It's no understatement to call Heart rock-n-roll pioneers. Beginning in the 1970's, Ann and Nancy Wilson stormed the charts with hits like "Crazy on You," "Magic Man," "Straight On," "Barracuda," and many more. Heart has garnered four Grammy nominations and sold more than 35 million albums. In the process, the band has sold out arenas across the globe and become an a bedrock of American culture.
As of 2013, Heart could finally--and deservedly--add Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees to its list of impressive credentials. (I was fortunate enough to attend the event in Los Angeles. Along with that of Rush, Heart's induction was long overdue.)
I had a chance to catch up with Ann Wilson before the band's forthcoming shows at the House of Blues in Las Vegas.
Here are some excerpts of our brief conversation.
PS: I was there in LA when you were inducted into the Hall of Fame. It was amazing. Can you talk a little bit about the experience?
AW: That night in Los Angeles was pretty surreal for me. It was kind of like being queen for a day. You just get all of the applause and all of the good wishes. You get raised on this platform of royalty by your peers. The next day you wake up and you go back to work. (laughs)
But you have this extra special thing behind your name that makes people think you're extra special. It was a really nice evening. I'm not used to taking awards like that. I was a little jittery that evening. It was a special night and I'm glad it happened."
PS: Speaking of amazing experiences, you recently performed "Stairway to Heaven" at the Kennedy Center, moving Robert Plant to tears. What was that like?
AW: That was one of the most sublime nights ever. We knew they were going to ask us to sing. We gave it our all. It all turned out well. The emotion surrounding that event was high and pure. I think that the guys in Led Zeppelin were pleased and that was the main point.
To learn more about the band, check out the book Kicking and Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock and Roll.