man", which reached numbers 35 and nine, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100), it reached number seven in the Billboard 200.<ref name=AllmusicDreamboatAnnieAwards> Template:Citation </ref> It eventually sold over one million copies.<ref name=AnkenyAllmusicHeartBio/>

1977–1979: Mainstream success and band split

File:Heart-1977.jpg

Then-members of Heart in a promotional photo, 1977

In 1977, Mushroom Records ran a full-page advertisement showing the bare-shouldered Wilson sisters (as on the Dreamboat Annie album cover) with the suggestive caption, "It was only our first time!"<ref name="Brown2008"/> In a July 1977 Rolling Stone cover story, the sisters cited this advertisement as a key reason for their decision to leave Mushroom Records.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Heart broke its contract with Mushroom and signed a contract with CBS subsidiary Portrait Records, resulting in a prolonged legal battle with Siegel.<ref name=AnkenyAllmusicHeartBio/> Mushroom released the partly completed Magazine in early 1977, just before Portrait released Little Queen.<ref name=AnkenyAllmusicHeartBio/> Each company attempted to prevent the other from releasing any Heart music.<ref name="ClassicRock2012">Template:Citation</ref> A Seattle court forced Mushroom Records to recall the album so that Heart could remix tracks and add new vocals, and the album was re-released in 1978.<ref name=BioHeart/> It peaked at number 17 in the US, generating the single "Heartless", which reached number 24 in the charts.<ref name=AllmusicHeartMagazineAwards>Template:Citation</ref> The album eventually achieved platinum status.<ref name=AllmusicHeartMagazineOverview>Template:Citation</ref>

File:Nancy Wilson and Roger Fisher - Heart - 1978.jpg

Nancy Wilson and Roger Fisher onstage, 1978

Little Queen became Heart's second million-seller<ref name=AnkenyAllmusicHeartBio/> and featured the hit "Barracuda" (number 11).<ref name="AllmusicHeartLittleQueenAwards">Template:Citation</ref> The song's lyrics were written by an infuriated Ann Wilson in her hotel room after a reporter had suggested that the sisters were lesbian lovers.<ref name="ClassicRock2012" />

In late 1978, the double-platinum Dog & Butterfly peaked at 17 on the Billboard 200 and produced hits with its title song (number 34) and "Straight On" (number 15). In 1979, the Wilson-Fisher liaisons ended—Roger Fisher was voted out of the band by the other members,<ref name=AnkenyAllmusicHeartBio/> and his brother Mike left the group’s orbit within a month.<ref name=BioHeart/>

1980–1984: Commercial decline

Heart released Bebe le Strange in 1980.<ref name=AnkenyAllmusicHeartBio/> It became the band's third top-10 album, peaking at number five, and yielded the top-40 hit "Even It Up".<ref name=AllmusicHeartBebeleStrangeAwards>Template:Citation</ref> The band embarked on a 77-city tour to promote the album.<ref name=RollingStoneEncyclopedia/> By the end of the year, the band scored its highest-charted single at the time, a version of the ballad "Tell It Like It Is", which peaked at number eight.<ref name=AllmusicHeartAwards/> In November 1980, the double album Greatest Hits/Live was released and reached number twelve on the US chart,<ref name=AllmusicHeartGreatestHitsLiveAwards>Template:Citation</ref> eventually achieving double-platinum status. The two-disc set featured studio versions of most of Heart's singles to date, plus a few new studio tracks and six live tracks, among which were versions of "Unchained Melody", Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll" and the Beatles' "I'm Down".<ref name=AllmusicErelewineHeartGreatestHitsLive>Template:Citation</ref>

Heart was the first band of the day to appear at the sold-out concert headlined by Queen at Elland Road on May 29, 1982.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Their next album, Private Audition (1982), provided the minor hit "This Man Is Mine" (number 33) and was the first not produced by Mike Flicker. Initially, the band turned to Jimmy Iovine, one of the leading producers of the time, who suggested that the material lacked potential hits, and eventually, the Wilson sisters produced the album themselves.<ref name=Brown2008pp130-1>Template:Citation</ref> The track "Perfect Stranger" foreshadowed the power ballads that would dominate the band's mid-1980s sound.<ref name=AllmusicHeartPrivateAudition>Template:Citation</ref>

At the end of recording, Derosier and Fossen were fired from the band. They were replaced by Denny Carmassi on drums and Mark Andes on bass for Passionworks (1983), while at the record company's insistence, the band turned to established producer Keith Olsen.<ref name=Brown2008pp136-7>Template:Citation</ref> Both Private Audition and Passionworks had relatively poor sales, failing to reach gold status.<ref name=BioHeart/> Despite the albums' sales, the single "How Can I Refuse" was a success, reaching number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart.<ref name=AllmusicHeartAwards/>

1985–1990: Comeback

The band moved to Capitol Records, and their first album for the label was simply titled Heart (1985). The move to Capitol coincided with a glam metal makeover that included minimizing the acoustic and folk sounds characteristic of their early work.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album reached number one, sold five million copies, and launched four top-10 hits:<ref name=AnkenyAllmusicHeartBio/> "What About Love" (number 10, 1985), "Never" (number four, 1985), the chart-topping "These Dreams" (1986) and "Nothin' at All" (number 10, 1986).<ref name=AllmusicHeartAwards>Template:Cite web</ref> A fifth single, "If Looks Could Kill", also charted, giving the band five hit singles from the same album for the first time.<ref name=AllmusicHeartAwards/>

Heart's next album, Bad Animals (1987), continued the move away from the band's folk and acoustic leanings towards a glossier arena rock sound.<ref name=AllmusicHeartBadAnimalsOverview>Template:Citation</ref> The lead single, the power ballad "Alone", became Heart's most successful song, spending three weeks at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, while also hitting number 2 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and number 3 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. "Alone" placed as the number 2 song for the year on the Hot 100. It also peaked at number 1 in Canada and number 3 in the UK, made the top 10 in Australia and several countries in northern Europe, and the top 20 in Germany. It is often considered to be Heart's greatest pop song.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The other two singles were the up-tempo rocker "Who Will You Run To", which reached number 7 on the Hot 100 and number 2 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and "There's the Girl", with Nancy singing lead, which reached number 12 and 16 on the same charts respectively.<ref name=AllmusicHeartBadAnimalsAwards>Template:Citation</ref> They were not as successful in other markets aside from "Who Will You Run To" making the top 20 in Canada and "There's the Girl" peaking in the top 15 in Poland. Bad Animals was a top 3 hit in the US and Canada, being certified 3x<ref name="RIAA">Template:Cite web</ref> and 4x<ref name="CRIA">Template:Cite web</ref> platinum in those countries, respectively. The album also became Heart's first top 10 album on the UK Albums Chart.<ref name=HeartUKChart>Template:Citation</ref>

The success of UK top-40 singles "Alone" (number 3), "Who Will You Run To" (number 30), "There's the Girl" (number 34) and the Bad Animals album (number 7) sparked renewed UK interest in the 1985 self-titled album, resulting in the re-release of several singles. When originally released in 1985, the singles "What About Love" and "Never" did not chart, while "These Dreams" and "Nothin' at All" only charted at 68 and 76 respectively. However, in 1988 after the success of Bad Animals a re-released double A-side single of "Never"/"These Dreams" hit number 8, "What About Love" hit number 14, and the re-release of "Nothin' at All" cracked the UK top 40 at number 38. This success in the UK would continue with future albums and help Heart become a major concert attraction in the United Kingdom.<ref name="officialcharts.com">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1990, Brigade became the band's sixth multi-platinum LP<ref name=RollingStoneEncyclopedia>Template:Citation</ref> and added three more top-25 Billboard Hot 100 hits. "Stranded" reached number 13 and "I Didn't Want to Need You" peaked at number 23. The lead single, "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You", reached number two,<ref name="BB-Hot100" /> and created controversy over whether the song encouraged women to endanger themselves by picking up hitchhikers.<ref name=AllmusicHeartBrigadeOverview>Template:Citation</ref> Two other album cuts, "Wild Child" (number 3) and "Tall, Dark Handsome Stranger" (number 24), were Billboard Mainstream Rock chart hits.<ref name="AllmusicHeartBrigadeAwards">Template:Citation</ref> Brigade was the band's highest-charting album in the UK, reaching number three.<ref name="HeartUKChart"/>

1991–2001: The Lovemongers, Desire Walks On, and Nancy Wilson hiatus

Template:Anchor Heart released its first complete live album in the autumn of 1991. Rock the House Live! largely featured tracks from Brigade rather than more familiar hits in an effort to capture the harder rock side of the band.<ref name=AllmusicRocktheHouseLive>Template:Citation</ref> The album's single, a version of John Farnham's "You're the Voice", received moderate airplay on rock stations and hit number 20 on the Mainstream Rock chart.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Wilson sisters then put together an informal acoustic group called Lovemongers with longtime Heart songwriting collaborator Sue Ennis and Frank Cox.<ref name=Pollack2012>Template:Citation</ref><ref name=AllmusicLovemongers>Template:Citation</ref>

Heart returned in 1993 with Desire Walks On, on which bass player Andes was replaced with Fernando Saunders.<ref name=AnkenyAllmusicHeartBio/> The album peaked at number 48 on the Billboard 200, eventually being certified gold. The lead track, "Black on Black II", was an AOR hit peaking at number four on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart, while the single "Will You Be There (In the Morning)" was a moderate pop hit, reaching number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100. A third single, "The Woman In Me", hit number 24 on the Adult Contemporary chart, but missed the Hot 100.<ref name=AllmusicHeartDesireWalksOnAwards>Template:Citation</ref>

"Desire Walks On" marked the first time that Heart's singles fared better in other countries than the US. Aside from the metallic hard rock radio cut "Black on Black II" which reached the Top 10 on US Rock / Hard Rock charts, "Will You Be There (In the Morning)" hit number 19 in the UK and number 8 in Canada.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="officialcharts.com"/> (vs. Number 39 in the US) and "The Woman in Me" reached number 13 in Canada<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> after just missing the US Billboard Hot 100.

An interactive CD-ROM, Heart: 20 Years of Rock & Roll, with five hours of audio footage, was released in 1994.<ref name="Billboard1994">Template:Citation</ref> The next album, The Road Home (1995), offered live acoustic versions of the group's best-known songs and was produced by Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones.<ref name="AnkenyAllmusicHeartBio" />

In 1995, Nancy Wilson decided to take a break from music to concentrate on raising a family.<ref name=Brown2008p214>Template:Citation</ref><ref name=Tortorici1999>Template:Citation</ref>

File:Nancy and Ann Wilson.jpg

Ann and Nancy Wilson in 1998

In 1998, the band maintained its profile by being the subject of an episode of VH1's Behind the Music. The band released a Greatest Hits boxed set covering their early work. A second volume focusing on the later part of their career followed in 2000.<ref name=AnkenyAllmusicHeartBio/>

Lovemongers released a live EP of cover songs titled Battle of Evermore in 1992, a full-length album titled Whirlygig in 1997, and a collection of mostly self-penned Christmas songs titled Here is Christmas in 1998.<ref name=AllmusicLovemongers/> In 2001, Here Is Christmas was re-released presented by Heart as Heart Presents a Lovemongers' Christmas.<ref name=LovemongersChristmasAllmusic>Template:Citation</ref>

2002–2006: Resumption

In 2002, Ann and Nancy returned to the road with a brand-new Heart lineup that included Scott Olson, Ben Smith, Alice in Chains bassist Mike Inez, and keyboardist Tom Kellock.<ref name=Blabbermouth2002>Template:Citation</ref> In 2003, Heart released a DVD of the band's last stop in the tour as Alive in Seattle.<ref name=AllmusicHeartLiveinSeattle>Template:Citation</ref> Also in 2003, Gilby Clarke (ex-Guns N' Roses) and Darian Sahanaja replaced Olson and Kellock for an American tour.<ref name=Billboard2003>Template:Citation</ref>

In 2004, with Clarke having been replaced by Craig Bartok, Heart released Jupiters Darling, the first studio album since 1993. It featured a variety of songs that included a return to Heart's original hard-rock sound, as well as a blend of vintage pop and new textures.<ref name=AllmusicJupitersDarling>Template:Citation</ref>

In 2005, the Wilsons appeared on the CMT Music Awards as a special guest of country singer Gretchen Wilson (no relation) and performed the Heart classic "Crazy on You" with her. Heart also performed with Gretchen Wilson on VH-1's March 10, 2006, tribute to the band, "Decades Rock Live!".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The special also featured Alice in Chains, Phil Anselmo, Dave Navarro, Rufus Wainwright, and Carrie Underwood.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The concert was released on LP, CD, DVD, and Blu-ray on January 25, 2019, with the title Live in Atlantic City.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Later in the year, bass player Inez left Heart to rejoin the reformed Alice in Chains.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

2007–2009: VH1 Rock Honors to touring with Journey

File:Heart-07-28-07.jpg

Nancy and Ann Wilson in 2007

Heart was honored at the second annual VH1 Rock Honors (May 24, 2007) and also performed along with Ozzy Osbourne, Genesis, and ZZ Top. Gretchen Wilson and Alice in Chains honored the group by performing "Barracuda".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In September 2007, Ann Wilson released her first solo album, Hope & Glory, which featured sister Nancy, Elton John, Alison Krauss, k.d. lang, Wynonna Judd, Gretchen Wilson, Rufus Wainwright, Shawn Colvin, and Deana Carter.<ref name=AllmusicAnnWilsonHope&Glory>Template:Citation</ref>

On April 9, 2008, the band appeared on Idol Gives Back with Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson, who sang "Barracuda" in harmony with Ann.<ref>Idol Gives Back, Americanidol.com Template:Webarchive</ref> In mid-2008, Heart undertook a US tour with Journey and Cheap Trick.<ref name=Billboard2008>Template:Citation</ref> It was named the "Human 2008" tour. Also in 2008, the band performed in a benefit for music education in public schools, appearing live with Jackson Browne on "Something Fine," with Venice on "Crazy on You," and with over 70 members of the Santa Monica High School orchestra and girls' choir on "Bohemian Rhapsody."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2009, the band was featured on an updated and remastered episode of VH1's Behind the Music.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2010–2012: Red Velvet Car to Kennedy Center Honors

File:Heart at the Beacon Theater, 2012.jpg

Heart performing at the Beacon Theatre in 2012<ref name=NYT2012>Template:Citation</ref>

A new studio album, Red Velvet Car, was released in 2010.<ref name=AnkenyAllmusicHeartBio/> It marked a stylistic return to Heart's melodic hard rock and folk sound of their early albums.<ref name=ErlewineRedVelvetCar>Template:Citation</ref> The album peaked at number 10 on the Billboard 200,<ref name=AllmusicRedVelvetCarAwards>Template:Citation</ref> becoming the group's first top-10 album in 20 years.<ref name="AllmusicRedVelvetCarAwards" /><ref name=Stewart2011>Template:Citation</ref> It also reached number three on BillboardTemplate:'s Rock Albums Chart.<ref name=AllmusicHeartAwards/> Red Velvet Car spawned two singles. The folky "Hey You" peaked at number 26 on BillboardTemplate:'s AC chart,<ref name=AllmusicRedVelvetCarAwards/> while the hard rocker "WTF" peaked at number 19 on BillboardTemplate:'s Hot Rock Songs chart.<ref>[1]Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore </ref>

In November 2010, Heart announced it would do its first cross-Canada tour in 30 years, beginning on January 28, 2011, in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A live DVD and Blu-ray disc, A Night at Sky Church, recorded before the tour at the Experience Music Project in Seattle, was released in 2011.<ref name=Billboard2010>Template:Citation</ref> Ann and Nancy Wilson played as part of the 2010 VH1 Divas Support the Troops, along with acts including Katy Perry and Paramore; they performed "Crazy on You" with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.<ref name=PRSNewwire>Template:Citation</ref>

In May 2010, a reunion of former male members of the band, including Roger Fisher and Steve Fossen, performed at the Synergia Northwest concert in Tacoma, Washington.<ref name=Billboard2010/>

Heart embarked on a 2011 summer tour co-headlining with Def Leppard.<ref name=Stewart2011/> A career-spanning box-set titled Strange Euphoria was released in June 2012, containing many of the band's biggest hits, unreleased demos and rare live cuts. On September 18, 2012, the Wilson sisters released their autobiography, Kicking and Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock and Roll, which was co-written with Charles R. Cross (Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On September 25, 2012, Ann and Nancy received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for their contributions to music.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The band released its 14th studio album, Fanatic, on October 2, 2012,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> which became the group's 12th top-25 album (number 24, 2012) and was supported by a tour of the US and Canada.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On December 26, 2012, Ann and Nancy performed at the CBS-televised Kennedy Center Honors in a tribute to Led Zeppelin.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Along with an orchestra, two choirs and Jason Bonham (son of late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham), they performed a version of Led Zeppelin's signature song "Stairway to Heaven". Their rendition of "Stairway" earned a standing ovation from the crowd and tears of joy from Robert Plant. The video went viral on YouTube, with over four million views in the first five days after the show, and prompted the Kennedy Center to issue a limited-edition iTunes single of the performance.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=MSN.com>Template:Cite web</ref> Although the single was available for only two weeks, it immediately went to number one on the iTunes Rock Singles chart and reached number 20 on Billboard's Hot Rock Songs chart.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2013–2016: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Beautiful Broken

At the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on April 18, 2013, the original members of Heart (the Wilson sisters, Howard Leese, Michael Derosier, Steve Fossen, and Roger Fisher) reunited for the first time in 34 years to play "Crazy on You".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> The band was inducted by Chris Cornell, who emotionally talked about what heroes and role models Ann and Nancy Wilson had been to him and other musicians in Seattle, saying, "For me, and for countless other men and women, they have earned, at long last, their rightful place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2014, the band released another live album, Fanatic Live from Caesar's Colosseum, which peaked at number 13 on Billboard's Top Hard Rock Albums Chart.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Heart released the album Beautiful Broken on July 8, 2016. The hard-rocking title cut featuring MetallicaTemplate:'s James Hetfield trading vocals with Ann Wilson was the first single.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Beautiful Broken reached number 9 on Billboard's Rock Album Chart and number 30 on Billboard's Top Selling Albums Chart.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Immediately following the new album's release, the band embarked on the Rock Hall Three for All, a 30-date headlining tour of the US with Joan Jett and Cheap Trick supporting.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2016–present: Hiatus, side projects, and reunion

On the morning of August 27, 2016, Ann's husband Dean Wetter was arrested and subsequently pleaded guilty to assaulting Nancy's 16-year-old twin sons after the boys had left the door to his RV open. The incident took place during a Heart performance at the White River Amphitheater in Auburn, Washington, the previous night.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Although the band played the remaining 2016 tour dates that were already booked, the Wilson sisters only spoke to one another through third parties for the remainder of the tour.<ref name="rsheart1">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The pair's relationship was strained by the incident; an April 2017 article in Rolling Stone reported that they had not spoken to one another since the 2016 tour ended and only sporadically contacted one another through text messaging.<ref name="rsheart1"/> Following the end of the tour in October 2016, the sisters opted to tour with their own side-project bands.<ref name="rsheart1"/> In April 2017, both sisters said the band had not permanently disbanded with Ann saying they were simply on hiatus.<ref name="rsheart1"/>

In February 2019, Heart announced their hiatus had ended and they would embark on the Love Alive tour in the summer.<ref name="auto"/> In March 2019, both sisters reunited on stage for the first time since the band went on hiatus, at the Love Rock NYC benefit concert. Although Ann and Nancy were reuniting, the former Heart members who had joined Nancy's solo effort were not invited back, and the new lineup consisted of Ann's touring band, replacing Ben Smith on drums, Dan Rothchild on bass, and Chris Joyner on keyboards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In June 2019, the band announced the Love Alive tour had been extended through October 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2022, Nancy Wilson announced her own version of Heart, called Nancy Wilson's Heart.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She has been touring under that name, playing a list consisting primarily of Heart songs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the last few days of December 2023, Heart played together for the first time in four years, with two concerts in California followed by a New Year's Eve concert in Seattle, and Ann Wilson's band Tripsitter as backup musicians.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="BlabNHL24">Template:Cite web</ref> On New Year's Day, they performed "Barracuda" and "Magic Man" during the first intermission at the 2024 NHL Winter Classic in Seattle.<ref name="BlabNHL24" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On January 29, 2024, Heart announced their 2024 Royal Flush World Tour, where they would be playing several dates with Cheap Trick, Def Leppard, Journey, and Squeeze.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The summer 2024 UK and Europe dates were canceled because Ann Wilson had undergone a medical procedure in late May,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> which was later revealed to be the removal of a cancerous growth.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Heart continued to tour in North America in 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Legacy

Heart is generally considered a hard rock band, but its diversity has crossed multiple genres from folk to pop to hard rock, and even at times heavy metal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As a result, the band has charted singles on BillboardTemplate:'s Hot 100, Mainstream Rock Tracks, Hard Rock Tracks, and Adult Contemporary charts.<ref name="Heart">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Their 2016 live recording at the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra even charted in the top 10 of BillboardTemplate:'s Classical Albums chart and Classical Crossover Albums chart.<ref name="Heart"/>

Heart has sold over 35 million records worldwide, had 20 top-forty singles and seven top-ten albums,<ref name=Rock&RollHallofFame>Template:Citation</ref> and earned four Grammy nominations.<ref name=Brown2008p255>Template:Citation</ref> The band charted singles and top-ten albums on the Billboard charts in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2010s:<ref name=AllmusicHeartAwards/> a four-decade span of top-ten albums that is a record for a female-fronted band.<ref name=klos>Template:Cite web</ref>

Heart was ranked on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" in 2008,<ref name=prnewswire2000>Template:Cite news</ref> and Ann and Nancy Wilson ranked number 40 (in 1999) on VH1's "100 Greatest Women in Rock and Roll".<ref name=Billboard1999>Template:Citation</ref> Ann Wilson was ranked in Hit ParaderTemplate:'s 2006 "Greatest Heavy Metal Vocalists of All Time".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2009, the Wilson sisters were awarded ASCAP's Founders Award in recognition of their songwriting careers.<ref name=Gallo2012>Template:Citation</ref>

In 2011, Heart earned its first nomination for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the 2012 class.<ref name=USAToday2011>Template:Citation</ref> After being passed over, the band was nominated again the following year announced as inductees to the 2013 class on December 11, 2012.<ref name="rockhall">Template:Cite news</ref> Their Hall of Fame page describes the Wilson sisters as the first women to front a hard-rock band, and "pioneers ... inspir[ing] women to pick up an electric guitar or start a band".<ref name=Rock&RollHallofFame/>

In his book Heart: In the Studio, Jake Brown described the band as beginning "a revolution for women in music ... breaking genre barriers and garnering critical acclaim".<ref name=Brown2008p260>Template:Citation</ref>

"Heart were the first female-fronted band I heard and was influenced by," recalled Lzzy Hale of Halestorm. "I heard Heart and was like, 'Oh, singing like that as a girl is actually a thing!'"<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

The Wilson sisters have been active in the Seattle music scene for decades and influenced many musicians from the region, including bands of the grunge era. Artists that have used their Bad Animals Studio include Neil Young, R.E.M., Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains.<ref name=Billboard1995>Template:Citation</ref>

Members

Current members

• Ann Wilson – lead and backing vocals, flute, autoharp, acoustic guitar, piano, maracas (1973–1998, 2002–2016, 2019, 2023–present)
• Nancy Wilson – rhythm, lead and acoustic guitar, backing and lead vocals, harmonica, mandolin, keyboards (1974–1995, 1998, 2002–2016, 2019, 2023–present)
• Ryan Waters – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2019, 2023–present)
• Ryan Wariner – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2023–present)
• Paul Moak – keyboards, rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals (2023–present)
• Tony Lucido – bass (2023–present)
• Sean T. Lane – drums (2023–present)

Discography

• Dreamboat Annie (1975)
• Magazine (1977)
• Little Queen (1977)
• Dog and Butterfly (1978)
• Bébé le Strange (1980)
• Private Audition (1982)
• Passionworks (1983)
• Heart (1985)
• Bad Animals (1987)
• Brigade (1990)
• Desire Walks On (1993)
• Heart Presents a Lovemongers' Christmas (2001)
• Jupiters Darling (2004)
• Red Velvet Car (2010)
• Fanatic (2012)
• Beautiful Broken (2016)

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Awards table |- |align=center|1986 |Heart | Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal |Template:Nom |- | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|1988 |"Alone" |Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group |Template:Nom |- |Bad Animals | Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal |Template:Nom |- | align=center|1991 |"All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You" |Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group |Template:Nom |- | align=center|2023 | Ann and Nancy Wilson | Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award | Template:Won Template:End

Further reading

• Dickerson, James L. (2005). Go, Girl, Go! The Women's Revolution in Music. Schirmer Trade Books. Template:ISBN.

External links

• Template:Official website
• Interview with Howard Leese
• Template:Discogs artist
• Template:Imdb name