Rockin' at 60 & recording probably in October

MacMan · #1 06-13-2008, 07:33 AM

Stevie Nicks performs tonight in St. Louis

BY SCOTT KIEFER
Special to the News-Democrat
http://www.bnd.com/entertainment/story/368689.html

Rock icon, artist, songwriter, aunt and inspiration to millions, Stevie Nicks just reached the milestone of turning 60 years old on May 26. She sees it as a defining moment in her life that has brought about some realizations about her personal life, her career and what she needs to maintain and to change.

"It's been a wonderful, hectic, glamorous, miserable, exciting, tumultuous life," said Nicks in a telephone interview from Florida last week. "Who could ask for more?"

Nicks will perform at 8 p.m. tonight at the Chaifetz Arena at St. Louis University.

Although Nicks has this persona of being mysterious, elusive, mystical, and hard to reach, she has always been an open book during interviews ... which aren't granted often.

"My life has been such an open book anyway, so when I do interviews, there's really nothing to not talk about," said Nicks jokingly. "Sometimes I even get to set the record straight."

Nicks isn't really bothered by her recent birthday.

"Really, it is just a number," said Nicks, "but an important one. Better that the alternative. I would say. I've never been one to be obsessed with my numerical age. I really do believe you are as young as you feel, and as long as you are happy within yourself and good to others, your youth shines through, no matter what your age. It's all about change.. in lifestyle, diet, and emotionally. Age is about learning and growing, not your number."

Nicks shows no signs of slowing down.

She is currently working on writing the story for the production of a movie based on the hit Fleetwood Mac single of 1976, "Rhiannon."

"I have been working on this for quite some time," said Nicks. "It's really been a work in progress for 30 years. This is it, though. As soon as this tour is finished, I'm off to a secluded place in Europe (she didn't disclose where) to finish the writing, and do some tweaking on the finished product. After that, we are meeting with people like HBO or Showtime to hopefully do a mini-series type of movie. It is such a wonderful story, and there is so much more to be told about Rhiannon."

After that, Nicks will sign on for the all-original Fleetwood Mac tour.

"Yes, we are going to do it, at least once more," said Nicks. "All of us except Christy (Christine McVie). She is just so 'over' that whole thing. She has done it, again and again, she just doesn't want to do the touring anymore."

Nicks stated that the group will start working on material and recording probably in October, and finish an album.

"We should be getting into tour rehearsals in January or February, and get out on the road in the spring of next year."

Asked about the rumors surrounding the replacement of McVie by Sheryl Crow, Nicks said it would not be happening.

"Actually, Lindsey and I will be taking some of the songs that Christine sang on record, and we will be sharing the vocals," said Nicks. "After all, we wrote most of them anyway, and we feel it was best for us to do them instead of bringing someone else in to take her place. We want to show her our respect, and include her in the show, because she was such an important part to our group."

The lives of the members of Fleetwood Mac were definitely the rock 'n' roll soap opera of the late '70s and '80s, but Nicks doesn't like to dwell so much on the negativity and the hype that surrounded the group.

"We definitely had our moments in the spotlight," said Nicks, "and some hellatious ones out of the spotlight too. But, it's all good now. In fact, Lindsey and I are really doing good, we are friends ... for now at least."

Nicks attributes much of the high drama within the band to the creativity each member possesses.

"When you have creative people such as we are, and we are all artists, you have high emotions and feelings, and that is how we expressed ourselves -- and still do really," said Nicks. "It's hard to live with, work with and be constantly around someone who has such creativity and emotion spilling out of them all of the time, and not have conflict. It's just the way it is. But we're all fine right now."

With the movie script and the band reunion, you would think that Nicks has enough on her plate.

"I also will be working on some of my paintings, and I'm always writing new songs, poems, things like that," said Nicks.

Will there be a new solo album soon?

"That's something that I can't say will or will not happen," said Nicks. "As I said, I am constantly writing, but not just for me. Some of the stuff I do may turn up on a Mac album, or maybe I will have a solo album, I'm not ruling out anything."
Nicks has just moved into a large apartment on the oceanfront in Santa Monica, where she lives alone.

"I am in 'Stevie's Place' now," said Nicks, "all by myself. I loved my large home in Phoenix, but it was more of a bother than it was enjoyable to me. I was always wondering about redecorating this room or that room or the landscaping or the kitchen or whatever. Kind of a pain in the a--, really."

"See, that's what I mean about the creativity flowing," said Nicks. "Where I am at now, I am by myself, and can concentrate on the movie script ideas, my paintings, and my songwriting. I can get up in the middle of the night and see the moonlight on the water and watch it make a glisten on the waves, and work on whatever it is I need too, until I can watch the sun rise over the ocean. Or, I can just do whatever the h--- I want."

Nicks sees this as an advantage to herself and her family.

"I can do these things when they come upon me, and I can be in my world," said Nicks. "This is why, I realize, that I never had children, and that I will never be married. Things in my life are kind of like coming together, and yet starting over, all at the same time."

Nicks is currently on a short tour of only 15 dates in North America in promotion of the "Crystal Visions" CD and DVD project.

Nicks is also appearing this season on the PBS Soundstage music series in a two-episode concert.

"Doing the show for PBS was a thrill, and an honor," said Nicks. "Public television is something that is very important, not only for it's entertainment value, but for the educational opportunities it provides.."

During this tour, Nicks is doing all of the expected hits such as "Rhiannon," "Stand Back" and "Edge of Seventeen," but has thrown in some exciting covers as well.

"We have to do the hits that the fans expect," said Nicks, "but, we've thrown in a Dave Mathews song, and a Bob Seger song, plus a couple of other surprises."

"This is gonna be more of a rock and roll show," said Nicks. "I can't wait to perform at St. Louis, because it was one of the better shows I did last year with Tom Petty.

"Tom asked me to come out and do six shows, and do just six songs on each date," said Nicks. "And I was thrilled. I've always had this fantasy about being a member of the Heartbreakers. Tom helped me to make that dream come true. It was so much fun that we ended up doing 23 days. And for Tom to foot the bill for my expenses for that many dates -- and believe me it ain't cheap -- says a lot about my friend.

"After the tour was over, he gave me a gold, five-point sherriff's badge with five diamonds on each point with an inscription on the back that read 'To Stevie, our honorary Heartbreaker.' That was one of my most special moments in life, and I will probably never get the chance to do something like that again."

Nicks is really looking at a new lease on life.

"With all that I have going right now, it seems as though I have just started my life all over again. To h--- with counting my birthday numbers, who needs 'em anyway?"

At a glance

Who: Stevie Nicks with Peter Cincotti

When: 8 p.m. today

Where: Chaifetz Arena at St. Louis University

How much: $65 and $45

How:www.metrotix.com, or 314-534-1111.

Sorceress · #2 06-13-2008, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacMan

" Age is about learning and growing, not your number."

If she really gets this, then why all the blaming? I guess she's just getting crotchety in her advanced years.

"Hey you kids, get off my lawn!"

HejiraNYC · #3 06-13-2008, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacMan

Stevie Nicks performs tonight in St. Louis

BY SCOTT KIEFER
Special to the News-Democrat
http://www.bnd.com/entertainment/story/368689.html

Nicks stated that the group will start working on material and recording probably in October, and finish an album.

"We should be getting into tour rehearsals in January or February, and get out on the road in the spring of next year."

Hmmm... two months to record a new Fleetwood Mac album? N***a, puhlease.

Is there any doubt that this was supposed to be Lindsey's "rock" album?

So here is Ms. Contra Diction yet again. Why are they bothering with a new album if only 1000 people are going to buy it? What happened to another singer handling Christine's vocals? What happened to not touring with FM without Christine? With all of this flip flopping, you'd think she was running for president.

Gailh · #4 06-13-2008, 08:32 AM

Have we all moved into the after life? I thought she wasn't going to make another FM record without Christine "in this lifetime" because they "tried it once and it didn't work"

Oh well I suppose it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind.

I can't see them recording an album in 3 or 4 months though.

Gail

skuncles · #5 06-13-2008, 08:54 AM

Stevie contradicting herself is hardly a new thing. She's been doing that for years. My favorite contradicting moment was in 1989, it might be on the "Reflections From The Other Side Of The Mirror" interview disc, if not it's on the "Up Close" radio show. She's talking about the songs on the album and when discussing "Fire Burning" she says she's afraid of fire and will never die in fire. Then she says that she's lucky that she's never had a house fire or anything, then she pauses and says "Well that's not true, the song was inspired by a fire at my house." I just assume it was the after effects of the drugs!!

Musicman408 · #6 06-13-2008, 08:56 AM

I would adore it if Fleetwood Mac could make an album in three months. It would be a very cool thing, and I would buy it in an instant.

I would also like to play in the NBA

Seriously though, I would love it, but I don't think it's going to happen.

Richard B · #7 06-13-2008, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacMan

"After the tour was over, he gave me a gold, five-point sherriff's badge with five diamonds on each point with an inscription on the back that read 'To Stevie, our honorary Heartbreaker.'

Ahhh...so that's where that hideous sheriff badge came from that she's wearing in that recent Preston photo shoot.

Tango · #8 06-13-2008, 09:15 AM

Interesting article. Gail, I agree with you. "We tried it once and it didn't work." I'm guessing Lindsey's got some material already (HOPEFULLY not ALL of his rock solo album, unless he can't get anyone to put it out at this point in time) and Stevie has said she's been writing "constantly." Money is a powerful motivator for this band. It's their last hurrah. I think this whole venture is on shakey ground anyhow. Don Henley said this band had "thrown in the towel" with their last outing.

Who knows. If we're lucky, maybe there's some song by Stevie (in some cloaked lyrics) about how we all steal from her.

It's entitled: "Why Bother:"

At this point , (and I find it hard to believe I feel this way) I really have no desire to see Fleetwood Mac. You know they are going to charge an outrageous price. Despite Stevie saying how she LOVES the Heartbreakers, Fleetwood Mac has NEVER tried to keep the costs down the way the Heartbreakers have. Front row Tom Petty/Heartbreakers show: about $95.00. Front row Fleetwood Mac show: "The Sky Is The Limit."

Tom & The Heartbreakers: have a similar sized band, a great looking set on the stage, and talented rockin' musicians. Mike Campbell! They tour CONSTANTLY. And with their low LOW ticket price they can still manage to buy Stevie a gold star. With diamonds. The Heartbreakers must budget better. They DO work harder.

I'm sure there are 10's of millions out there that haven't been reading Stevie's recent comments or lived through some of the other dealings of Fleetwood Mac that won't feel the same way as some of us. The band will make their sacred cash cow. There are those that will come to worship at it's alter. But, right now, as I look at this band, borrowing from Lindsey's "Surrender The Rain," 'it feels cold. It feels like sin.'

strandinthewind · #9 06-13-2008, 09:27 AM

I think she changed her mind. What is so bad about that

Who knows, maybe she met with LB and they hashed it out. I also think they keep the drama alive in the press on purpose.

Personally, I think they have several songs left from SYW and they are using LB's rock album. Such is life.

As for the film, I think that is a very creative and cool thing for her to do.

Gailh · #10 06-13-2008, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I think she changed her mind. What is so bad about that

Personally, I think they have several songs left from SYW and they are using LB's rock album. Such is life.

It is a FM tradition that an LB album has to be hijacked to become a FM album so perhaps you are right.

Gail

strandinthewind · #11 06-13-2008, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gailh

It is a FM tradition that an LB album has to be hijacked to become a FM album so perhaps you are right.

Gail

Usually, by his own salivating financial palate

Also, what is up with her comment:

"After all, we wrote most of them anyway . . . ." To my knowledge, CM wrote most of her songs.

MacMan · #12 06-13-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Who knows, maybe she met with LB and they hashed it out. I also think they keep the drama alive in the press on purpose.

BINGO!!!!!!

ontheEdgeof17 · #13 06-13-2008, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

So here is Ms. Contra Diction yet again. Why are they bothering with a new album if only 1000 people are going to buy it? What happened to another singer handling Christine's vocals? What happened to not touring with FM without Christine? With all of this flip flopping, you'd think she was running for president.

She's a Gemini. What do you expect?