In a career spanning five decades, Ann Wilson has seen and done it all. Starting out as a young woman who just wanted to make music with her sister, Ann shattered the rock 'n roll glass ceiling as she soared to the top of the charts and into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. After a string of classic hits with her band Heart, Ann found a creative renaissance through the support of her new husband, along with a social media presence that connected her directly to her fans. Jump on the tour bus with Nick and Ann as they review her early days as a Marine brat, her reinvention as a solo performer, and how she's navigated the major changes in the music industry over the years.
HIGHLIGHTS:
[01:32] Ann describes how her professional life has been impacted by the pandemic
[02:49] Ann explains the meaning behind her new song "Tender Heart"
[04:05] The increasingly volatile mood of the United States motivated Ann to cover Steve Earle's "The Revolution Starts Now"
[05:38] Ann explores how she has maintained her creative spirit over the years
[07:13] Ann's childhood in a Marine family that relocated often prepared her for the touring lifestyle
[08:25] As a young musician, Ann didn't understand how groundbreaking it was to be a woman fronting a rock band
[10:16] Ann was able to keep her head about her through all the ups and downs of her career
[12:27] Ann looks back on the Seattle of the 1990s, and her interaction with the exploding grunge scene
[17:02] Ann has embraced how quickly social media connects her to the fans
[18:21] Ann is launching "Ask Ann", her own advice program, across various social media platforms
[20:34] Meeting her husband was a radical event that reinvigorated Ann's life and her creative energies
[25:10] Ann looks back on her Kennedy Center Honors performance of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven"
[29:24] In her precious downtime, Ann's musical tastes lean more towards world and spiritual artists
[30:42] Being inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame honored Heart's creative contribution to popular music
[31:54] Ann has several solo and Heart irons in the creative fire, as she waits for the pandemic to end
Thanks for listening! Tune in next week and don’t forget to take a minute to review the podcast. In this incredibly competitive podcasting world, every piece of feedback helps.
Follow our social media channels for last-minute announcements and guest reveals @theradicalpod on Instagram and Facebook.
Find out more about today’s guest, Ann Wilson
Find out more about your host, Nick Terzo
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
