Howard Stern mentions F-Mac

[amber]

Originally Posted by dissention

I thought she looked gorgeous around the time of Maria for some reason. It was only about a year after it died down that she started looking quite haggard, but still not in her late fifties, IMO.

For a true measure of how hot Deb was in '99, watch the "Blondie Live" DVD. No retouches or anything and she looked smokin'.

I thought she looked good around Maria - But when I saw her after her lift and weight loss on Will & Grace, I was unpleasantly shocked - thought she looked like a cadaver-head - I hope she's uh, settled in a little bit better since then...
AMber

[David R]

I'm glad Stevie can still sing and still sounds good doing it...

I guess it was about time for another thread about Stevie's looks... ha.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by amber

I thought she looked good around Maria - But when I saw her after her lift and weight loss on Will & Grace, I was unpleasantly shocked - thought she looked like a cadaver-head - I hope she's uh, settled in a little bit better since then...
AMber

She was on Will and Grace? I didn't know that. Now I want to see it.

Did you see her on Live By Request in May? She certainly did settle in and looked gorgeous !!!!!!!!

[amber]

Originally Posted by dissention

She was on Will and Grace? I didn't know that. Now I want to see it.

Did you see her on Live By Request in May? She certainly did settle in and looked gorgeous !!!!!!!!

Didn't see - but yeah, her cheekbones and eyesockets - bleah, it was just too tight and skinny and you know how her cheekbones are - she really looked crappy, I thought....

[dissention]

Originally Posted by amber

Didn't see - but yeah, her cheekbones and eyesockets - bleah, it was just too tight and skinny and you know how her cheekbones are - she really looked crappy, I thought....

She has Faye Dunaway cheekbones, love them!

I have a huge hardcover book called "Picture This" and it's just a photos of Debbie taken by Mick Rock from the seventies up to now. It comes with a DVD of their last photo session. You should check it out and see if the library has it, it's great.

[amber]

Originally Posted by dissention

She has Faye Dunaway cheekbones, love them!

I have a huge hardcover book called "Picture This" and it's just a photos of Debbie taken by Mick Rock from the seventies up to now. It comes with a DVD of their last photo session. You should check it out and see if the library has it, it's great.

You told me about that, and I saw it in Barnes n Noble like, a week ago - but there was plastic covering it...I mean, not that i'm not stronger than plastic, but it seemed kinda rude to rip it off. It was 32 bucks...which was way to much at the time - and i don't have a DVD player. I did want it, though....we'll see. I usually love her and Faye Dunaway's cheekbones, like crazy, but i swear, she was tooooo thin & to tight, and i think she had all this black makeup around her eyes....bleah...I dunno, whatever it was, I hope it never happens again.
Amber

[dissention]

Originally Posted by amber

You told me about that, and I saw it in Barnes n Noble like, a week ago - but there was plastic covering it...I mean, not that i'm not stronger than plastic, but it seemed kinda rude to rip it off. It was 32 bucks...which was way to much at the time - and i don't have a DVD player. I did want it, though....we'll see. I usually love her and Faye Dunaway's cheekbones, like crazy, but i swear, she was tooooo thin & to tight, and i think she had all this black makeup around her eyes....bleah...I dunno, whatever it was, I hope it never happens again.
Amber

LOL I was in Barnes and Noble on Saturday and saw the huge display for it (I've had it for a few months, I wonder what took them so long to set up the display!). I asked the manager what he does with all the posters and stuff once the display is taken down and he said they are just thrown out, so I got him to take my number and save the BIG poster for me when the display is taken apart.

Another great book is "Blondie: From Punk To Present," that sucker's HUUUUUUUUGE.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by amber

um, ok, but didn't she have an entire video scrapped and re-shot because it made her arms look fat??

Some say it was scrapped because she felt she looked fat. Others say it was scrapped because the record company plain didn't like it, and wanted a dance-oriented video for a dance-oriented song.

So who can say?

Either way, scrapping a video that cost a few thousand dollars is a little different than demanding extensive digital re-touching, which would cost millions.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

Some say it was scrapped because she felt she looked fat. Others say it was scrapped because the record company plain didn't like it, and wanted a dance-oriented video for a dance-oriented song.

So who can say?

Either way, scrapping a video that cost a few thousand dollars is a little different than demanding extensive digital re-touching, which would cost millions.

and then you have to wonder if La Nicks made the final decision at all because she mentioned the video in the Molly Meldrum interview in 1986 in Australia. If she did not like it or was embarrassed by it, why would she bring it up Also, she looks STUNNING in it BTW Here is an excerpt:
_____________________________________________________

Molly: I've got to argue here, the live performance is important, however there is a million, and millions out there watching video so they might not see Stevie. Stevie could be in England…

Stevie: Alright, but I'm making the videos too now, which is something I don't like to do…

Molly: That's what I'm saying, with Stand Back, its such an unbelievable simple video which defied all over the top costs

Stevie: Right, and then of course in complete confidence over international Australian TV I should tell you about the first "Stand Back" which I did my own horseback riding [laughs] and was like, you know, incredible to a point, but it wasn't right, and I freaked out and I said Fleetwood Mac didn't have to make videos to sell records so at this point I said take it back. And I did, I re-did Stand Back with Geoffrey Horneby (sp?) who choreographed Flash Dance, now you have to know this sent me into waves of panic because I am not a dancer and I am certainly not like "whats-her-name" in Flash Dance. So I am afraid. And I make this video right, and I have my kind of gang of dancers who are all going like this [looks over shoulder] and it's wonderful, and I meet this guy named Brad who choreographs all my videos to this day and who puts up with a lot from me because he knows that I'm sweet and he doesn't want to hurt my feelings, you know. Its like, its difficult because I'm a rock'n'roll singer, I'm a ROCK'N'ROLL SINGER!

Molly: I know that!

Stevie: I'm not a model, I am not an actress, I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever be able to model for vogue!
_____________________________________________________________

http://www.nicksfix.com/meldrum1986.htm

It is a FASCINATING interview and if you have not read it, I highly rec. it. I have it on video!!!!!

[diamondsnake]

Originally Posted by dissention

Shall I list all of her tours? With Blondie, the Jazz Passengers, and solo? Her current one has been ongoing since '02.

AND - Miss Debbie not only did coke, pills, and booze, she was a heroin addict.

Okay what? Is it a good thing that she did more drugs then Stevie?

[dissention]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

Some say it was scrapped because she felt she looked fat. Others say it was scrapped because the record company plain didn't like it, and wanted a dance-oriented video for a dance-oriented song.

So who can say?

Either way, scrapping a video that cost a few thousand dollars is a little different than demanding extensive digital re-touching, which would cost millions.

I hardly think that the Civil War version of Stand Back cost "a few thousand dollars." Who knows why it was scrapped and I could care less because I didn't like it anyways, the point Amber was trying to make (if I read her correctly) was that she had no qualms about reshooting an entire music video, so she probably would have no qualms about requesting digital re-touching.

No one has said that "extensive digital re-touching" occurred, just that some was. And it does NOT cost millions to do most re-touching. It did in the dark ages of cinema computer technology, not so today.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by diamondsnake

Okay what? Is it a good thing that she did more drugs then Stevie?

Yeah, Christopher, it's a good thing that she did more drugs than Stevie.

No, the point being made was that Stevie is not the only woman in rock with a lot of miles on her. There are others who did just as much drugs, toured just as much, "danced as much," and recorded just as much with abundant amounts of energy and who don't hobble across the stage.

If you ask me, I think the reason Stevie is so dull lately is because of menopause. I can't imagine how excruciating an experience like that is to begin with, but it must be ten times as aggravating going through it on the road. Hot flashes and "Stand Back" moves do not mix.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

and then you have to wonder if La Nicks made the final decision at all because she mentioned the video in the Molly Meldrum interview in 1986 in Australia. If she did not like it or was embarrassed by it, why would she bring it up

Why would she bring it up? Because she was probably high. Who knows! But she says in the interview that she's the one who sent it back because "it wasn't right." Surely she was a big enough star at that point to make such demands. We have no clue what wasn't right about it. Maybe it was the theme, maybe it was her arms.

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Stevie: Right, and then of course in complete confidence over international Australian TV I should tell you about the first "Stand Back" which I did my own horseback riding [laughs] and was like, you know, incredible to a point, but it wasn't right, and I freaked out and I said Fleetwood Mac didn't have to make videos to sell records so at this point I said take it back. And I did, I re-did Stand Back with Geoffrey Horneby (sp?) who choreographed Flash Dance, now you have to know this sent me into waves of panic because I am not a dancer and I am certainly not like "whats-her-name" in Flash Dance. So I am afraid. And I make this video right, and I have my kind of gang of dancers who are all going like this [looks over shoulder] and it's wonderful, and I meet this guy named Brad who choreographs all my videos to this day and who puts up with a lot from me because he knows that I'm sweet and he doesn't want to hurt my feelings, you know. Its like, its difficult because I'm a rock'n'roll singer, I'm a ROCK'N'ROLL SINGER!

[sparky]

Originally Posted by dissention

I hardly think that the Civil War version of Stand Back cost "a few thousand dollars." ....No one has said that "extensive digital re-touching" occurred, just that some was. And it does NOT cost millions to do most re-touching. It did in the dark ages of cinema computer technology, not so today.

If I recall correctly, I think the scrapped video cost 65 grand. Not a lot of money today, but 20 years ago it was a high price for a video. It was a goofy video anyway. It is interesting as a historical artifact, but it was completely wrong for the song. The reshot one was much more fitting. And certainly has camp value as well. Those Flashback dancers ! The treadmill ! Priceless. I love it.

Digital retouching isn't all that expensive, unless you are inserting CG shots, and the like. They basically do it with something like a photoshop program. It isn't cheap, but it isn't millions, no. It's gotten much more reasonable, and it's not like they got an entire hour of footage retouched. Probably 15 -18 minutes total. I'd eyeball that cost at 20k, maybe. Pocket change, even if it came out Stevie's own velvet purse.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by sparky

If I recall correctly, I think the scrapped video cost 65 grand. Not a lot of money today, but 20 years ago it was a high price for a video. It was a goofy video anyway. It is interesting as a historical artifact, but it was completely wrong for the song. The reshot one was much more fitting. And certainly has camp value as well. Those Flashback dancers ! The treadmill ! Priceless. I love it.

It is also fitting to point out, I think, that video was in its late infancy then. Many bands, as evidenced by La Nicks' comments as well as other comments she hmade in that interview that are not in the pront article, felt that video was "beneath" them - but they realized its power at the same time. Many bands also did live concert shoots as their video a la Sara, etc. (although those were right before the video revolution). The "concept" video, a la Hold Me, Gypsy, etc., was considered a new being on its own and was still being, if you will, fleshed out AND Stevie probably went through several story boards until she found one that worked and then did not like the end result, which could have been due to editing, the way she looked, theme, etc.

Interestingly and since Mirage, FM has done both themeatic and concept since video came out.