"Nancy Wilson reveals her initial affection for acoustic guitar; expresses feelings of pressure to abandon the traditional sounds as Heart transitioned towards mainstream pop in 1985"
Heart's iconic guitarist, Nancy Wilson, spilled the beans on her band's musical journey in the 1985 self-titled album, their first under the Capitol Records banner. The album saw a shift from Heart's folk roots towards a glam metal sound - a necessary adaptation to survive the MTV-dominated landscape of the 80s[2].
Nancy confesses she felt a tad pressurized to give acoustic guitars a backseat, a sentiment fueled by producer Ron Nevison's opinion that they were old-fashioned[2]. Nonetheless, she admits that she's content with the band's decisions. The album catapulted Heart to new heights of success, reinvigorating their career[1].
"We'd hit a plateau in the average lifespan for most rock bands. To keep going, we needed a fresh start, a new manager, a new record label. If we wanted to be part of the MTV era, we had to evolve. Adapt or die, you know?"[1]
The album spawned hits like If Looks Could Kill and What He Don't Know, seamlessly weaving acoustics into glam metal[2]. This blend kept the essence of Heart's roots, yet allowed them to break into the mainstream[2].
However, by the end of the decade, Wilson found herself yearning for the grunge sound that served as a refreshing change from the overproduced 80s vibe[2].
In an exclusive interview for our June issue, Nancy hailed a young, up-and-coming guitarist as her favorite new talent, a revelation that left fans scratching their heads in anticipation[3].
So here's to Heart, the resilient rockers who prove time and again that evolution is the key to survival in the ever-changing music industry.
- Nancy Wilson, Heart's iconic guitarist, revealed that in the 1985 self-titled album, they blended the acoustic guitars with glam metal to seamlessly weave their roots into the mainstream.
- Amidst the shift from Heart's folk roots towards glam metal, Nancy confessed that she felt pressurized to give acoustic guitars a backseat, as guitar amp-heavy sounds dominated the MTV era.
- Looking back on the 80s, Nancy found herself yearning for a simpler sound, like the grunge music that emerged towards the end of the decade, proving that the evolution of music continues to be a vital part of survival in the entertainment industry.
