Will Stevie Be Okay? - - - What's the "damage?"

Ghost_Tracker · #1 09-01-2007, 09:51 PM

Hello all - I was just watching an old video of Stevie performing Gold Dust Woman - one of her best performances of it i.m.o. ( October 20, 1989 -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEKuk_2bFwQ ) and it made me start thinking about something I've been wondering about for a long time, and I'd like to ask those of you who know about these things what you think. . . .

Most of you know that Stevie did some "pretty fast living" back in the day. And then after that was the Klonopin problem. For much of that time, many feel, she was also quite depressed, and she did a LOT of smoking - I forget how much but let's just say she was a chain-smoker. Overall, in case anyone hasn't figured it out yet (

) - - she was hard core. All together, all of this lasted for a period of perhaps 20 years, and the smoking, I believe, was more like 30 (and rumours of "an occasional cigarette backstage" continue). And so I just can't help wondering - - -

Is she going to be okay? What's really going to wind up happening here? . . . . For example, I've read that chain smokers end up permanently losing the cilia in their lungs; and they then can end up getting pneumonia, emphysema, heart disease (which runs in Stevie's family) and other diseases.

I'm not trying to be morose or pessimistic or anything, and obviously no one can predict the future. But I'd just simply like to ask everyone who knows about these things, has life experience with it, etc. what they think - is she going to be okay? Can she heal well enough so that she can still live a long, healthy life? Or does this story have "a strange ending" . . . . ? What does everyone think?

skuncles · #2 09-01-2007, 09:55 PM

Well I think since she kicked the coke 20 years ago and the klonopin and smoking at least 12 years ago, I think she'll be fine. Even heavy smokers can get their lungs back after about a year of kicking it. Today Stevie really doesn't do anything, so I'm guessing she'll be fine.

carrie721 · #3 09-01-2007, 10:04 PM

she's almost 60. she has lived a long, healthy life.

RockALittle250 · #4 09-01-2007, 10:25 PM

The minute you stop smoking, your lungs begin the slow process of healing themselves...i've heard it takes a good 10 years for an ex-heavy smoker's lungs to heal most of the affects done by smoking (tar build-up, etc...). So if Stevie really did stop in 1997/1998, she should be just fine.

Rickypt · #5 09-02-2007, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost_Tracker

Can she heal well enough so that she can still live a long, healthy life?

What is the definition of long, healthy life? She's already had an amazing life and is clearly still enjoying what I would consider to be a tremendous experience. I think she will be just fine.

David · #6 09-02-2007, 11:48 AM

I know one person who smoked for years but quit many years ago. Nonetheless, he has been diagnosed with COPD & must take oxygen & other steps to deal with it.

I know this is sort of ghoulish, but I used to wonder about Buckingham's situation: heart disease seems highly hereditary, & his dad & brother both had fatal heart attacks in their 40s.

Get those EKGs every year, Lindsey!

eclipse · #7 09-02-2007, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

I know one person who smoked for years but quit many years ago. Nonetheless, he has been diagnosed with COPD & must take oxygen & other steps to deal with it.

I know this is sort of ghoulish, but I used to wonder about Buckingham's situation: heart disease seems highly hereditary, & his dad & brother both had fatal heart attacks in their 40s.

Get those EKGs every year, Lindsey!

Not to mention what Stevie did to his heart!!!!

DashingDan · #8 09-02-2007, 02:19 PM

[QUOTE=Ghost_Tracker;717731]Hello all - I was just watching an old video of Stevie performing Gold Dust Woman - one of her best performances of it i.m.o. ( October 20, 1989 -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEKuk_2bFwQ )

I suppose it's good that people can have completely different opinions about the quality of art/performance. I mean, we all see/hear things through our own filters so it's all subjective. For example, I think that the video you link to is one of the WORST performances of Gold Dust Woman that there is out there...are we both right? Is one of us wrong?

Viva La Difference, I guess.

BlackWidow · #9 09-02-2007, 04:11 PM

[QUOTE=DashingDan;717864]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost_Tracker

Hello all - I was just watching an old video of Stevie performing Gold Dust Woman - one of her best performances of it i.m.o. ( October 20, 1989 -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEKuk_2bFwQ )

I suppose it's good that people can have completely different opinions about the quality of art/performance. I mean, we all see/hear things through our own filters so it's all subjective. For example, I think that the video you link to is one of the WORST performances of Gold Dust Woman that there is out there...are we both right? Is one of us wrong?

Viva La Difference, I guess.

I agree..horrible!
This is WAY better - 9 yrs later.

Fallfromgrace84 · #10 09-02-2007, 04:45 PM

No matter what you may worry about or trouble your thoughts with, in life we never know what will happen till it does. It is truth that drug abuse can shorten one's lifetime, but the ending may be different. A car crash or tornado may be the end or worse yet, Mr. Buckingham may have a top 40 hit again. Wouldn't that be something?

gldstwmn · #11 09-03-2007, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost_Tracker

Hello all - I was just watching an old video of Stevie performing Gold Dust Woman - one of her best performances of it i.m.o. ( October 20, 1989 -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEKuk_2bFwQ )

I think that version is really apropos of the time period in which it was done. It's very late 80's sounding. It's good but I can't say it's a favorite.

gldstwmn · #12 09-03-2007, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackWidow

I agree..horrible!
This is WAY better - 9 yrs later.

That is a classic performance of the song and one of my favorites.

Sahara · #13 09-03-2007, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclipse

Not to mention what Stevie did to his heart!!!!

*tries to stifle giggles.... fails miserably!*

SortaSavageLike · #14 09-03-2007, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sahara

*tries to stifle giggles.... fails miserably!*

Didn't you hear? After Stevie left him, Lindsey was so distraught he ate twinkies deep-fat-fried in beer batter for five years straight just to console himself!

Standback383 · #15 09-03-2007, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

I know one person who smoked for years but quit many years ago. Nonetheless, he has been diagnosed with COPD & must take oxygen & other steps to deal with it.

I know this is sort of ghoulish, but I used to wonder about Buckingham's situation: heart disease seems highly hereditary, & his dad & brother both had fatal heart attacks in their 40s.

Get those EKGs every year, Lindsey!

Yeah.....poor Lindsey...I felt so bad about that.....I bet he takes pretty good care of himself....