When Ann Wilson announced on Jan. 10, 2017, that she was doing a solo tour, it was attributed to a break from Heart, which she and her sister Nancy have fronted since the early 1970s. Similarly, the younger sibling revealed 10 days later that she had started a Heart spin-off band called Roadcase Royale with several current Heart members. Nancy Wilson was quick to point out: “Roadcase Royale is a side project and not a replacement for Heart.”
Turns out there was a lot more to the sisters’ separate paths in 2017. On April 14, 2017, it was revealed that Ann Wilson’s husband, Dean Wetter, received a suspended sentence for allegedly choking Nancy’s 16-year-old twin sons backstage at an Aug. 26, 2016 Heart concert in Auburn, Wash. Wetters had pleaded guilty on March 9 to two counts of fourth-degree assault. His plea agreement with the court includes two years of probation, counseling and no contact with his nephews. Wetter will not have to serve jail time.
Since then, Ann has continued with regular road work and begins a tour opening for Jeff Beck and Paul Rodgers on July. (Tickets are available here and here.) She’s also revealed news of a studio album, Immortal, that honors many fellow classic rock stars that had recently passed, with covers of songs by David Bowie, Amy Winehouse, Glenn Frey, and more.
For Nancy Wilson, 2017-18 was supposed to be a big year on the road as well. She and Roadcase Royale had released an album, First Things First, and landed the coveted opening slot for Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band’s big arena tour. However, after just seven dates, Seger was forced to postpone the remaining concerts due to back surgery. He gave an update of his medical condition on March 28 but there’s still no word on when he may return to the stage. That’s put Nancy Wilson and her new band in a bit of limbo.
And then, out of nowhere, Nancy Wilson tweeted a message yesterday (April 17) that should be encouraging to Heart fans: “I believe Heart can make magic. Both with the classics that the fans love and other song discoveries that make new magical imprints as well.
“Heart is a great band with a lot of range. We are not confined by the oldies either done by others or our own. I hold out hope for Heart.”
I believe Heart can make magic. Both with the classics that the fans love and other song discoveries that make new magical imprints as well.
Heart is a great band with a lot of range. We are not confined by the oldies either done by others or our own. I hold out hope for Heart. https://t.co/Jfc2xjg1do— Nancy Wilson (@NancyWilson) April 17, 2018
By April 18, scores of fans had commented on Wilson’s tweet. @kozmicblues88 wrote: “The fans are holding out hope too. Not just for Heart, but for reconciliation as well. Love to you and your family!”
@aomorgan wrote: “Keeping hope and love alive for you two as sisters and as HEART.”
@CALyonsSoCal replied: “I also have hope there will be a reunion – new songs, old songs – either way I’m a fan to the end.”
Heart’s last appearance was on Oct. 22, 2016 at Riverdome in Bossier City, LA.
Watch several songs from that final performance
Related: Our 2017 interview with Nancy Wilson
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7 Comments
I think Ann Wilson is a terrible person. The band breaks up because her husband assaults Nancy’s kids, and she lies about it at the Hall of Fame last weekend saying she stopped Heart because it was too commercial (when Ann is trying to make money off covers of other peoples’ Music and is joining a classic rock package tour with with Paul Rodgers). Ann is a hypocrite and a liar.
Bill, I hate to agree with you but after hearing her comments this past weekend I agree. SHE didn’t stop Heart; Heart stopped when her husband brutally assaulted her two nephews and Nancy would let him get away with it. And Ann is the one who directed Heart into the commercial pop phase of their career; of course Heart is commercial, it’s a 40 year old band with tons of hit singles and albums. And Ann complained about Heart doing those package tours just like she’s doing this year with Paul Rogers as you said. HEY ANN: IF YOU HATE COMMERCIALISM THEN STOP CALLING YOURSELF ANN WILSON “OF HEART”. GO OUT ON YOUR OWN AND QUIT COMMERCIALIZING YOURSELF. Hypocryte.
And two conspicuously absent dates from the Beck/Rodgers/Wilson tour….(1) Here in Seattle, Ann/Heart’s home base….and (2) the “cursed” San Francisco Bay Area, where something bad seems to happen to an act when they bypass SF/OAK/San Jose on a national tour.
Heart ended a long time ago when Roger Fisher and Mike Derossier left. Nancy was just eye candy
What are you talking about? Eye candy? It was Ann and Nancy who wrote their songs frankly, everyone else in the band was expendable. I agree with the others though, Ann’s a liar and a hypocrite. How to you choose someone who would choke 16 year old kids over your own sister? I don’t care what those kids said or dis. Yes, 16 year old boys are idiots a lot of the time but there is just no excuse for that.
Cut the crap. Families are hard on themselves because they can be. The choice to do what you can do well together is yours, and we hope you embrace that, and your fans as well. We love you….
I thought Heart broke up in the late 80s early 90s. WOW!!! DID NOT KNOW THAT. I really do miss them though.