Evryone keeps saying that the die-hards are not the majority. Where is Stevie pulling in all these new fans from? She hasn't had a top 40 hit in 20 years, she hasn't had a top 10 album in 9 years. How do people who are just getting into her know who she is? My guess is they have heard a song or two on a classic rock station and then went out and bought (or most likely downloaded) the album. Touring works two ways, one you get people to go see you because they like what they heard on the radio (which in Stevie's case in only on classic rock stations), then once they are at the show you give them the hits, but you throw in some album cuts because then these people who only know the hits will say "hey, I like that song, which album is it on?"
The last time Stevie switched up her set was in 1998 and she was SO nervous about it. But I didn't hear anyone complaining because they had to sit thru "Sleeping Angel" or "Rose Garden" or "After The Glitter Fades" to get to "Stand Back" or "Rhiannon".
I do not believe that the die hards are the minority. I believe the opposite is true. Someone who only knows a handful of her songs will not shell out upwards of $130 to go see her. This isn't the 1980's anymore when you could spend $25 to see her and if you didn't like it no big deal. Or as a classmate said after leaving the "Rock A Little" show early to beat the traffic, "What did she do as an encore, tell me she didn't do 'Sara' again!!" Was then told "No, it was 'Has Anyone Ever Written...' from the new album." Response, "Oh no big deal".
The die hards ARE what is making up her core audience and album sales these days, this is true of all major classic rock acts.
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