Ann Wilson believes that only counseling can secure the future of Heart after the singer and her guitarist sister Nancy fell out over a family assault drama.
Ann’s husband, Dean Wetter, was arrested for physically attacking Nancy’s children while the siblings were performing a show together in Auburn, Wash., last August. The incident is reported to have occurred after one of the kids left a tour bus door open, meaning a pet dog could have escaped — which threw Wetter into a rage. He was detained after police were called.
The sisters’ relationship deteriorated to the extent that Ann called the last 20 shows of the tour “hell,” while Nancy described them as “excruciating” – and the pair used separate dressing rooms for the first time since they began working together in the ‘60s. Since then, Ann has launched a solo tour while Nancy has formed a new band, Roadcase Royale. The Wilsons are said to have only communicated via text.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a temporary hiatus,” Ann told Rolling Stone. “I would say it’s a hiatus. We don’t need that little qualification in there. When I came offstage and Dean told me what happened, the first thing he said was, ‘Go onto Nancy’s bus and clear the way, because I want to apologize.’ I went over, and everyone in the Heart camp was sitting around. They wouldn’t listen. I know him and I know he was really provoked. It was wrong of him to get into it, but he’s a person of extremely high moral fiber. It was just totally unfortunate all round.”
Wetter pleaded guilty to two non-felony assault charges last month, and a deal means he won’t face prison time when he’s sentenced on April 14. Pointing out that parents have an obligation to inform police about assault situations, Nancy said, “I don’t think it was cool of her to try to cover for him. I thought, if he was an adult, he would face it and try to explain the behavior. But that’s never happened.”
She added that she found Wetter “hard to know” in the two years since his marriage to Ann. “He’s one of those crankpots – he’ll kind of mouth off about kids,” she said. “He’s a guy that had some issues that really came between me and wanting to see him anytime soon.”
“He’s a different animal from anyone else who’s ever come into our family,” Ann countered. “She never really understood him. He was demonized before we got married because he’s a free spirit. He’s completely blunt, honest and open. People take it personally.”
The incident seems to have brought an underlying career dispute to the surface. Ann admitted that she and Nancy “no longer had a shared vision” for Heart over the past several years ago. “We didn’t want to see ourselves as an old, has-been legacy band, just going out again and again,” she said. “I saw that happening more and more. She has a vision of playing the same old meat-and-potatoes set in Europe. It can just go on forever.”
The singer said she wanted to avoid becoming “a static thing that’s going to ride into obscurity without at least trying to evolve.” Ann added, “I don’t mean to say she’s wrong. We just differ, that’s all.”
It seems that the door isn’t locked against a reunion, with Nancy insisting she was “really happy” for her sister if she’s in a good marriage. “It’s been more negative than it needed to be, but I’m willing and ready to get back into a dialogue, with Ann in particular, about if we’ve still got Heart. I just know in my gut that me and Ann are going to be fine.”
“I do see a positive way forward, and that’s our friendship,” Ann said. “Nancy and I didn’t do this thing. Nobody in this situation is evil. Nancy and I love each other. We want to be friends. My side really hurt her side, her side really hurt my side. We’ve got to let those heal, and get some counseling.”
Read More: Ann Wilson Says Heart Won’t Reunite Without Counseling | http://ultimateclassicrock.com/heart-reunion-counseling/?trackback=tsmclip
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
Holy cow, I am not sure I'd want this guy near me either:
With Duane's tragically early death, he didn't live long enough to have his public feud with Gregg like apparently every other band with siblings.
Never really a fan of Heart or anything, but I'm wondering what the ages of these "children" might be. As someone who is no spring chicken, I'm thinking these ladies are a little ... mature to have toddlers. Are we talking adult offspring?
"The husband of Heart front woman Ann Wilson has been formally changed with assaulting his 16-year-old twin nephews after a concert in the Seattle suburb of Auburn, Washington....."
I'm really in shock about this. I just watched the Dan Rather interview with both sisters within the last week. I know it was certainly recorded before this incident, but still, the two seemed to be in SUCH a good place regarding their relationship with each other.
That picture that heineken515 posted surprised me, too. I was expecting more of a rock star look for her hubby.............he looks like a Baptist Minister to me.
But she's still cool with Carnie Wilson, right? 😉
"He’s completely blunt, honest and open. People take it personally."
Ye Olde Rationale For Being An A-hole. We've all known one of those folks.
My favorite vocalist is R&R. She has it all.
Husband sounds like an as*. The story is pretty vague about what the assault was but I assume that it was physical for there to be charges. That is not cool. If my brother-in-law touched my kids, the police would be the last of his worries.
Hope the sisters can work it out.
“The incident began with words but quickly escalated when the defendant slapped and punched the first boy in the back of the head before grabbing him by the neck,” the statement continues.
“When the boy’s brother intervened, the defendant wrapped his hand around the boy’s neck and strangled him, cutting off his breathing to the point where he thought he was going to die.”
>>>With Duane's tragically early death, he didn't live long enough to have his public feud with Gregg like apparently every other band with siblings.
Sure since he physically abused Gregg every day per GA's crappy book.
I'd say big brother would have put a beating on the little one about 24 hours after he failed to return from LA & Cher to get to work in the studio. The wuss deserved it to.
My favorite vocalist is R&R. She has it all.
Husband sounds like an as*. The story is pretty vague about what the assault was but I assume that it was physical for there to be charges. That is not cool. If my brother-in-law touched my kids, the police would be the last of his worries.
Hope the sisters can work it out.
ann is one of the top 10 rock n roll vocalists of all time for sure along with mercury, rodgers, gillan, stewart, tyler and plant
ann is one of the top 10 rock n roll vocalists of all time for sure along with mercury, rodgers, gillan, stewart, tyler and plant
Come on, you have to have Daltrey in that list too ! 😉
ann is one of the top 10 rock n roll vocalists of all time for sure along with mercury, rodgers, gillan, stewart, tyler and plant
Come on, you have to have Daltrey in that list too ! 😉
well it wasn't a full list lol. just a few names
ann is one of the top 10 rock n roll vocalists of all time for sure along with mercury, rodgers, gillan, stewart, tyler and plant
Come on, you have to have Daltrey in that list too ! 😉
well it wasn't a full list lol. just a few names
Personally I put her ahead of all those mentioned. They are all great but nowhere near the range or technical vocal skills. Of those mentioned, Freddy comes the closest in those aspects. I have seen all of them (again except Freddie) have less than stellar nights but Ann has been brilliant every time that I have seen her. And I have seen her at least 30+ times over the years. Also age effected all those mentioned but not Ann.
While not commercial, the last few Heart albums have been great. I like that they went back to doing what they wanted and didn't worry about hits or commercial success.
Hope they get back on track. Ann's husband sounds like a nut. All that because a dog could have got away but didn't?
Personally I put her ahead of all those mentioned. They are all great but nowhere near the range or technical vocal skills. Of those mentioned, Freddy comes the closest in those aspects. I have seen all of them (again except Freddie) have less than stellar nights but Ann has been brilliant every time that I have seen her. And I have seen her at least 30+ times over the years. Also age effected all those mentioned but not Ann.
But, what about Messiah Marcolin?
Personally I put her ahead of all those mentioned. They are all great but nowhere near the range or technical vocal skills. Of those mentioned, Freddy comes the closest in those aspects. I have seen all of them (again except Freddie) have less than stellar nights but Ann has been brilliant every time that I have seen her. And I have seen her at least 30+ times over the years. Also age effected all those mentioned but not Ann.
But, what about Messiah Marcolin?
Instant image of that picture.
If it hasn't already that Doom Sh*t might actually be rising.
Kashmir performed by Heart featuring Jason Bonham and Tony Catania
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
Ann and her whack job husband have a problem that only the two of them can solve through counseling. If I'm Nancy, which I am not, I don't want that creep around my kids aver again. Ann can live in her dreamland with her wonderful voice...but her husband wouldn't get close to my kids without the police standing in between.
Husband of Heart’s Ann Wilson Sentenced for Assault on Sister Nancy’s Children
Read More: Husband of Heart’s Ann Wilson Sentenced for Assault on Sister Nancy’s Children | http://ultimateclassicrock.com/deen-wetter-sentenced-assault/?trackback=tsmclip
The husband of Heart singer Ann Wilson has been sentenced for the assault on Nancy Wilson’s children that’s forced the band onto hiatus.
Deen Wetter, 66, was arrested last year after striking one of the guitarist’s kids during a disagreement on a tour bus while Heart were performing a show at the White River Amphitheater in Auburn, Wash.
SeattlePI.com reports that he pleaded guilty on March 9 to two counts of fourth-degree assault. On April 14, he was sentenced to 364 days in jail as part of a plea deal that means he won’t spend any time behind bars. The agreement includes payment of restitution, two years of probation, counseling and a ban on contact with Nancy Wilson’s children.
The Wilson sisters continued their Heart tour following the August incident, but kept contact to a minimum and used separate dressing rooms for the first time since they’d started working together in the ‘60s.
Earlier this month, Ann described the rest of the tour as “hell” while Nancy called it “excruciating.” Both discussed how Wetter’s marriage to Ann had caused a rift in the family, with his wife saying her relatives “demonized” Wetter, while Nancy said he was “a hard man to know.”
The Wilsons had already found themselves at odds over their band’s future, but the incident brought the situation to a head. But Ann said it wasn’t impossible that they’d reconnect. “My side really hurt her side, her side really hurt my side,” she said. “We’ve got to let those heal and get some counseling.”
Read More: Husband of Heart’s Ann Wilson Sentenced for Assault on Sister Nancy’s Children | http://ultimateclassicrock.com/deen-wetter-sentenced-assault/?trackback=tsmclip
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
Ann's husband sure looks like an evil sycophantic Svengali crypt keeper, but ... who here hasn't wanted to choke or slap around a couple of (I'm sure) spoiled/entitled teenagers before? I thought so ... Two 16 year olds can't kick a 66 year olds ass either? What are they wimps? All I'm saying is I'm sure there are two sides to this story. It appears we're only receiving one. 
[Edited on 4/20/2017 by Charlesinator]
The whole thing sounds dumb. He flips because they left a door open and a dog could have got out? Violence over that? He is either a nut with a short fuse or there is more to it all. Either way - you don't touch kids especially for that reason. You hit my son and you just picked a fight with me. A lesson that I have taught a few over the years.
Some moron once shoved my daughter at the grocery store when she was about 8 (she is 25 now). He wanted to get by her so he just basically tosses her to the side. I picked him up and threw him in a grocery cart. Ever try to fight someone with your a** in a cart and your feet up beside your head? He didn't fare so well and I doubt he ever shoved a child again.
Don't mess with peoples' kids.
Don't mess with peoples' kids.
Amen!
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
Last year somebody's kid tried breaking into my car. I chased him one street over into his buddy's getaway car. Had I caught him I'd beat his *ss. 
Last year somebody's kid tried breaking into my car. I chased him one street over into his buddy's getaway car. Had I caught him I'd beat his *ss.
If my kid broke into your car, I would kick his a** after you finished. Situations obviously vary.
