ANN WILSON On HEART Reunion - "It's Possible"

September 14, 2018, 6 years ago

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ANN WILSON On HEART Reunion - "It's Possible"

On September 13th, Heart vocalist Ann Wilson was interviewed by Jim Kerr of New York radio station Q104.3 FM. During their chat, which can be seen below, Ann revealed the following:

"Just about everyone I've talked to today has asked me to comment on this rumor that there's a Heart reunion next year. And I haven't heard about that yet. But Nancy (Wilson) and I will be getting together soon to talk and see if we have any ideas on that. We will not ever be… I will never agree to going back out there in a mechanical, money-grab-type way; at this point in my life, I'm not gonna do that — I'm gonna make every minute count and make it real. So we'll talk and we'll figure out if we can figure out a fresh, new, cool way."

Ann went on to say: "Heart was conceived in an atmosphere of idealism, and that's how it has to be reconceived now for me to be interested in doing it. So it's possible."

Heart last toured in 2016, during which Ann's husband Dean Welter was arrested for assaulting Nancy's then-16-year-old twin sons backstage at a show near their hometown of Seattle. 

Ann Wilson of Heart, one of rock's most distinctive and powerful vocalists, has released "You Don't Own Me" as the second track from her new album that's due out September 14th via BMG. Fittingly titled Immortal, the album features 10 musically diverse tracks that pay tribute to some of Ann's influences and friends who've recently passed and whose music poignantly lives on.

Ann's hard-hitting and timely interpretation of Lesley Gore's fearless 1963 hit "You Don't Own Me", features the esteemed Warren Haynes on guitar. "I think that song has come to be way more universal now," the iconic Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee told Billboard. "It could be the anthem of anyone who wants respect, anyone at all, not just women. I think we're in a time where we're having a discourse now as a culture about who people really are and how it's important to accept people, and so I thought the song really fits. I think it's really meaningful in today's world."

For Immortal, which marks her debut for BMG, Ann has teamed with original Heart producer Mike Flicker (Dreamboat Annie, Magazine, Little Queen, Dog and Butterfly and Bebe Le Strange, among others). "Mike was the first producer to believe in me," Ann says. "He was my first teacher in the studio and knows how to provide that special support needed to bring out my soul in the recording process. It is exciting to work with him for the first time since 1980. I have traveled many, many miles since then but the old feeling is still there and fresh on Immortal. He has fearlessly helped me bring my ideas to life once again and it's been a great collaboration."

Ann chose the album title Immortal after revealing some working titles early on in the project. "The original working titles evolved as the concept for the album evolved; a little bit at a time," explains Ann. "As my understanding of what I had undertaken grew and clarified, I realized a larger truth; that the souls may have departed but the songs will forever be their resonances. These are the poets of our time and their expressions must be handed down. Poetry is lasting and elemental like carvings in rock."

The finely etched tracks that comprise Immortal cover a lot of musical ground, with many highlights including songs by Leonard Cohen ("A Thousand Kisses Deep"), Amy Winehouse ("Back to Black"), David Bowie ("I'm Afraid of Americans"), Lesley Gore ("You Don't Own Me") and Tom Petty ("Luna"). Ann says the criteria for choosing this collection of songs was easy. "First of all, I had to LOVE them! They had to be songs I could get inside of authentically as a singer. Lyrics are important to me but the most important thing is always the marriage of words and melody that makes the song magic!"

With sexism at the forefront of the national conversation, Ann says this did factor into the inclusion of "You Don't Own Me". "'You Don't Own Me' was originally an early feminist anthem in the 1960's and '70's. Since then the idea of self possession has grown to be more universal...This song is about refusing to be objectified and owned. By anyone."

Immortal includes some very special guests as well. "Warren Haynes plays on Tom Petty's 'Luna' and 'You Don't Own Me,'" Ann reveals. "Ben Mink is featured on Leonard Cohen's 'A Thousand Kisses Deep' and Amy Winehouse's 'Back to Black.' They are both musicians and great people whom I admire. It's always a pleasure and an honor to work with them. Their souls shine through on these songs!"

Immortal tracklisting:

"A Different Corner" (George Michael)
"A Thousand Kisses Deep" (Leonard Cohen)
"Back To Black" (Amy Winehouse)
"Baker Street" (Gerry Rafferty)
"I Am The Highway" (Chris Cornell, Audioslave)
"I'm Afraid Of Americans" (David Bowie)
"Life In The Fast Lane" (Joe Walsh, The Eagles) in honor of Glenn Frey
"Luna" (Tom Petty)
"Politician" (Cream) in honor of Jack Bruce
"You Don't Own Me" (Lesley Gore)

"I Am The Highway":


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