Stevies apparent weight problem in early 90's

[Janis_no1]

Hi Everyone

i've just been watching some stevie vids over on youtube, one Stand Back from 94, and i wondered, even though she has said and fans have said she was a tubby tubby, i dont see it, i see that she has lots of layers on, uno to cover up, but i dont see a large woman under it. Was she?

[David]

Originally Posted by Janis_no1

Hi Everyone

i've just been watching some stevie vids over on youtube, one Stand Back from 94, and i wondered, even though she has said and fans have said she was a tubby tubby, i dont see it, i see that she has lots of layers on, uno to cover up, but i dont see a large woman under it. Was she?

Well, you know, I guess it's all relative.

I saw her back in '85 & the audience thought she was fat.

Fat, thin, tall, petite, it's metabolic fluctuation. In fact, I prefer "metabolically challenged" to "fat." Now some docs are saying that excess fat doesn't necessarily put you at greater risk for coronary artery disease or heart disease or even diabetes. Still, eat more fatty fish & less fatty red meat (but don't ask me why). Above all, wiggle your ass more vigorously to Stevie Nicks songs & you will burn those calories!

Stevie has always been a beautiful lady but her beauty on the outside does not matter. It is only her beauty on the inside & her kindness & her concern for others that make her the lady that she is.

[Janis_no1]

Originally Posted by David

Above all, wiggle your ass more vigorously to Stevie Nicks songs & you will burn those calories!

.

lol.

Just to clarify though for other ledgies, i am not having a dig at her, nor being nasty whatsoever, im just curious. Are there any big stevie photos?

[Sahara]

I never thought she looked as overweight as people (La Nicks herself included) said she was. As you say -- lots of layers, but I never really saw it either. I could watch that Blue Denim video from dawn until dusk. She looked amazing.

[jannieC]

I think the only time I ever thought she looked overweight was at the Clinton's inauguration. I hadn't seen her in a while and it was a bit of a shock for me- she was still beautiful though.

When she was young she was one of the super thin so anything after that (which of course is normal while we age) seemed bigger to people, I guess.

[danax6]

Meh, sometimes she looked great...



Sometimes she didn't...



But that goes for every era. (And it depends on the angle also. ) You can definitely see the weight gain during that time as opposed to a few years earlier -you'd have to be blind not to see it- and I understand why Stevie was bothered by it, especially considering her profession and the smack talk she received from the media. With women, appearances are what's focused on, and that's rather frustrating when you are trying to bring forth and achieve something completely different.

[Sahara]

Originally Posted by jannieC

I think the only time I ever thought she looked overweight was at the Clinton's inauguration. I hadn't seen her in a while and it was a bit of a shock for me- she was still beautiful though.

When she was young she was one of the super thin so anything after that (which of course is normal while we age) seemed bigger to people, I guess.

That's true -- and bear in mind that she's only 5'1".

[David]

Originally Posted by danax6

I understand why Stevie was bothered by it, especially considering her profession and the smack talk she received from the media.

Stevie maintains that she cut the 1994 tour way short because of all the weight-related comments in reviews. I've never seen an actual review of a 1994 show that made a rotten comment about weight gain. Does anyone have one she could share? I don't see one in BLA.

[danax6]

Originally Posted by David

Stevie maintains that she cut the 1994 tour way short because of all the weight-related comments in reviews. I've never seen an actual review of a 1994 show that made a rotten comment about weight gain. Does anyone have one she could share? I don't see one in BLA.

Nope, never seen one. At least not one where she was put down because of her weight. I do think a few mentioned it, but not in a rotten way. But any mention of it can kind of be considered rude, no?

Was it during Tango era that dj's were making fun of her weight gain? Mirror?

[David]

Originally Posted by danax6

Nope, never seen one. At least not one where she was put down because of her weight. I do think a few mentioned it, but not in a rotten way. But any mention of it can kind of be considered rude, no?

I'm just wondering what specifically hurt her that year to the extent that she would wrap up a tour early & go home. I think it may have been talk from inside her camp -- possibly her management with "career advice" -- rather than from the public or from newspaper writers, most of whom seemed to ignore Stevie pretty much by that point anyway (except for that silly Jancee Dunn at Rolling Stone, who seemed to think that by painting Stevie as used up or a has-been, she was re-mythologizing her).

Was it during Tango era that dj's were making fun of her weight gain? Mirror?

I don't remember. I guess catty comments on radio were made all through those years. Sometimes jokes take on a life of their own -- they become trendy -- & go way beyond the original criticism. I do remember that jokes about the inaugural ball appearance even reached the newsroom where I was working. Maybe it wasn't specifically 1994 tour reviews that hurt her but things said from the prior year or two, & when Stevie actually got out on the road in 1994, those things started brewing in her brain again & disturbed her.

[michelle2677]

Originally Posted by jannieC

I think the only time I ever thought she looked overweight was at the Clinton's inauguration. I hadn't seen her in a while and it was a bit of a shock for me- she was still beautiful though.

I agree.

Originally Posted by danax6

Meh, sometimes she looked great...



Sometimes she didn't...

see, i don't even think that second pic is all that bad

and this pic was taken when she had started to gain weight. some of the others from this era she looks a bit bigger, but this one, I think she looks like she did back in the day. you really can't tell from her body, but her face looks thin.

[danax6]

Originally Posted by michelle2677

see, i don't even think that second pic is all that bad

No, the inauguration pictures are definitely worse. Oy.

[wolfontherun]

Originally Posted by David

Stevie maintains that she cut the 1994 tour way short because of all the weight-related comments in reviews. I've never seen an actual review of a 1994 show that made a rotten comment about weight gain. Does anyone have one she could share? I don't see one in BLA.

I don't remember any reviews but I do recall 2 local DJs commenting on it, one said something like he say her at a benefit and instead of walking up to the buffet table to take food back to her seat she instead just pulled her chair up to the buffet.

The weight she gained looked more like bloating to me which is caused by medications. And the fact that she is only 5'1 makes it look worse. I must admit i was not happy seeing her look so so very round.

[michelej1]

Here's a favorable weight comment in a review from August 12, 1994:

Cleveland Plain Dealer

Section: FRIDAY

STEVIE NICKS AT TOP FORM, SCARVES AND ALL
JANE SCOTT PLAIN DEALER ROCK REPORTER
Stevie Nicks still has that knack.

The former Fleetwood Mac singer may be 46. She hasn't toured in three years. But she gave a vivid, warm-hearted 95-minute show Wednesday night at Blossom Music Center that proved again she is one of rock's top female singers.

She has been a solo artist since 1980, with her first album, "Bella Donna," going quadruple platinum. Still she was a more satisfying representative of the old Mac than last month's Fleetwood Mac show at Blossom, which had only two original members and a shrill new singer.

Though Nicks did only three Mac songs, they were powerful choices, "Dreams," "Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win)" and "Gold Dust Woman."

She had an enchantment, almost kind of a magic at her first solo show here in July 1983, and she still has. She flowed on stage Wednesday in a black lacy dress with a long scarf and black lace gloves. She had six changes of scarves through the show. Even the mike was draped in black fringe. But somehow these suit her. She has lost weight since her last show here.

The backdrop, a large (almost 18 feet high) gold-framed picture over Victorian wallpaper, gave you the warm touch of being in your own living room. The stage was dark as the 11-member band played "Outside the Rain" from "Bella Donna," segueing into the Mac's 1975 No. 1 song, "Dreams."

Nicks' blond hair, straight, full and very fluffy was a little bit of a surprise, but her voice wasn't - as strong as ever, though a little less breathy.

She did the mystic "Rhiannon" with the sad cry, "Don't leave me now," early. bringing the crowd to its feet. The song seemed to have a life of its own, changing pace, changing mood. Nicks wound up twirling with her scarf held out like wings.

"Stand Back," from her platinum solo album, "The Wild Heart," was a great contrast, almost wall-to-wall sound, with Nicks's lyrics echoed by her three back-ups, Sharon Celani, Lisa Jane Edwards and Sara Fleetwood, ex-wife of Mick Fleetwood.

One of the new songs, "Maybe Love Will Change Your Mind," from Nicks' current "Street Angel" album, was as melodic and catchy as earlier hits. Fans lit candles at the start of another "Street Angel" track, "Destiny." They already knew it. It was recycled from a 1982 release.

The only mediocre track was "Docklands." Her new "Listen to the Rain" would have been a better choice."

Nicks' set closer, her "Edge of Seventeen (Just Like a White Winged Dove)" was a complete change of pace, almost an angry outcry, with Nicks falling to her knees. It also triggered the offering of roses as well as teddy bears and Stevie Nicks dolls from front row fans. Nicks shook hands as she accepted them. This has become a heartfelt ritual. Fortunately it only occurs on one song.

Nicks fans, 6,000 at this show, have become as dedicated as Deadheads. Brianna Marie Imbordini of suburban Brooklyn, 9, wasn't the only fan dressed in Nicks-like scarves. High school teacher Jeff Feinberg drove in from Buffalo for the show.

The opening act was Darden Smith, a towering Texan who had a gem of a song, "Levee Song," which he had co-written with Chip Taylor, writer of "Wild Thing." Smith did most of his pieces on his acoustic guitar, but sang another splendid track, "Loving Arms," with lot of gusto. Both Nicks and Smith had songs called "Talk to Me," though Smith's was more seductive. Smith's voice isn't as distinctive as Nicks, but he's on his way.

[michelej1]

South Florida Sun-Sentinel, June 29, 1994

Section: LIFESTYLE

NICKS DYLANESQUE;
SPIN DOCS GET HAPPY

DEBORAH WILKER

STEVIE NICKS : Street Angel (Modern Records).

The image of a weary, flat Stevie Nicks wretching through Don't Stop at President Clinton's inaugural bash was more jolt than joy. Is this what had become of Fleetwood Mac? A bunch of broken-down hippies who could barely zip up and keep time?

What should have been a glorious return was instead an uncomfortable embarrassment. The reunion offers did not come pouring in.

Nicks wisely has kept her distance from that moment, laying low for the past 18 months while time did the fade-job on the national memory bank. She's out of Fleetwood Mac for good, has a new life and home in Arizona and a new solo set - her fifth since 1981.

Whatever circumstances led to that dreadful inaugural performance aren't evident on this pleasant collection of lite rockers.

That froggy rasp of hers has been likened to Bob Dylan's for years, but never has Nicks captured as much of his edge than on this set. Whether it's the age in her voice, or simple admiration for him, she has got him down, particularly on an adoring cover of Just Like a Woman. Then there's also Blue Denim, during which she reaches for low notes, and in missing them just a bit, contorts as only Dylan can.

But Dylan is hardly the focus of what is essentially the usual shredded-heart set, featuring women who lose big in love and bound back strong. Standouts include Unconditional Love and the heavenly Destiny (which would have made a much better first single than Maybe Love Will Change Your Mind).

Stellar session work from Andy Fairweather Low, Roy Bittan, Waddy Wachtel, Dave Crosby and Dylan himself bring the whole thing up a notch, though brighter melodies throughout would have truly brought it home.