I’ve been a Heart fan ever since I first heard their 1975 debut album, Dreamboat Annie, just after graduating from high school.
Right around that time I attended one of my first-ever concerts, which was Heart performing at the local hockey rink, the Chilliwack Coliseum.
Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to interview the Wilson sisters, Ann and Nancy, and I’d always just assumed that they’d both joined the band at the same time.
But then the other day I was checking out the Facebook group Vancouver Rock Groups from the ’60s to ’80s, and came across a photo that left me somewhat gobsmacked.
It was an early Axis Entertainment promo shot of Heart, but blonde Nancy was nowhere to be seen.
It was just brunette Ann surrounded by four male bandmates–guitarist Roger Fisher, keyboardist John Hannah, bassist Steve Fossen, and drummer Brian Johnstone.
Who knew that Nancy Wilson wasn’t actually in the initial Heart lineup?
Not me, that’s fer sure.
I guess it’s true that ya learn somethin’ every day. (If you’re lucky.)
To hear the full audio of my interviews with Heart’s Ann and Nancy Wilson–and former Heart guitarist Roger Fisher as well–subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can eavesdrop on over 500 of my uncut, one-on-one conversations with rockers since 1982.