Fifty years ago tonight...

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by Villavic

I didn't find anything about her playing guitar on stage in Mick's first book, but I did find about some reviews the band got during that first tour.

And so we labored, through that whole autumn, pushing our record in every college town in America. Or so it seemed. There were some pretty rough times for the whole band, but Stevie Nicks especially went through a period of anxiety and self-doubt after getting some pretty heavy negative reviews. This was a new band to the critics as well, and we were consequently reviewed as if we were unknown. Rolling Stone said that Stevie's singing was "callow," and many reviews said something like ". . . the raucous voice of Stevie Nicks and the golden-throated Christine McVie, who's the only good thing this band has left."

Imagine if critics had commented on her playing guitar on stage.

My hunch is that is why she picked up the guitar. People were confused who is this woman at the center of the stage. Having a guitar under her arm made her appear more purposeful and it would have been her anxiety blanket.
But calm down, it would not be long that she could play the hell out of that tambourine off beat better than anyone.