Stevie and Rod Interview in Rolling Stone

[kak125]

Rod Stewart hadn't seen Stevie Nicks since the mid-1980s, when both of them were recording in the same L.A. studio. Until last month, that is, when the pair, who are gearing up for a 16-date co-headlining tour‚ were reunited to perform on Ellen. "I tiptoed up behind him and put my arms around his waist from the back," Nicks tells Rolling Stone. Adds Stewart, "I'd know those hands anywhere."

Photos: Rod Stewart

The pair have never worked together before, but they've crossed paths over the years. Nicks recalls attending a New Year's party in the Seventies at Stewart's L.A. home. Nicks remembers Stewart, afraid she was drunk and might damage his collection of Tiffany lamps, asking, "Can I have that glass of wine before you walk in?' I was horrified." Stewart says, "Oh, the bitch I am sometimes. I probably wanted more wine for myself."

This article appears in the February 17, 2011 issue of Rolling Stone. The issue will be available on newsstands and in the online archive February 4th.

The idea for the shows (which kick off in March) came last year from Stewart's daughters Ruby and Kimberly. "They love Stevie," he says. "She's just ultra-cool – she has a cult." Nicks will open the three-plus-hour show with solo tunes and Fleetwood Mac classics, followed by a Stewart set that will likely mix deep tracks and hits.

100 Greatest Singers of All Time: Stevie Nicks

They're still working out the pacing, but there will be a portion of the shows where they sing together. "We won't let people down on that score," Stewart says, adding he hopes to tackle Nicks and Don Henley's 1981 duet, "Leather and Lace." Nicks wants to join Stewart on "The First Cut Is the Deepest" and "Reason to Believe." "That'd be a wonderful one," he says. "We're both sort of sopranos, so it'll sound great."

At the Ellen rehearsal, Nicks spent two hours running through “Stand Back” with her band while Stewart showed up and banged out “Hot Legs” once. “He walks in, expects the band to be fantastic, and then it's, ‘Let’s go and I’m out of here,’” says Nicks.

“In the Faces, we never rehearsed,” Stewart says. “I always like there to be the element of risk in any show. When things go wrong, I love it. We’ll have to meet in the middle.”

Outside of the tour, Stewart is planning an LP with former bandmate Jeff Beck‚ their first full album together since they were in the Jeff Beck Group in the late Sixties. One proposed album title: Unfinished Business. Stewart is also in talks to extend his recent stand at Las Vegas' Caesars Palace to multiple residencies over the next two years, and he's considering a stint at Carnegie Hall performing only American Songbook material. "I'm proud of those records," he says.

Photos: The Who, Jeff Beck, Debbie Harry and More From the Concert for Killing Cancer

Meanwhile, Nicks is readying her first studio album in a decade. In Your Dreams, due May 3rd, is co-produced by an old friend, Eurythmics' Dave Stewart. Together, they wrote seven of the LP's 13 tracks, including "Everybody Loves You," inspired by their experiences of being in bands with lovers (Nicks with Lindsey Buckingham, Stewart with Annie Lennox). "We know what it's like to be in love with the person and be in love with what the person does," she says. "It's different from just being in a band."

Nicks praises the producer for adding a Sixties pop vibe. "I have never written a song with anybody sitting in the room, not even Lindsey," she says. "I suddenly realized why John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote together. I haven't had this much fun since Lindsey and I were working in the beginning."

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/ne...-time-20110202

[Somajoseph]

Thanks for posting! I love it that Rod's daughters love Stevie. I am not sure about Leather & Lace, but it would be great to hear Stevie on Reason To Believe-which I love.
I am excited for this to start!

[Pyewacket]

What does "I'd know those hands anywhere" mean? Who says that?

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by kak125

Meanwhile, Nicks is readying her first studio album in a decade. In Your Dreams, due May 3rd, is co-produced by an old friend, Eurythmics' Dave Stewart. Together, they wrote seven of the LP's 13 tracks, including "Everybody Loves You," inspired by their experiences of being in bands with lovers (Nicks with Lindsey Buckingham, Stewart with Annie Lennox). "We know what it's like to be in love with the person and be in love with what the person does," she says. "It's different from just being in a band."

Nicks praises the producer for adding a Sixties pop vibe. "I have never written a song with anybody sitting in the room, not even Lindsey," she says. "I suddenly realized why John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote together. I haven't had this much fun since Lindsey and I were working in the beginning."
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/ne...-time-20110202

Cool. Looks like were getting 13 tracks.

[Pyewacket]

I have to admit that vocally, Rod has a gravitas that could sound fine on "Leather and Lace." It's just that it's such a low-key, real song and he seems like such a silly, sex-chasing lothario...

I can't wait to hear "First Cut" and especially "Reason To Believe" with Stevie on them, though. Good choices.

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by Pyewacket

What does "I'd know those hands anywhere" mean? Who says that?

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by kak125

"We're both sort of sopranos, so it'll sound great."

[jwd]

Originally Posted by Pyewacket

What does "I'd know those hands anywhere" mean? Who says that?

Given the circumstances of their encounter, it's not so much how they looked, but how they felt. It's just a little sexual innuendo and humor from Rod.

[APerfectLie]

Originally Posted by Christopher

Cool. Looks like were getting 13 tracks.

But FM77 said there were 14. I think Stevie may be wrong.

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by APerfectLie

But FM77 said there were 14. I think Stevie may be wrong.

[MacMan]

Originally Posted by APerfectLie

But FM77 said there were 14. I think Stevie may be wrong.

There could be a track left off the CD for a bonus track.

[Josh2003]

Originally Posted by APerfectLie

But FM77 said there were 14. I think Stevie may be wrong.

FM77 has said he heard 14 tracks...sounds like one got cut for the final version.

[sodascouts]

I'm not so sure about Leather and Lace, but hey, if Don Henley can work Gold Dust Woman, maybe Rod Stewart can work L&L.

[FM77]

Originally Posted by Josh2003

FM77 has said he heard 14 tracks...sounds like one got cut for the final version.

You are right. I heard 14 in Dec. Maybe instead of cutting 2 for 2 bonus tracks, there is only one bonus track.

[soul_drifter333]

"At the Ellen rehearsal, Nicks spent two hours running through “Stand Back” with her band."


I'm still trying to make sense of this. Two hours rehearsing a song that she has performed over 25 years and has done thousands of times before. WOW.
And it still sounded bad.