Summer of 1981

[Macfan4life]

The summer of 1981 was a great time for music. Its a shame Stevie's first solo tour was only a few cities. But it did not have to be that way. Stevie joined Tom Petty's Hard Promises summer tour even before Bella Donna or SDMHA was released. She was not an official touring member but would jet to join them at 14 shows mostly in CA, GA, NJ, and FL. Tom played 3 nights in a row at the LA Forum, June 28, 29, and 30, 1981. Stevie was a special guest where they recorded Needles and Pins and Insider. I cant imagine Tom selling out 3 nights at the Forum in 1981 so was Stevie as a special guest this much of a draw? SDMHA was not even released yet and Bella Donna was another month away from release. Was anyone at these shows or know someone who was? As the tour rolled on Bella Donna was released and SDMHA was becoming a big hit. By the time the tour got back to CA in September, SDMHA was added to the set in Sacamento, Irvine, and throughout Georgia and Florida. The tour ended in Tom's hometown of Gainsville. By this time SDMHA was a monster hit. In this interview Stevie is in Gainsville in October 1981. She looks great and talks about the Fleetwood Mac album being half done, possibly doing a few shows of her own the next month. This is where some drama began because no one knew if Bella Donna would be a hit or SDMHA. Tom resented Jimmy giving her that song because he believed (in 1981) that it stunted the success of Hard Promises which was nowhere near as successful as his previous album. Stevie could have had a fairly long solo tour if she had not toured with Tom. She could have toured late September, October, November into December. However no one had the foresight to know Bella Donna was about to be one of the biggest albums of 1981. Its rare to capture an interview with Stevie during this time. She is wearing the same necklace she wore on her solo tour. She's having fun, looks great, sounds great and no doubt touring with Tom gave her some sea legs. But you wonder how Tom felt about people showing up for Stevie and her taking his song. She sang SDMHA almost as much on his tour as hers.

Welcome to the summer of 1981. I love this interview. Stevie has never heard of MTV yet :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9XMiHElino&list=FL6I68YU_gCCnh-QoFo9eUVw&index=2

Here is a Forum show with Stevie. SDMHA not released or performed yet. Bella Donna was not released yet either. Insider and Needles and Pins performed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88oU_iW3emw

Stevie with Tom on Wild Thing Gainsville October 1981
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eCHsXGkqbk

[David]

Those were heady, slightly crazy days. The Stevie was riding on the Wave of Love. In a few short years, she would run aground on the Shores of Self-Abuse, only to find her way back into the Light of Creativity once again. She is a phoenix.

(P.S. Sorry for speaking in allegories.)

[sue]

Wild thing..one of my favourite songs, ever. ever. ever
Reg Presley of “The Troggs” wrote the song, amongst many others.
He didn’t give up his day job, bricklayer, until Wild Thing reached number 8 on the UK charts..
He also wrote ..” Love is all around”
Talented man, and as leader of the Troggs, could sing too.