Is Stevie a Poor Time-Manager?
 

Now, don't get me wrong - - - Love 'er to death.
And kudos to Stevie for being on the road for so long.
But . . . There's 24 hours in a day, folks...

Rhiannon movie: ______

Coffee-Table Book: _____

Autobiography: ______

Goldfish and the Ladybug Cartoon: _____

New Solo Album: ______

New Orleans Song: ______

. . . . . . :shrug:

So what do you guys think? Does Stevie have difficulty managing time? Or is she busy "writing like a maniac," like she was in January of 2003, when she contributed 9 songs to "Say You Will," at least 5 of which were actually from old 1970s demo tapes and 1 of which sounded "hauntingly familiar" to a lot of people?
Is the way she experiences time maybe a little different than somebody who's working 9-5 or 50, 60 hours a week? . . . . :D

From what she has said in interviews, Stevie keeps "rock star" hours. That is, she stays up late, but sleeps late as well. It probably makes it difficult to accomplish projects that require her to work with 9-5 people.

I can't remember which interview, but at some point she was talking about making the Tusk album, and that she was supposed to be in the studio at about 2:00 each day. She said that 2:00 was a horrifying time of day to be up, let alone working. I love Stevie and her melodramatic statements!

A

I was watching an interview from 1984 (i think) or at least prior to the release of RAL,

In which stevie spoke about a book that she was writing called Wild Heart for her fans which had diary entries and drawings and all kinds of cool stuff...

Guess thats another that just never came about...

Remember she's been talking about that Rhiannon movie thing since like 1980, so i don't think its happening anytime soon.

How I wish all these amazing wonderful ideas came to fruition.

But with the addictions and the recoveries and all that i suppose she got lost for time.

Perhaps Stevie really likes lying around sleeping, burning candles and incense and watching startrek when she's not touring or making albums or writing new songs.

My advice to her: Get some ribbons and some bows, get back out on that road...

AND MAKE ANOTHER ALBUM ALREADY!!! it's been almost 9 years since TISL!

It might be her idea to do these projects and maybe she's even put hours of work into them. We probably haven't seen them because it takes corporations backing her to get them from her to us. There's really no other easy way around that one. I guess we can't expect her to never say anything publicly about her plans and ideas. Stevie's just not the type that can keep quiet about things when she's excited.

Otherwise, if I had to guess, I would say she probably doesn't have a huge time management problem... not any more than any other artistic musician poet type.

[QUOTE=desertangel;864265]It might be her idea to do these projects and maybe she's even put hours of work into them. We probably haven't seen them because it takes corporations backing her to get them from her to us. There's really no other easy way around that one. [QUOTE]

Dammnit!!! To quote School of Rock, The Man is what is the problem! If we took him out of the equation then all would be swell:rolleyes:

She could easily record the New Orleans song and release it as a free download, or in exchange for a small donation.

That or chuck a few songs together and release an EP, How hard could that be? The free download would definitely bring her into the 21st Century for once.

if "poor time manager" is a euphemism for "lazy and atrophied has-been," then yes.

Yeah, I agree with the above statements. I think that our girl Stevie doesn't wake up in time enough to really get going. However, she did make it through all the great and creative yrs with this same routine, so maybe we will see some of this stuff in the future. I hear she wakes up by 11am though...so maybe she isn't as late a sleeper as we think. But I mean, 11am is late enough. She misses the Price is Right everyday??? WTF!

I think she manages her time okay. Maybe not great, but okay. I think it's that her priority is touring, both solo, and with Fleetwood Mac, because of tangible financial results she sees. I think she doesn't understand the recording industry anymore (with reason) and feels she isn't successful anymore recording, so she works mostly touring, where she sees she still earns millions of dollars whenever she goes out.
Her backlog of songs is likely almost as huge as it ever was, it has to be, since most of them haven't been released.
I don't think a book is her priority, and I think the film ideas she will mention every now and then to see if there are any takers/backers, and so far, nothing solid has materialized, except for the solo and Mac tours.

Well, to the world at large she probably does appear to be lazy and unproductive. But I'm sure in her own mind she thinks she is the hardest working woman in show business. After all, she has released "solo albums" and DVDs in 2007 and 2009, as well as releasing a Fleetwood Mac album internationally in 2009, as well as embarking on solo "world tours" (i.e., including one or two shows in Canada), as well as a year-long world tour with Fleetwood Mac (that actually lasted 10 months, not that anyone is counting). And in between she has had to meet with movie executives and deliver iPods to wounded soldiers. Yes, she is burning the candle at both ends while melting the middle with another candle. :rolleyes: So, yes, she could make the argument that she is still working at a feverish pace after all these years, albeit with a bunch of busy-work. Personally I think she occupies her time with trivial pursuits because she does not want to confront her biggest fear- that perhaps she has lost "it"- her creativity, her voice, her drive, her looks, etc. For all her talk about feeling creative and loving to write, she has absolutely nothing to show for it in recent years. Indeed, she does have a reputation to uphold and an excellent catalog of songs, so she is probably very reluctant to spoil it with a new batch of subpar, middling crap. I'm going to have to rule against Tom Petty on this one- I think it's time for Mama to look for some new collaborators to provide some inspiration.

To me...
 

People on this board speculating about how Stevie Nicks uses her time and energy is like Stevie speculating how we are a bunch of lazy asses spending all of our time bitching about someone we dont even know on the internet. Ridiculous!! She doesnt have to write another word or note in her life and she would be just fine financially and personally. I, for one, am grateful for whatever we get out of her at this point. Most people her age are heavily contemplating retirement and looking forward to it. I sometimes wonder how a lot of people on this board can call themsevles fans of hers when you use words like "has been" , lost her creativity, blah blah blah.

Give the girl a break, she's past 60 now and I wouldn't expect another solo album from her. Touring as part of Fleetwood Mac keeps the money rolling in nicely for her. As for all the ideas she's had in the past, well that just goes to show how creatively imaginative she was and how, if she could, she probably would have given all these things to her fans. But some of them probably aren't that practical - a 'Rhiannon' musical?? And wouldn't have really done very well.
Saying that though, I am looking forward to some kind of book from her eventually, but as she said herself, she's not retired yet!

I agree with you overall, but if Stevie has no intention of doing the things she talks about, then she should stop mentioning them. It leaves people hanging, and they don't like that!;)

She's on my wavelength on this one :p

I would love so much to see a new album though.

I think Rolling Stone ran a Random Note about the "Rhiannon" project way back in 1978. From my outside vantage point, that project appears not to be a priority to her.

I agree with JohnL that most of us don't know whether Stevie's days are chock-a-block with activity (although I do not obsequiously feel grateful for "everything" she has done, as if she did it for me, & use that as a yardstick by which to measure how other fans on the board actually feel).

I think Stevie maintains an intense touring schedule -- virtually every year, on the road by herself or with Fleetwood Mac or some other group. It's a travel schedule that I doubt I myself could keep, even for all that money. I'd be worn out. I have always thought that Stevie was the last of the great homebodies, but then what explains her choice to be constantly on the road? She's puzzling.

I'd say she is puzzling & she contradict's herself alot in various interviews over the yrs (many yrs that is)....Personally, as an artist ....they really do those things for themselves first & foremost....before there fans even though they 'say' its for 'us'.....There are many woman older that still release new things....one of the main people I can think of right now that is just as old as Stevie is Dolly Parton. She is always busy but she is also a savey business woman as well. She keeps up with the times , still writes,tours.....I watched her bio last night & it was very interesting. I respect someone like that....she doesn't complain about how the music business has changed she just changed with it.....Now, I know its not popular with some fans here to say anything against Stevie & what she has done or not done. Now if we'd talked maybe some 15 yrs ago when I was still crazy in all of my fandom ....I'd also say than
that Stevie does no wrong....but since its been 20+ yrs now that I've been a fan......that crazy feeling just isn't there as much .....the acceptance of what truly is .....thats the hardest part for me. Stevie claims to have written 'many' volumes of songs....I say 'claims' only cause well no one really knows except Stevie what she truely has that hasn't been released.....I think we only really know of what 75 songs of what say 1000?? I do question that # now cause part of me doesn't believe it any more.....I think its something thats just gotten exaggerated overtime.....cause I guess until I hear some more 'rare' UNR songs......I'm just skeptical right now. I'm not saying it isn't true.....just not sure I believe it all anymore. Personally, she does need to take time off. I don't think her heart is in it ....but thats my opinion. I mean no offence. I wish she'd release 'new' or old things ....it would just be nice to have them released even if its only in ltd editions or something. Really with the Net she & Mac could go far with all there UNR songs.....or extended version/outtake pictures......DVD's.......really its endless but its there choice......they choose not too and yes that is there right. I'm looking at this as a fan that would love some awesome things......Do they owe us anything : NO.......but even so as a fan I still wish for more things.....it is sad.....but I guess it is what it is......I could go on & on.....I don't make this post to make anyone angry .....just remember we all have our right to our opinions......and I think its healthy to have different opinions really.....but thats only IMO.......:shrug::)

Something just occurred to me - - - Just sort of one of those "random thoughts" that 'ya might get at any time - - -

It's seemed to me that in the last year or two, Stevie has kind of "gone to ground." That is, there was a time when she was being very personal with fans, not too many years ago - maybe between 2000 and 2005 or so. For example, posting her letters to the soldiers and to Sam Donaldson, etc., on her website. But now -
nothing. I'm sorry, but in the last several years, if you really look at them, well, i.m.o. there has actually been no new information and nothing personal at all, with the minor exception that she and Lindsey are apparently "getting along now."
(I'm comparing this "silence" with earlier years, post year 2000 or so, when she WAS open and personal.)
Another perfect example is how the "Ask Stevie" feature on Nicksfix came to a horrible screeching halt, never to be heard from again.

So I wonder if part of this . . . well, not really "frustration" that we're all feeling . . . more like a "puzzled, optimistic hope for more" . . . might be partly that she's actually become VERY quiet in recent years, not counting required publicity interviews for the tour and comments about making things which she first started talking about in 1978 or so... Any thoughts on that side of things?

Well, I have to say ... Thank God she didn't release the book in 84 because she still had 25 years more of experiences that wouldn't have been in the book.

I agree with you totally.

she did do the barnes and noble thing.

Well THAT'S true, yes.

Based on the photographs and fan reports, I think she had a great deal of fun at that, too. . . . . :D

She also shared her thoughts on Obama's election last year--that was pretty personal. Even though I know some folks will argue that there are artists who are older than Stevie doing lots of new stuff, I think Stevie is just getting older and perhaps slowing down a bit. Maybe the constant touring is taking its toll.

A

Oh, well I guess I hadn't come across that. :o

Touche on the first sentence of your post! Excellent rebuttal! :thumbsup:

Obviously, everyone here is just upset that someone who claims to be so 'prolific' and 'not in it for the money' is appearing to be just the opposite: she hasn't released a solo album in 9 years, hasn't released any Mac material in 7, yet she's cashed in on the touring cow every single year of this decade. People see nothing but strings of broken promises from her.

Personally, I find the whole argument "we should be thrilled if she ****s on a brick and hands it to us" a bit weak. Why shouldn't we expect greatness from her? Why should we be happy for subpar work and performances? She's not a subpar writer, singer, or performer. The woman has a LOT to bring to the table still, even if it's a much smaller table these days.

Yes of course, I'm happy the woman made it through decades of fame and drug addiction, which very well could have claimed her. I'm glad she's still performing. But just because she's nearing retirement age doesn't mean she can basically give up on her game. That's not the way it works in the real world, and that's not the way it works in Hollywood. You're either working or you're not. The fact that she and the Mac are not recording, yet are continuing to tour is impacting their concert sales. Each year Stevie is continually playing for less people. Meanwhile, acts from the same era such as the Eagles and U2 (one is older, one is newer, yes, I know) continue to record and rake in more money than ever before.

One area I will stand behind Stevie is this: she made her name famous because she was a dreamer, impractical, airy fairy, eccentric, all of it. I wouldn't expect Stevie to work at a 9 to 5 pace. I wouldn't want Stevie to talk about how she shops at Wal Mart to save money on her bras. The woman is the very definition of escapism. We like her because listening to her music and following her life is a nice way to escape for our own very real, very crappy lives. Going into a world of gold dust women, gypsies, and white winged doves sure as hell beats dwelling night and day on being laid off, wondering how you're going to make the mortgage, or if your marriage is falling apart. I think that's exactly the reason why everybody is so pissed off around here... we haven't been invited into Stevie's world in a long time now. We all need the escapism of her new songs, as much as she needs the paycheck. :nod:

I think at this stage in the game it's probably far easier for her to just go out on tour rather then figure out what the next career move should be. She could be using touring as a diversion to avoid having to make a decision.

Bring on another solo tour then :thumbsup:

(presumably a new FM album and then FM tour will happen first though...)

Ah, I knew it was sometime around then, thanks for that. She really needed to strike in the moment with the Rhiannon thing, I know for us here it is a truly amazing inspiring song but to the rest of the world it's just that song from 1975, that made Stevie Nicks famous (and a witch apparently)...

It's a shame though it could have been awesome:D

Maybe Stevie hasn't recorded a new solo album because she's afraid it would be compared poorly with Trouble In Shangri-La. A lot of fans seem to think that's her best work.

I like Street Angel better.

I just don't see how she can be called lazy. She spent pretty much the whole of last year touring with the Mac, US, Europe and Aus/NZ. She got back home probably on Christmas eve or the day before. Previous to last year she was always touring with someone (although I wish she would come back to the UK - solo!!). From what Linds and Mick were saying on UK radio interviews I expect they are probably trying to convince her to do a new Mac album, plus in talks about whether to go ahead with the Eagles. She's over 60!!! She's not doing the things we all want her to do, and she's probably not doing all the things she wants to do. Maybe she thinks she should tour while she is fit enough to do so, and leave the writing to when she is older!!!:)

My wish ....That the Rhiannon movie project would be turned into something like Avatar 3-d....................... but I'm dreaming. Hahahahahaha.

I think that if she got her ass into gear, she could still put out some awesome stuff. She's not "too old" for that right now, even if she may be slowing down a bit-- but she WILL be too old not too long from now. I feel like she's just bidding her time when she just can't afford it anymore.

I want a new solo album and a solo world tour...then I'm the happiest ever!!!! LOL...never gonna happen tho...at least not a world tour :(

Great thread. i think touring with the Mac is the worst thing for her creatively, the time and effort each night involved is enormous but from a financial standpoint she figures why not.

The sad thing is financialyl and creatively she is really making a mistake being on the road all the time ,she should be cashing in one her resurgent popularity from hipsters,she has become very hip among trendie types , a gay icon, , loved by younger women performers, and still the one of the great rock goddesses from the 70s.

Think of all these people like jlo,celine dion,etc. who make tons more of money than she does and she is so much more talented. She could have movies[think of how good her film music would be], a 'stevie ' line of fashions perfumes like jlo and the rest, new albums, tons of stuff.


Creatively ,the Mac heritage act stuff is a mixed blessing for her but she just seems stuck

Oh, thank Buddah she doesn't whore her name out to anyone that a$k$ for it. And if she did come out with her own line, we could basically expect nothing but the most craptacular, overpriced junk from Chris Nicks. If there is one thing I can say about Mama- the woman has integrity.

Regarding a new album, I really don't blame her for not putting out the effort. She knows her fanbase is large, diehard and unwavering. And the reality is that she could spend months or years of effort into producing a new album and then end up making basically the same amount of money she would have made in two weeks on the road with FM- and without all the drama. She is at a point in her life where she is still at the top of her field (female rocker), touring is fun and relatively easy, and she still gets a sizeable royalty check from catalog sales and radio airplay. Recording new music is hard work, especially if you're sober.

I never thought of the Chris nicks angle, you make a very good point. A "Stevie" line selling overpriced perfumes and fashions or jewelry at target or kmart would be dreadful if she didn't do it right or really had control over it. I just thinks she has wonderful taste and so does her designer, she certainly is influential in that fashion and design world and would really have a ton of support.

My main point is I just think she needs a new outlet, and now is the time . There are tons of wonderful things she could be doing instead of rehashing old rumours stories and wearing herself out on the road doing this boring old greatest hits tour,though the tour does have its great moments !

I would love to see a new business venture from stevie, new outlets for her creativity. She is brilliant,still very creative,more graceful and beautiful as the years go by, something like silver girl was one of the best songs she has written and it got ruined in production, magic was great movie music. There are tons of things she should be doing, hooking up with a great company and getting into the fashion and design world would be a great start and a long time coming with her influence in that world.