Sydney 1986

[StreetAngel95]

Originally Posted by David

I saw a bunch of RAL shows in California, & have been listening to dozens of others on tape for almost 20 years. I never saw or heard of any instance of a fall off the stage. Despite my having heard from people who claim they saw such a thing, I'm still inclined to think it's an urban myth.

.

wow, i just found this thread, but i actually own a newspaper clipping regarding the April 30th, 1986 RAL show. This was Knoxville, TN. The article says:

"Nicks formed an undeniable bond with the audience despite feedback problems that began with opening act Opus and other distractions. The Myopic Nicks tumbled over a monitor and gave the uncomfortable impression that she was not quite in control of her actions."

so while she didn't quite fall off stage, she did have some mechanics issues.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by sorcerer0078

This show most likely took place at the Sydney Entertainment Centre back in 86 (seating cap of approx 12000). I only wish i knew BACK THEN that i was a Stevie Nicks fan, as a Sydney resident i would have loved to have seen her solo...although i was only 8 years old then!! (RAL was her only Australian solo tour!)

Brett

I was going to tell you off for 'forgetting' her Gold Dust tour, but then saw that the thread started in 2004

Hope you enjoyed her Gold Dust shows Brett

[Meowi]

Originally Posted by joe

I've been downloading these tracks from http://www.angelfire.com/mac2/nickslive/TradeSite.htm

and she doesn't sound that f***ed up to me. Didn't Mick say in his book that her drinking worsened when she went to Australia and legend has it that she fell off the stage? She actually sounds pretty normal to me. Maybe it changes later in the show.

???

Why does every thing happen in Australia?

[Aussie W/Heart]

Originally Posted by joe

I've been downloading these tracks from http://www.angelfire.com/mac2/nickslive/TradeSite.htm

and she doesn't sound that f***ed up to me. Didn't Mick say in his book that her drinking worsened when she went to Australia and legend has it that she fell off the stage? She actually sounds pretty normal to me. Maybe it changes later in the show.

???

Hi Joe, I have just checked out this website, whats the go with it? like buying some these awesome Dvd's & CD's??? I am hoping you or someone could give me the heads up on this.. Thanks

[SapphireSister]

I have really mixed emotions about the RAL tour. On one hand I think it was the most she emotionally ever gave to her audience. The true essence of a rock n' roll star be it pretty or not. It's kind of sick in a way that I like her all f*ucked up but I can't deny it - it makes her human to me and not some robot with no flaws. On the other hand I don't like to think she was doing harm to her body which she was and probably suffering pretty badly on an emotional level which hurts me but sometimes the best art comes from a place of pain. I'm just glad she's alive and well (at least I think).

[petep9000]

Stevie was 'The Rose' during the RAL tour. She was very Janis-like.
What I wouldn't do to hear her bellow/croak/scream "I know what it sounds like!!! I know what it SOUNDS LIKE!!!!" on stage.

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by petep9000

Stevie was 'The Rose' during the RAL tour. She was very Janis-like.
What I wouldn't do to hear her bellow/croak/scream "I know what it sounds like!!! I know what it SOUNDS LIKE!!!!" on stage.

Well, of all of the RAL-isms that have come and gone, the "I know what it sounds like..." wail is still alive and well today (or as of 2008, at least).

My favorite RAL-ism is during the breakdown of "How Still My Love" where she croaks "...in the still of the still of the still of the still of the still of the still of the still, one more TIME, babe!" It's just so loose and wild.

[sleepless child]

I agree with David, as a fan since 1975, i have watched Stevie and the band evolve over the years and by Rock a Little I only noticed the weight change. It never occured to me that she was drinking too much or on drugs. I was probably just young and naive. As I look back now, I can see it plain as day. But I've always loved the Rock a Little shows. She was definately rocking it!

[SapphireSister]

Originally Posted by David

I don't remember what Mick's book says about her drinking, but I have always maintained that, owing to her bloated, haggard appearance & her general mien, Stevie's "problem" on the '86 tour was alcohol, not coke.

I always feel the need to defend my girl when you speak, David! (and I say this out of love). Do you do this just so you can get a reaction? If so it's working.
Now that that's out of the way, I don't think she was bloated and haggard and if she was, that's the life of a rock n' roll star baby, drugs, alcohol, whatever. And how do you know she wasn't doing a ton of coke? I of course was oblivious to any of this given the fact that I was only 9 years old. I just thought she was super cool.

Originally Posted by David

It's all in the chronology: If you encounter tapes of Stevie singing in 1986 after having been introduced to her in later years (especially 1997 to the present), she is liable to strike you as being haggard & even pathetic. But if you had been along for the ride since the beginning of her solo career or even before, the RAL personality & look probably seem a very natural evolution to you. At least that's true in my case.

Not for me. I became a hard-core fan in the late 90's and she never struck me as haggard and/or pathetic during the RAL period. I always thought she was the craziest and most expressive which I love. And next time you use Stevie and pathetic in the same sentence I'm going to spank you!

[petep9000]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

Well, of all of the RAL-isms that have come and gone, the "I know what it sounds like..." wail is still alive and well today (or as of 2008, at least).

My favorite RAL-ism is during the breakdown of "How Still My Love" where she croaks "...in the still of the still of the still of the still of the still of the still of the still, one more TIME, babe!" It's just so loose and wild.

Yeah but she doesn't croak/bleat/bellow the "I know what it sounds like!" in the same manner, it's tame now. Like she's reading it from a prompter.
I def agree, that HSML part is awesome. But then, I love all RALisms.

[David]

Originally Posted by SapphireSister

I always feel the need to defend my girl when you speak, David! (and I say this out of love). Do you do this just so you can get a reaction? If so it's working.

I've always admitted to trolling this board.

Now that that's out of the way, I don't think she was bloated and haggard and if she was, that's the life of a rock n' roll star baby, drugs, alcohol, whatever. And how do you know she wasn't doing a ton of coke? I of course was oblivious to any of this given the fact that I was only 9 years old. I just thought she was super cool.

I camp-followed Stevie Nicks on that tour throughout much of California. I have nothing against that tour (except the bombast of the drummer & the poor live mixing). Aesthetically speaking, I happen to prefer the 1983 tour, true. "Haggard" & "bloated" are terms of praise & even endearment, coming from me. "Swaying like a cobra" or "undulating like Axl Rose on Xanax" are not, & they describe the 1990, 1991, & later tours.

[equeen102289]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

Well, of all of the RAL-isms that have come and gone, the "I know what it sounds like..." wail is still alive and well today (or as of 2008, at least).

My favorite RAL-ism is during the breakdown of "How Still My Love" where she croaks "...in the still of the still of the still of the still of the still of the still of the still, one more TIME, babe!" It's just so loose and wild.

The RAL Tour produced the BEST HSML performances. "Go On! Get OUT!" Love it.

[petep9000]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

It's just so loose and wild.

I think that's the key. She was very 'loose' and uninhibited. Just about anything could fly out of her throat into her mic, and often did!

[seekerj]

Originally Posted by sleepless child

I agree with David, as a fan since 1975, i have watched Stevie and the band evolve over the years and by Rock a Little I only noticed the weight change. It never occured to me that she was drinking too much or on drugs. I was probably just young and naive. As I look back now, I can see it plain as day. But I've always loved the Rock a Little shows. She was definately rocking it!

Weight change during RAL?

You mean weight gain? But she was still on coke then. How can anyone gain weight while on coke?

I sat in the second row for two RAL shows, and she looked about the same as when I saw her on the WH tour from the third row. It wasn't until the OSOTM tour that there was an obvious difference.

[petep9000]

She was more boozy than cokey, that's what David said and I agree. Cokey people I have encountered were pretty thin and strung out looking. Boozy people I have enountered were bloaty.