The Wild Heart - new article

[David]

Originally Posted by danax6

Definitely an intervention.

The Pop Eye section (usually compiled by Pat Goldstein) in the Times Calendar mentioned a Stevie Nicks stay at Betty Ford in the early spring of 1986 -- like after the Australia trip with Dylan (which Americans didn't really know about at the time) but before getting her own solo tour under way. I think there were two stays: that one & again after her solo tour, maybe into the new year '87 before Fleetwood Mac press started. As to why there were two, I can't say. Maybe the first one didn't quite ... take ...? (An interesting comment she once made is that she couldn't undertake the arduous process of quitting coke before the major responsibility of a tour, which leads me to consider the possibility that she wasn't willing to try at that point, despite the intervention. The other possibility is that the first time was a forced intervention by friends or record company & the second time was her own decision -- because she felt "ready.")

But I doubt she told him that. She loves to maintain her self-proclaimed survivor status.

I agree. When you read all the discussions of it she makes in print over the past ten or fifteen years, she always speaks of it as having checked herself in.

I think he was just saying that she did so much drugs, the most logical next step was to go to rehab. It doesn't literally say she was forced by others, just forced by the situation.

I dunno, Vaness. I'm a native speaker of American English & I wouldn't say "She took enough drugs to be forced into rehab" unless I meant that someone else forced her (i.e., intervened). If I did, I would use it reflexively: "She forced herself ..." But still odd wording if referring merely to a personal choice. I used to copy edit for print papers, & if my writer turned in this word choice, I'd flag it for clarification.

So I'm essentially still left wondering whether Stevie told this particular writer that there was an intervention. Odd, odd, odd.

[danax6]

Originally Posted by David

The Pop Eye section (usually compiled by Pat Goldstein) in the Times Calendar mentioned a Stevie Nicks stay at Betty Ford in the early spring of 1986 -- like after the Australia trip with Dylan (which Americans didn't really know about at the time) but before getting her own solo tour under way. I think there were two stays: that one & again after her solo tour, maybe into the new year '87 before Fleetwood Mac press started. As to why there were two, I can't say. Maybe the first one didn't quite ... take ...? (An interesting comment she once made is that she couldn't undertake the arduous process of quitting coke before the major responsibility of a tour, which leads me to consider the possibility that she wasn't willing to try at that point, despite the intervention. The other possibility is that the first time was a forced intervention by friends or record company & the second time was her own decision -- because she felt "ready.")

I think there were more times than just the two we know of. Early 1986 is definitely one of those other times. Was it you or someone else that mentioned remembering a news article from around that time that reported on it? I also think that the trip to Australia around that time wasn't "just for kicks", I think it was an escape for her.

I dunno, Vaness. I'm a native speaker of American English & I wouldn't say "She took enough drugs to be forced into rehab" unless I meant that someone else forced her (i.e., intervened). If I did, I would use it reflexively: "She forced herself ..." But still odd wording if referring merely to a personal choice. I used to copy edit for print papers, & if my writer turned in this word choice, I'd flag it for clarification.

So I'm essentially still left wondering whether Stevie told this particular writer that there was an intervention. Odd, odd, odd.

I'm not a native speaker of any kind of English, so maybe my opinion doesn't count, but I am a translator and therefor partook in various writing courses. I don't think it's to be interpreted as black and white as you do. I really doubt that at this point she would change her story, unless someone slipped some truth serum into her iced tea.

I've seen it many times before; sentences like "She was so ill she was forced to vomit." That doesn't mean that someone was there, sticking a finger down her throat. She was vomiting because she was so ill. Stevie went to rehab because she was a drug addict. That's the logical conclusion the author of the article drew.

But I see where you, as an editor, might ask for clarification. It's definitely open to interpretation.

[David]

Originally Posted by danax6

I think there were more times than just the two we know of. Early 1986 is definitely one of those other times. Was it you or someone else that mentioned remembering a news article from around that time that reported on it? I also think that the trip to Australia around that time wasn't "just for kicks", I think it was an escape for her.

An escape? That's interesting. Please discuss. You mean she didn't want to deal with health issues (underlying emotional issues), so she went on a vacation -- she "escaped." Petty & Dylan & all their entourage probably thought it was pretty darn weird that Stevie tagged along -- at the drop of a top hat -- not to mention her own people, who were probably wondering whether she intended to do anything at that point for her own new album. Imagine the confusion all around!

I'm not a native speaker of any kind of English, so maybe my opinion doesn't count, but I am a translator and therefor partook in various writing courses.

Your opinion ALWAYS counts, young lady. You're one of my go-to Ledgies & have been for years.

I don't think it's to be interpreted as black and white as you do.

I didn't exactly say it was all black & white, Vaness. In fact, I said "I dunno," explaining that it didn't strike me as idiomatic if it didn't imply an intervention.

I really doubt that at this point she would change her story, unless someone slipped some truth serum into her iced tea.

I agree. It seems very unlikely that, after all these years of talking about how she checked herself in, she would tell this guy that there was an intervention.

I've seen it many times before; sentences like "She was so ill she was forced to vomit." That doesn't mean that someone was there, sticking a finger down her throat. She was vomiting because she was so ill. Stevie went to rehab because she was a drug addict. That's the logical conclusion the author of the article drew.

Could be. But I'm curious about something & I'm too lazy to track it down. Do you or does anyone else remember whether Stevie herself ever referred to her Betty Ford stay as an intervention? Mick's 1990 book (or the excerpts printed in Rolling Stone before the book was published) may have been the first time it was discussed that way. I just can't remember. We need an "Ask Rebecca" column!!

Someone in her sphere ought to intervene NOW & help her out!

[petep9000]

Originally Posted by David

An escape? That's interesting. Please discuss. You mean she didn't want to deal with health issues (underlying emotional issues), so she went on a vacation -- she "escaped." Petty & Dylan & all their entourage probably thought it was pretty darn weird that Stevie tagged along -- at the drop of a top hat -- not to mention her own people, who were probably wondering whether she intended to do anything at that point for her own new album. Imagine the confusion all around!

Your opinion ALWAYS counts, young lady. You're one of my go-to Ledgies & have been for years.

I didn't exactly say it was all black & white, Vaness. In fact, I said "I dunno," explaining that it didn't strike me as idiomatic if it didn't imply an intervention.

I agree. It seems very unlikely that, after all these years of talking about how she checked herself in, she would tell this guy that there was an intervention.

Could be. But I'm curious about something & I'm too lazy to track it down. Do you or does anyone else remember whether Stevie herself ever referred to her Betty Ford stay as an intervention? Mick's 1990 book (or the excerpts printed in Rolling Stone before the book was published) may have been the first time it was discussed that way. I just can't remember. We need an "Ask Rebecca" column!!

Someone in her sphere ought to intervene NOW & help her out!

I definately remember Mick's book said it was an intervention involving her family, friends and Frontline management. I don't have my copy anymore, so I don't recall the exact quote he used. But he said also that Stevie fired Frontline shortly thereafter. In an '87 interview for 'Tango', Stevie was very vague on the whole Betty Ford experience.

"Well, I learned that I pushed myself way too hard. I tried to tour and I tried to do a Fleetwood Mac album at the same time. I'd go out on the road, and come home to Fleetwood Mac. And I'd go out on the road, and I'd come home to Fleetwood Mac. So I got no rest. I tried to do it all. And I just decided at the end of the tour that I couldn't do it all anymore. And the easiest way to readjust my way of thinking was to go to Betty Ford. So I did. And...you're not really supposed to talk about Betty Ford so all I can say is that the Ford Center is amazing place. And it makes it pretty easy, to...readjust your life. And since then, everythings great. I mean, life goes on. And I still write, and I still sing, and I still love music and I'm getting ready to do an album and Fleetwood Mac has a new album and I have a big single, and everything's fine...it's just different..."

So, she never says coke or booze. And never says how it is that she got there, except that she 'decided' that she couldn't do 'it all' anymore. So maybe 'it all' is a code word for her Habit. And 'decided' is a code word for Frontline telling her "if you don't check yourself in, you're through!"