USA Today's Top 20 Greatest American Rock Bands

[The Tower]

Originally Posted by WildInTheWind

I always thought they were Canadian. I could be wrong (it has happened once or twice before believe it or not ) I know they first became popular in Canada with Magic Man, and they sound Canadian when they talk. Now I really want to know!!!

They are from Seattle, WA (and all over America as they are military brats).

In 69/70ish Ann Wilson's boyfriend, Mike Fisher (brother of Heart lead guitarist Roger Fisher), ditched the Vietnam draft and moved to Vancouver. Ann followed him there ("Magic Man", "Love Alive", "Just the Wine" and many, many other Heart songs penned by Ann and Nancy are about him). Once Nancy was "of age", she too moved to Canada to join Heart (originally called "White Heart") and subsequently shacked up with Roger Fisher.

Heart's eponymous debut was released on Mushroom Records, an independent Canadian label. Heart's second album, Magazine, was mired in legal battles over publishing and creative control with Mushroom. The members of Heart moved back to Seattle, signed with Capitol records and released Little Queen. After the legal troubles with Mushroom were settled, Heart re-released Magazine once they could get their hands on it to improve some aspects of the production.

The rest is fantastic history.