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At the time, Nico was living in Salford and Manchester, battling heroin addiction, though that didn鈥檛 stop her earning a notoriety for her wild ways.

Written and performed by Stella, Nico Icon looks at that time, a period that Grundy herself remembers vividly from her teenage years.

"I first saw Nico when I was at 16. She was playing with a band and I was blown away.

"At the time, Nico had legendary status but no money. She lived off other people鈥檚 kindness. There was a big difference in what people thought she was and the reality - she was living in complete squalor.

It鈥檚 that individuality that struck Stella and what she wants Nico Icon to deliver. For her, Nico鈥檚 presence in Manchester is a shining example of the cultural diversity that she thinks Manchester desperately needs to celebrate to stay vibrant.

"It鈥檚 important that Manchester recognises that we had people like that here. This city can become very insular. We become boring when Manchester bands emulate each other; we should embrace a full range of musical influences. It鈥檚 wasn鈥檛 all Madchester."

Stella on stage as Nico

Despite the period of Nico鈥檚 life that Stella has chosen to concentrate on, she insists that she鈥檚 "not written a play about heroin addiction. It鈥檚 about the humour of her life in Manchester."

She must have got the blend of emotion right as Nico Icon has been given the stamp of approval by Nico鈥檚 son, Ari, something she saw as being imperative to the project.

"I wanted him to see I鈥檝e done this for the best possible reasons. I went to see him and talked about the play. He鈥檚 glad that there鈥檚 this buzz because he鈥檚 very proud of his mother."

Chiefly though, Stella鈥檚 main purpose is simply to redress the balance of opinion on Nico and allow a reappraisal of her life.

"She was more notorious than famous so it鈥檚 nice to bring her to the public鈥檚 attention."

Nico Icon runs from Wednesday 12 to Saturday 22 November at the The Lowry. Tickets are 拢5