Interview 6/12/08: Hello St. Louis!

[Tango]

Originally Posted by jwd

I like it. Do I get a cut?! Gives a whole new meaning to the song "I Can't Wait"! And you thought you'd never hear it again at a Stevie Nicks concert. HA!

There you go again! For some, "It's A Really Long Way To Go." What do we have to do to get ANY of these songs back on the set list? "TALK TO ME" Stevie.

[Nikolaj]

It's interesting to me that what has been discussed for months and years on The Ledge, (her setlist), does seem to have gotten back to her, and she's addressing the topic in interviews, though not in an entirely satisfying way to her fans. I personally am pleased to hear about 'Face The Promise' and 'Crash' (though thats not news, by now) and it makes me reconsider seeing her this summer (though i passed on her recent Mohegan Sun show)-
I also recall that when 'Red Rover' was a hot topic here on The Ledge, for whatever reason it became one, well, soon it was in the setlist on the 'Say You Will' tour, so it's good, anyway, that intelligent or pertinent discussions here do seem to find their way to Stevie and Fleetwood Mac.
I think Stevie is in a hard place, and is trying (s0mewhat) to please the die-hards, who have had a viable argument for years (and it seems the most satisfying tour for all of us was 'Enchanted', what with 'Garbo', 'Sleeping Angel', 'Rose Garden', 'Twisted'-- plus she had time for her staples.
What i think often gets overlooked is the very reason Stevie began a solo career to begin with, was because 'all i get is 2 or 3 songs every few years per album with FM and i have too many songs'-- Remembering this, Stevie long ago should have realized that her solo tours should be a vehicle for her solo material, and her Mac tours, for her Mac material. Imagine how much more impact 'Landslide', 'Gold Dust Woman', 'Rhiannon', 'Dreams' and the others would have if not performed constantly on every Stevie and FM tour, and bless her wild heart, since 1997, i think there has been just one year she has not toured, either with Mac or solo. I think every (or lets say most) solo album needs to be represented during a solo tour, and that means bringing back 'Talk To Me' or any track from RAL, it means 'Long Way To Go' from TOSOTM, well, whatever, -- but, i guess if any of us ever gets to have a career, then we too can decide what the hell it is that we want to sing at concerts, and clearly, she feels this is the music she wants to perform, and truth is, we can take it, or leave it, and not attend.
Even little Nicks-isms of the past would help (like, when she'd sing a line or 2 of 'At The Fair' or a line from 'Violet and Blue)'-- this could be fun for both Stevie, and for the die-hards, if at beginnings or endings of say 'Dreams' she'd throw in 'go on save yourself, leave the key' or at the conclusion of 'Rhiannon' if she'd add 'and she goes each day to the forest of the black roses'--- or if on 'If Anyone Falls' she'd do a line or 2 of '24 Karat Gold'-- any little thing like this would have me attending as many shows as i can, and she'd get to keep doing the hits she is so loyal to, while acknowledging those many amongst us, to whom she is SO much more than ''thunder only happens when it's rainin"...
As for releasing a new cd, do it. More than 1,000 people will buy it, promise I, amongst this 1000, promise that ALL of us will not download any of it to anyone! Get new material out there for us, then we won't have to search the web for ANY song we haven't heard a zillion times

[RockALittle250]

Alot of fans on Seven Wonders, including myself, are emailing Liz Rosenberg in hopes that she will do some damage control and/or Stevie will apologize. Her email address is [email protected]. If enough people speak up, we can get some answers!

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by Nikolaj

Imagine how much more impact 'Landslide', 'Gold Dust Woman', 'Rhiannon', 'Dreams' and the others would have if not performed constantly on every Stevie and FM tour, and bless her wild heart, since 1997, i think there has been just one year she has not toured, either with Mac or solo.

Yes, I was reading that River Front Times blurb which talked about her "infrequent tours" and I wondered, "Where have they been?"

Although Landslide wasn't out of the setlist for as long as Stevie thought it had been, anytime something goes even for a little while, it's exciting to see it return. A rest is as good as a change. So, juggling the setlist a little would not only let us hear rarer songs, but it would give us a chance to miss and appreciate the regulars more.

Michele

[starshine]

All of you made some great points in this thread...I posted on 7 wonders also...its long. So I don't want to rehash it all....Needless to say...I make no excuses for Stevie's comments about us 'hardcore fans'...I think it was uncalled for and inexcusable on her part. If your not feeling well or whatever than call off the interview. We as fans have support her through thick and thin yrs. I take it as a slap in the face so to speak. I've been a fan of some 20 yrs now and others here longer and its horrible to hear an artist speak so belittling of the fans that helped her become the success that she is or should I say 'was' now. She should be kissing the ground everyday for all the success that she has had. Instead of looking at the negative side she should be happy. Some people have nothing and she has much to be greatful for. Act like it....she's so Diva like now its not funny. You don't appreciate your fans...well I guess we don't need to buy anything else ever again and
your set for life already. Christine was smart she got out on top of the biz so to speak.....I guess Stevie should've done the same thing after Enchanted really. I don't need anymore GH packages. If Stevie isn't inspired by her fans or music...than why should I be inspired to support that music anymore?? I really don't know right now. How very sad really....its come down to this.......I see Stevie on Sunday night @ DTE but I'm not looking forward to it.....it'll probably be my last Stevie concert ever....I won't say never...but it would have to be 200% better than what I'll be getting Sunday night before I return ever again........I don't really know how Stevie can make it up to us 'Hardcore' fans.......kiss our butts maybe....release some rare gems ......like an 8 cd set.....dvds...that book..........its gonna take magic right now......I wonder what will happen if all of us will 'forget' about this interview........or not...right now...I'm not....it hurts too much........how very, very sad..........no offence anyone.......

[galestreet]

Stevie should make her next cd and forget what the world thinks or does, I think she is having a moment, not a real light at the end of the tunnel.

[Sorceress]

Stevie needs to get a grip and just be honest with herself and the public--most of all herself. I bet she really believes the things she says in the interviews at the time, having talked herself into fantasy as fact. She really doesn't seem to exist on the same plane as the rest of us. I'd have a better opinion of her right now if she'd just say, "I'm at the point in my career where I'm not interested in writing; I'm interested in interpreting others' songs and being out on the road as much as I can." Or, "Let's get real. Writer's block is a bitch. But, I'm having a blast on the road with my band, and my charitable work occupies a lot of my time..." I wish she knew that Rhiannon movie nonsense is really a running joke now among people who pay attention and once believed what she said.

I'm with everyone here who have called the music stealing excuse a cop out. It's not even logical. She might as well say "I can't be creative because I won't make money on it." It's sad that she doesn't see any reason to love and practice that gigantic segment of her craft anymore. There is ALWAYS a way to make music and get it out there for someone with Stevie's profile. Jesus. Who cares if it sells 45 copies? You can't tell me that Stevie couldn't afford to finance a modestly produced album with modest sales.

I'm just tired of this nonsense, really, especially combined with her continuing refusal to take responsiblity for her Klonopin addiction and her continued rehashing of the Lindsey crap. If you want a comparison, look at Emmylou Harris. She's in the same age bracket with the same career longevity, but she is still energetically following her muse and putting out great stuff. And you can go see her live for $40.

Oh well. Stevie is who she is, and apparently we as fans should not really expect anything more than what she has been giving these last few years. My expectations are adjusted to the point that the covers she's adding are exciting to me...without them there will be nothing new at all and we might as well just sit at home listening to the same boot over and over for free.

[BombaySapphire3]

Originally Posted by Sorceress

I'm just tired of this nonsense, really, especially combined with her continuing refusal to take responsiblity for her Klonopin addiction and her continued rehashing of the Lindsey crap. If you want a comparison, look at Emmylou Harris. She's in the same age bracket with the same career longevity, but she is still energetically following her muse and putting out great stuff. And you can go see her live for $40.

Just exactly what I was thinking while listening to Emmylou's great brand new album.I think Stevie's 7 or so years at the very top somehow spoiled her beyond repair and in her mind if she can't have all the trappings of superstardom she had in the making of each new album then including airplay and sales then she just won't bother ..A line in one of Emmylou's new songs really struck me in regard to artistic integrity vs commercial success "no matter how bright I glittered baby I could never be gold"Well Emmylou still glitters brightly even if she was never"gold" Stevie in her time was Fort Knox ..but she doesn't seem to be glittering much now.

[Sorceress]

Originally Posted by starshine

All of you made some great points in this thread...I posted on 7 wonders also...its long. So I don't want to rehash it all....Needless to say...I make no excuses for Stevie's comments about us 'hardcore fans'...I think it was uncalled for and inexcusable on her part. If your not feeling well or whatever than call off the interview. We as fans have support her through thick and thin yrs. I take it as a slap in the face so to speak. I've been a fan of some 20 yrs now and others here longer and its horrible to hear an artist speak so belittling of the fans that helped her become the success that she is or should I say 'was' now. She should be kissing the ground everyday for all the success that she has had. Instead of looking at the negative side she should be happy. Some people have nothing and she has much to be greatful for. Act like it....she's so Diva like now its not funny. You don't appreciate your fans...well I guess we don't need to buy anything else ever again and
your set for life already. Christine was smart she got out on top of the biz so to speak.....I guess Stevie should've done the same thing after Enchanted really. I don't need anymore GH packages. If Stevie isn't inspired by her fans or music...than why should I be inspired to support that music anymore?? I really don't know right now. How very sad really....its come down to this.......I see Stevie on Sunday night @ DTE but I'm not looking forward to it.....it'll probably be my last Stevie concert ever....I won't say never...but it would have to be 200% better than what I'll be getting Sunday night before I return ever again........I don't really know how Stevie can make it up to us 'Hardcore' fans.......kiss our butts maybe....release some rare gems ......like an 8 cd set.....dvds...that book..........its gonna take magic right now......I wonder what will happen if all of us will 'forget' about this interview........or not...right now...I'm not....it hurts too much........how very, very sad..........no offence anyone.......

I really think this is less about the fans and more about Stevie's rationalizing her stagnation and generally being out of touch with modern technology. (And apparently about making money).
My point is, I guess I don't really expect Stevie to do anything for me just because I call myself a fan. But I wish she'd do something more for herself, to be growing and learning and alive as an artist.

[RockALittle250]

I keeping looking at this part of the quote:

That's why I'm doing more greatest hits and going back in the vaults and finding cool stuff that might bring people out to Borders and Starbucks to buy a record. I can do a solo record

What does she mean by this? Does she mean she's finding old demos and re-recording them, possibly for the Soundstage CD for example? I'm just confused by this...she couldn't mean putting these kinds of songs on her setlist, because as we know, there are no old demos/rarity songs on her setlist.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by RockALittle250

What does she mean by this? Does she mean she's finding old demos and re-recording them, possibly for the Soundstage CD for example? I'm just confused by this...she couldn't mean putting these kinds of songs on her setlist, because as we know, there are no old demos/rarity songs on her setlist.

I took it to mean that she IS thinking about packaging something new to be sold exclusively at Starbucks, Borders or whatnot. So, we might yet get an official version of The Dealer and other unofficial hits. In light of the Irving Azoff comment about Walmart's, talk about Starbucks and Borders is something that really sounds like they are kicking around.

Michele

[Tango]

Originally Posted by RockALittle250

I keeping looking at this part of the quote:

That's why I'm doing more greatest hits and going back in the vaults and finding cool stuff that might bring people out to Borders and Starbucks to buy a record. I can do a solo record

What does she mean by this? Does she mean she's finding old demos and re-recording them, possibly for the Soundstage CD for example? I'm just confused by this...she couldn't mean putting these kinds of songs on her setlist, because as we know, there are no old demos/rarity songs on her setlist.

I don't know, really. Starbucks has been having commericial success selling albums. I guess those that have disposable income for coffee costing more than making it yourself, you won't mind buying the music playing in the background while standing in line. Maybe Stevie or her management have read the New York Times article a while back and think there may be something happening great at Starbucks:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/22/arts/22domi.html

Maybe she wants to go for The Starbucks Aesthetic. Maybe she thinks it's a way to keep the music away from that Hardcore 1000 that shares her songs on the internet. As the article suggests, the Starbucks customers are more or less ripened for the harvest, those who foster attributes such as “quality, good will, trust, intelligence.” We know who Stevie doesn't trust.

Then again, I may be totally wrong. Maybe it's HK/Azoff's "modest proposal" for Stevie to get her albums out. (there's a loose Swift reference hidden here somehow, since Stevie sees her songs as children.) Why NOT sell them in coffee houses, then tour the coffee house circuit. Or not. We will all have to wait and see if there's a further explanation of that article somehow.

[Nixxxed]

Starbucks music isn't doing all that well. And Starbucks itself is in the process of closing a bunch of stores. For that matter, Borders (Stevie's other example) just posted a loss for the first quarter.

Here's an article about Starbucks Music from March of this year:

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/03/...cks.php?page=1

[AliceLover]

Originally Posted by michelej1

I took it to mean that she IS thinking about packaging something new to be sold exclusively at Starbucks, Borders or whatnot. So, we might yet get an official version of The Dealer and other unofficial hits. In light of the Irving Azoff comment about Walmart's, talk about Starbucks and Borders is something that really sounds like they are kicking around.

Michele

I think Stevie meant going back to get the videos for CV and using the backdrop for her tour. I also think she counts "silver springs" on CV as one of the things she dug out of the vault.

The whole article made me sick..I sent an email to Liz.

[vermicious knid]

Liz Rosenberg may be in a tizzy right now. Madonna is her client also, and there is that business about her brother writing a book about her that is supposed to be real seamy.