Ann Wilson Reflects on Heart’s ‘Devil’s Bargains’ in the ’80s

In a candid discussion with Billy Corgan on his podcast, Ann Wilson of Heart opened up about the tough choices her band faced during the ’80s. The iconic rock group had to navigate a challenging music landscape, leading them to make what she describes as ‘devil’s bargains’ to survive.

After parting ways with Epic Records post their 1983 album Passionworks, which struggled to gain traction, Heart found new hope with Capitol Records. Wilson recalled how A&R man Don Grierson offered support but with strings attached, stating, ‘It was presented like, You can do this or you can just say bye-bye.’

The pressure to conform to industry standards led the band to collaborate with established songwriters, resulting in hits like ‘These Dreams’ and ‘What About Love.’ While these songs achieved commercial success, Wilson expressed her struggle with their lack of depth compared to her own songwriting.

Reflecting on those years, Wilson noted, ‘The songs that I was writing… weren’t artificial, they weren’t glossy.’ As she continues to evolve as an artist, her upcoming album with Tripsitter, titled Consecrated Ground, promises a return to her roots with a blend of heavy rock and emotional storytelling, set for release on August 14.

Source: www.loudersound.com

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