Ann Wilson has plenty of experience to speak on when comparing keeping a band together and keeping a marriage together, but which is more difficult?
Wilson was asked this in a new interview on The Mistress Carrie Podcast and said, “I think it’s harder to keep a band together — in my experience. And I’ve only been married once and I’m still loving it and feel great about it.”
She added, “It’s harder to keep a band together because you have other people coming, like wives and significant others, talking in your bandmates’ ears and maybe saying things that pit them against you or against the group unity. It’s really hard. It’s kind of a revolving door with a band.”
Of course, Wilson and her sister, Nancy, have had a strained relationship with their band Heart in recent years. Just last month, Nancy announced she plans on touring soon under the name Nancy Wilson’s Heart following a successful opening slot during Styx’ Las Vegas residency.
Nancy said, “Heart had a big offer on the table last year for a bigger tour, but Ann wasn’t interested in going out with my lineup of guys that we were out with before. She has a new lineup of guys that she wanted me to join up with. And I sort of [thought] I don’t really know them and don’t have loyalty yet for anybody like that.”
Nancy added, “So I just kind of shined it on and decided when I do go out with my new singer Kimberly [Nichole], I can telegraph to the people coming to the show that they’re gonna hear Heart songs in a whole different way than ever expected with… No comparison to Ann singing or Kimberly singing those same songs, just because it’s apples and oranges; you can’t compare that stuff. So I figure that’s a way to let them know that it’s not just Nancy Wilson of Heart doing whatever, but it’s Nancy Wilson’s Heart where you’re gonna hear more Heart stuff.”