[jwd]

Excellent topic! There's a lot to digest in your post Nikolaj. I think I'll just comment on a few and then come back later.

Originally Posted by Nikolaj

Anyway, on Simon's site there is an interview from the LA Times, and Carly said she had only read some of the book and didnt necessarily agree with the author's premise that there was a huge upswing in women songwriters due to the success of herself, King and Mitchell... Then, Simon said "what it lead to was imitators who weren't respected for anything other than looking good and selling albums"-- this quote is very recent.

I don't think Carly Simon was referring to what happened immediatelyafter she became successful as a woman songwriter, but was more than likely referring to the state of music today, with the likes of Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez. I couldn't imagine that she would be ragging on women like Stevie, Ann Wilson, and Linda Ronstadt. Furthermore I believe that she basically didn't buy into the premise that there WAS a big upswing in women songwriters after her. Rock and roll was, and still is, a man's world. We all know how many times Stevie herself has commented on that sentiment.

i was watching the director commentary on the 'Gypsy 83' DVD, and the director said that Debbie Harry had been offered the (rather) good role that Karen Black wound up playing in the movie, and he said Debbie turned down being in the movie "because she REALLY hates Stevie Nicks"-- i wonder why... was it competition, jealousy over riches, status, just didn't care for her music??
I should also note that in the director's commentary, he was clearly very hurt that Stevie and her management didn't allow for any Stevie Nicks songs to be used in the film, he kept 'hoping it would work out, and proceeded as if it would, but we never got the rights'-- One song cut from the movie, he said, was the film's star, Sara Rue (sp) singing 'JULIA' of all songs!! (the only "Stevie song" we ever get to hear in the movie are opening bars of 'Talk To Me' -- ofcourse not written by Nicks-- which is played very badly by whomever in the background, while the leads of the movie pretending they are listening to the real Stevie)-- So, could the directors still-hurt feelings caused him to fabricate that Debbie made the comment about Stevie, i don't know. But he didn't seem bitter, just sad.

I think that's as simple as "connecting the dots". I don't think Debbie Harry HATES Stevie Nicks. She may have not felt comfortable in the role, for personal and/or artistic reasons. If the director didn't fabricate this story, I'd sure as hell bet that he elaborated on it.