Welcome to a journey that dances on the edge of Seventeen, and beyond.
Today, we're going to delve into the captivating world of Stevie Nicks.
Recognized the world over for her distinctive voice, poetic songwriting, and bewitching
stage presence, Nicks has indisputably become a cornerstone of rock music.
Stevie Nicks is a veritable powerhouse of talent, best known for her tenure with Fleetwood
Mac, one of the best-selling bands of all time.
Their iconic 1977 album, "Rumours," is a seminal work that captured the zeitgeist of its era
and has remained relevant - and not mention incredibly popular -through the decades.
Stevie's haunting vocals and profound lyrics played a significant role in its acclaim and
success, including the much-beloved tracks "Dreams" and "Gold Dust Woman."
Her solo career, too, is filled with chart-topping hits and album sales exceeding millions.
She's been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice—once as a member of Fleetwood
Mac in 1998 and again as a solo artist in 2019.
The latter distinction marked Nicks as the first woman to be inducted twice, underpinning
the magnitude of her contribution to the musical landscape.
But today, we're offering something even more enchanting for fans of Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood
Mac's timeless tunes.
Prepare to step into a collection of rare and unseen photos of the 'Gold Dust Woman'
herself, casting her in a mesmerizing new light.
And as we venture deeper into this visually striking story, we'll accompany each image
with nuggets of little-known information about Stevie Nicks.
As we venture into this space, expect a spectrum of facts ranging from surprising and intriguing
to downright fascinating.
For those who've ever hummed along with 'Rhiannon' or found solace in the raw emotion of 'Landslide,'
these revelations will serve as a fresh exploration into the life of this iconic artist.
It's not just about her music, but also her life, her inspirations, and her legacy.
Whether you're a long-time fan or just beginning to discover her music, this journey promises
an enticing mix of melody and mystery, a deep dive into the spellbinding world of Stevie
Nicks.
Facts Verse Presents: Rare Stevie Nicks' Photos Show Another Side of Her
She Came From A Musical Family
The remarkable musical talents of Stevie Nicks seem to be woven into her family lineage.
Her grandfather on her father's side, Aaron Jess Nicks, was a budding country singer who
recognized Stevie's potential when she was just a little girl.
Stevie shared in an interview with Vogue how her grandfather introduced her to the golden
sounds of Buddy Holly and the Everly Brothers.
Aaron not only introduced her to these music legends but also coached her in playing guitar
and singing country melodies.
When Stevie was just four years old, she had her initial taste of performing for an audience.
Dressed up as a young cowgirl, she accompanied her grandfather in singing beloved country
duets like "Darling Clementine" at various local bars.
Stevie's passion for performing, however, was not solely rooted in her musical experiences.
During sixth grade, she discovered another type of performance art: tap dancing.
During a school talent show, the thunderous applause that followed her tap dance routine
made her realize her life's desire was to entertain people.
Around the same time, Stevie's musical taste began to shift from country to R&B and rock
'n' roll.
Still, elements of country music seemed to have left an indelible impression on her.
In an interview, she mentioned having to consciously prevent herself from singing in a country
style, attributing this tendency to her grandad's influence.
As she explained, her roots are deeply embedded in country music, a testament to her grandfather's
lasting influence on her life.
A Chance Encounter At Youth Group
Stevie Nicks' early years were marked by a series of abrupt moves due to her father's
business endeavors.
Born under the sun-soaked skies of Arizona, she resided in New Mexico, Texas, and Utah
before finally anchoring her roots in California during her adolescent years.
It was on this Golden State soil that she crossed paths with Lindsey Buckingham, a figure
who would play multiple roles in her life - her initial whirlwind romance, her creative
confidant, and at times, her antagonist.
In 1966, fate orchestrated their first meeting at a gathering of a faith-based youth community
known as Young Life.
Nicks viewed this as an opportunity for a midweek escape from home.
A senior in high school, she already nurtured the dream of becoming a songwriter, as per
an interview with the Guardian.
Buckingham, a year her junior, reportedly won her over by sharing a musical moment,
strumming the chords of "California Dreamin'" by the Mamas and Papas.
While Nicks recalls being instantly charmed by Buckingham, this fleeting encounter would
remain their only one for the next two years.
It wasn't until Nicks had left San Jose State College that Buckingham resurfaced in her
life, extending an invitation to join a San Francisco-based folk ensemble named Fritz.
In their local scene, Fritz experienced considerable success, serving as an opening act for legendary
artists like Jimi Hendrix, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Santana, and Nicks' personal music
idols, Janis Joplin and Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane.
However, by 1971, the curtains closed on Fritz.
It was during this transformative period that Nicks and Buckingham transitioned from bandmates
to lovers, eventually creating their unique harmony under the banner of Buckingham Nicks.
Fleetwood Mac Initially Didn’t Want Her
The initial encounter between Fleetwood Mac and Lindsey Buckingham, then Stevie Nicks'
boyfriend, didn't include a place for the latter half of the Buckingham Nicks duo.
As it happened, Nicks arrived at their initial rendezvous in her distinctive flapper-girl
waitress attire, causing quite the stir.
However, Buckingham made it clear - it was a package deal.
He insisted he wouldn't join the band unless they welcomed his unconventional partner into
the fold as well.
The magnetism of Buckingham's guitar skills proved too enticing to resist, and fortuitously
for all involved, they agreed.
Stevie’s Controversial Marriage
Throughout her luminous career, Stevie Nicks has been connected with numerous partners,
yet she walked down the aisle just once - a decision she later deemed a substantial misstep.
Following the tragic loss of her best friend, Robin, to leukemia - just two days post childbirth,
Stevie found herself inexplicably drawn to Robin's widower, Kim Anderson.
In the wake of such profound loss, Stevie and Kim were immersed in a sea of grief, leading
them to the unexpected decision to tie the knot.
Nicks reflected later that she believed this was the most appropriate way for her to assist
the mourning husband in raising his newborn child.
However, the marriage proved unsustainable, and the couple parted ways within the span
of less than a year.
She Threatened To Quit
While Stevie Nicks ultimately emerged as Fleetwood Mac's brightest beacon, the memory of her
inclusion in the band — courtesy of her boyfriend's insistence — was a lingering
shadow.
This residue of doubt often led her to ponder on the possibility of parting ways with the
band.
The tension reached a fever pitch when her track "Silver Springs" was left off the iconic
"Rumours" album.
Threats of departure turned into action when the band refused to allow her to use the song
on a solo album.
In an unrelated but equally charged episode, she had also told Mick Fleetwood that she
would bid farewell to the band if he named their 1979 album 'Tusk' — a term he used
to refer to his manhood.
Many Thought She Was A Witch
Stevie Nicks' signature concert attire, often adorned with dark-colored shawls, painted
a mysterious picture that led many spectators to speculate about her potential involvement
in witchcraft.
While Nicks remained silent on these conjectures at the outset, the sudden arrival of unsettling
letters from individuals involved in the arcane arts prompted her to eventually dispel these
misconceptions publicly.
Stevie And Mick Had A Fling
The romantic chapter between Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham drew to a close amidst
the creation of Fleetwood Mac's second album, "Rumours," in 1976.
Nicks, in conversation with the Oprah Winfrey Network, revealed the catalyst to be a significant
dispute that led her to end their relationship.
Despite the romantic rupture, both Nicks and Buckingham remained integral to the band.
However, promotional endeavors for the album unearthed unexpected emotional undercurrents.
In a photo session for the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, the band members found themselves
entwined on a bed.
Buckingham was paired with Christine McVie, who was in the midst of a divorce from bassist
John McVie — depicted alone in the image.
Nicks was paired with drummer Mick Fleetwood, himself weathering the storm of his own divorce.
This orchestrated pose ignited a brief resurgence of the flame between Nicks and Buckingham,
and also sparked a new attraction between Nicks and Fleetwood.
This chemistry evolved into a romantic entanglement a year later.
At this time, Fleetwood Mac was touring, and Nicks was romantically linked to Don Henley
from the Eagles, a relationship constrained by their infrequent meetings.
Looking back, Nicks attributed the unexpected liaison with Fleetwood to their extensive
substance abuse, describing their union as the outcome of being the "last two people
at the party."
She acknowledged it as a fleeting, pain-filled affair that led nowhere.
Fleetwood, in contrast, held a slightly rosier perspective.
Speaking to one news outlet, he recalled that period as a moment in time when he and Stevie
were indeed in love, albeit a love that could never truly bloom in the open.
Stevie’s Mind-Blowing Prince Story
Stevie Nicks holds an enchantingly remarkable story featuring the legendary Prince.
Following her wedding in 1982, as she was journeying to Santa Barbara with her newly-wedded
husband, the iconic "Little Red Corvette" reverberated from the radio.
This triggered a creative spark, leading to the conception of her song "Stand Back."
The correlation between the two songs was so pronounced that Nicks felt compelled to
reach out to Prince.
Leveraging her status as Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac, she managed to secure his elusive phone
number, inform him about the inspiration behind her song and extend an invitation to collaborate
on its recording.
Much to her surprise, Prince accepted her invitation.
He appeared on her doorstep within a mere 20 minutes, contributed his musical prowess
to "Stand Back," and departed after an hour and a half.
The tale took an unexpected turn when Prince later revealed that Nicks had served as the
muse for his iconic "When Doves Cry" and even solicited her lyrical expertise for "Purple
Rain."
Unfortunately, we’re just about of time – so, we’ll go ahead and wrap things up.
But, before you move on to watching another one of our facts-packed videos, we’d love
to hear from you!
Did you know that Stevie Nicks and Mick Fleetwood briefly had a romantic fling and that Fleetwood
Mac initially was apprehensive about her joining the band?
Let us know in the comments.
And as always, thanks for watching!