Your Stevie Nicks Story!

[sorcerer999]

Hey Everyone,

I'm going to apologize in advance if ever there was a thread started about this topic. I went back a long way but couldn't find any threads that were similar. If there is one, I'll delete this one and we can bump the other one up.

I am EXTREMELY CURIOUS about YOUR Stevie Nicks story. How it was that you came to hear Stevie for the first time, why you love her or why you are obsessed with her, interesting stories, etc. It can be as short or as long as you want it to be. I think it would be a really interesting thread and a good way for us to learn more about each other, etc. If this is a stupid idea, again I'm sorry. But I think it might be fun.

-Dave

[sorcerer999]

I'll go first...

The first time I heard Stevie Nicks’ voice was when I was 4 years old in 1980. My family and I were driving back home from a Florida vacation. It was late at night and I was laying in the back of our ugly, brown van listening to the music on the radio station my folks preferred. Suddenly a song came on the radio that featured both a male and female duet (What I know now as “Whenever I Call You Friend”). I was immediately struck by the female vocal, and how powerful it was…and I also LOVED that vibrato. I logged it in my brain, and weeks later asked my mother, “Who’s that girl that sings ‘Sweet Love Do It On A Saturday Night?’” After my mother corrected me on the song title, she pulled out Fleetwood Mac “Fleetwood Mac” , “Rumours” and the 45rpm of John Stewart’s “Gold”. From then on, they were in regular rotation throughout what I call “the Vinyl Years”, before my older sister and I got a cassette player in ’83.
But it actually WASN’T UNTIL ’83 that my obsession with Stevie began. I remember hearing the “Bella Donna” singles on the radio, but for some reason, we never bought the record. Every summer, my sister and I would spend about a week with our Aunt in East Tennessee. We loved her because she had no kids and would spoil the hell out of the two of us. A few days after we arrived, she told us she had bought us tickets to Stevie Nicks’ show in Knoxville. We were psyched! At the time I had no clue, but I’ve learned since that it was one of her first shows of the “Wild Heart” tour. Of that experience, I have vivid memories of her clothes (she wore red and black) and of just how happy and bubbly she was the entire time. And of course, I was in awe of how wonderful and how well the girls harmonized with each other. To this day, it has been my dream to find a good bootleg recording of that show. It is my own personal holy grail of all things Stevie – however, I’m pretty sure it doesn’t exist. My memories, however, still resonate!
When we got back to Nashville, I begged my mom to buy me “The Wild Heart” album, which she did…and my obsession started! The next Christmas, my sister and I got a cassette tape player (they were called Ghetto Blasters back then ) and my mom (masquerading as Santa) bought me” Rumours”, “Bella Donna” AND “The Wild Heart” on cassette. I saved my allowance in the coming months to get “Tusk” and “F.Mac S/T” on cassette as well.
“Rock A Little” came around and my obsession continued (to the point where I would get on top of the slide at the neighborhood playground and sing “The Nightmare” to the ground, pretending I was Stevie and each blade of grass was an audience member). I was in 8th grade by the time TOSOTM came around. I enjoyed the record, but was kind of outgrowing my “childhood obsession” for her. Newer bands were coming along and as I got into High School, bands like Nirvana, Concrete Blonde, STP, and Pearl Jam were attracting me most of all. Yes, I went through a huge grunge/neo hippie phase from 1990 to 1994. I didn’t even know “Timespace” or “Street Angel” had even been released. I was so far removed from the world of Stevie fandom.
So in 1997, when “The Dance” premiered on MTV, I was in college and immersed in a group of friends who made me into the music snob that I am today. A bunch of us ordered pizza, beer and watched the concert in AWE! All my childhood memories of Stevie came flooding back…and thus began my “adult obsession” for all things Stevie! I have followed her faithfully ever since. Collecting, traveling, spending WAY TOO MUCH MONEY, etc…but it has been a blast.
I collected/traded all the unreleased demos/outtakes/interviews I could get my hands on, I traveled the country for the TISL tour and the Say You Will tour, made my first trip to Vegas for the “Dreams” shows (where we met Carlos Rios and Jana Anderson, who were standing in front of me and my friend Diana, as we were all waiting for a taxi), did the “Two Voices” tour, traveled yet again for “Gold Dust” and F.Mac “Unleashed” tours…I have a million stories I could tell, but that is pretty much my Stevie story.
To me, she is the voice of Rock And Roll! There will never be anyone like her EVER! The entire package, voice, clothes, songs, etc. is OTHERWORLDLY and can make even my most depressing days sooooooooo much better! I’ve never met her, but she did grab both my hands and looked into my eyes during the “Edge walk” in Nashville during the TISL tour. I will never forget it. I will never forget how real it was…how different (and much more stunning) she looked in person, how soft her hands were, and how great she smelled! I’ve often tried to find the same perfume just to have some sort of sense memory of the whole experience.
Anyways, that’s my story. I’d be greatly interested to hear all of your stories! Please!

[TerraRhiannon]

I'm gonna get to this tomorrow!!

[amberlemegan]

This is great idea for a thread!!!

My story is kinda short. I haven't been a fan for very long. It was in September of 2009. I was sitting in traffic with my dad on the way to his house. I had my ipod in listening to Celine Dion when Tusk came on. My dad turned the volume up really loud so instead of turning up my ipod up I decided to save my ears and just listen to whatever my dad turned up. My dad was talking about USC marching band being on it. He was in marching band back in the day so I guess he thought that was cool. I ended up really liking the song. At that point I only knew two things about Fleetwood Mac. 1. That they were a band. 2. That my stepmom had a very best of cd of theirs. Since I liked the song so much I wanted to put it on my ipod so I borrowed my Stepmoms cd. I decided to put all the songs on my ipod just for the hell of it (Best decision I've ever made) That night I sat there and listened to them all.I couldn't believe how many of their songs I had heard before like Dreams, Landslide, Rhiannon, Go Your Own Way, Gypsy, and Little Lies to name a few. Landslide, Dreams, and Gypsy were all songs I loved hearing on the radio, but never looked them up. Who knew they were from the same singer from the same band??? I couldn't stop listening to it. I really loved Seven Wonders at the time so I decided to look it up on youtube. I watched the live video from the Tango in the Night tour and I was like who is this chick because she is awesome and then proceeded to watch it an uncountable amount of times
So I did some hardcore researching on Fleetwood Mac. I found out that that awesome chick was Stevie. I then proceeded to do some hardcore researching on her. I just kept falling in love everytime I watched a new video on youtube and found out something new. My poor friends and family. I told them everything and wouldn't shutup about Stevie all day everyday for like a year. I still don't. I still tell them whether they are listening or not.
I started listening to her solo stuff and other songs she's done with Fleetwood Mac. After that the rest is history. I love her clothes and her voice. Because of her I actually started paying attention to the lyrics of a song. And there's just something about her that I just can't put my finger on that makes me love her so much. Stevie introduced me into a whole new world of music I didn't know was out there. I wasn't much of a music fan before I heard her and now I can't think of life without it.
Along the way I found this fantastic site filled with all you wonderful people and learn so much more stuff about her from you guys that just keeps me falling in love.

[mezzoforte]

Groovy idea for a thread. And Dave--I can't believe how long you've loved Stevie! Almost your entire life; it's pretty amazing. My story is much shorter.

I think I've always loved the sound of Stevie's voice. For years, every time GDW or Eof17 or the Chain would come on the radio, I remember thinking "I love this song." What stopped me from becoming a fan? Mainly, the fact that as those songs were playing, my mother would invariably say, "I hate this song." And normally mutter something about ridiculous spinning in chiffon. My mother has unimpeachable taste in almost everything, but she loathes la Nicks. And because I have a terrible habit of trusting my mother's opinions more than my own, I'd always shrug, decide she was probably right about the song, and forget all about it. Until a couple of years ago, Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac were only vaguely familiar names to me.

Actually, when I finally got into them last summer, I found my way in more by the drama than the music. Confession time: my name is G.G., and I'm addicted to other people's drama.
I don't want it in my life, but hearing about it in others' is my crack. Eh, blame it on having spent way too much of high school and college in drama club.
Anyway, the Mamas and the Papas are my other all-time favorite band, and I'd always kind of loved all of their crazy, screwed up relationships (note: this is before the incest came out in the open--I may love drama but that devastated me). I loved how John wrote it all into their songs. To me, the stories gave their music that extra something to latch onto. I loved other bands, but I was fascinated by them.
There was a sudden flood of articles about the group following High on Arrival, all of them mentioning the tumultuous history, and most of them describing the Mamas and the Papas as "rivaling Fleetwood Mac" in that regard. I remember reading comparisons between John reveling in making Denny and Michelle sing about their affair, and Lindsey making Stevie sing about "shackin' up."
Now that got my attention. I knew literally nothing about FM, but after hearing that they made an entire record about all breaking up with each other? I was so completely sold. Honestly, Rumours probably could have sounding like dying cats and I would have listened to it.
So I listened to Rumours straight through, and of course, it didn't sound like dying cats. I remember being amazed--most of the songs were familiar to me, but I'd never known who sang them or the stories behind them. I fell in love immediately.

[mitzo]

I recall Rhiannon being on the radio in '75 or so and liking it a lot, but in '77 when I was in the messy process of coming out of the closet and alternately whooping it up and going on antidepressants, Rumours came out. I started to do transcendental meditation and my depression was swept away, and Dreams was all over the radio. GDW and Dreams were a kind of background track to my good moments then, blasting through my car radio speakers from an 8-track player. I loved Stevie's voice and delivery of these unusual songs, and the attitude she seemed to convey. But it was in '79, when I was a real hot mess but trying really hard to keep it together (my first tragicomic love, more coming out drama, etc.) , that Stevie on Tusk really grabbed me and wouldn't let go. Sara, Beautiful Child, and Storms seemed to speak directly to me and I spent hour after hour setting the turntable needle to those tracks and wallowing in the feelings they seemed to tickle. Since then I've been hooked and I am always listening for Stevie to reprise that amazing whirlpool of sentiment in her music.

[The Catdancer]

February 26 1977 saw them on tv for the first time doing GYOW, been hooked eversince. I had already heard Rhiannon but I had no clue as to who it was (band, solo singer...) but when I heard GYOW that was it. Black top hat, chiffon, the works. The voice (even though she was b'ground vocals) was almost overwhelming. Got Rumours for my 14th birthday a month later. Need I say more?! Met the band several times, great people!!! And I'm still crazy about them (after all these years....).

[jellyman10]

Thanks for sharing your stories, guys. I enjoyed reading them. I'll try and keep mine short.

Rumours was my intro to FM. I was about 15 -- and a girl! -- and I just fell totally in love with Stevie for about six months. Voice, songs, style, looks.... the whole package. I just couldn't believe such a human being could exist and not, like, be the queen of everything! Real teenage crush time.

Then I got more and more into music generally, and began to see her more as an artist, which, by the way, is just a noun to me. It doesn't imply any especially high level of quality. I just was becoming a writer and singer myself, and was interested in her creative processes, alongside the processes of many other people too.

Then I went off music big-time for about 15 years...... so fast-forward to last year, when it all came back!

And it's great to be a fan again, in the Internet age -- but only because the Ledge is great! I mean, given how lousy (lazy) the Mac and Stevie are at PR, we'd be stuffed without it.

In fact, I often think when I come here that some of you guys have no idea how much has changed since the 80s! But I love it. Now, I can indulge my obsession with SN's process by listening to all these demos -- and indulge my resurgent girl crush by looking at SortaSavage's picture thread.

Loz

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by jellyman10

Thanks for sharing your stories, guys. I enjoyed reading them. I'll try and keep mine short.

Rumours was my intro to FM. I was about 15 -- and a girl! -- and I just fell totally in love with Stevie for about six months. Voice, songs, style, looks.... the whole package. I just couldn't believe such a human being could exist and not, like, be the queen of everything! Real teenage crush time.


Loz

Enough about Stevie. There seems to be a much more interesting story for you to tell! Feel free to share, if you like. Consider me fascinated!

[Sleepless-Child]

Originally Posted by mezzoforte

Groovy idea for a thread. And Dave--I can't believe how long you've loved Stevie! Almost your entire life; it's pretty amazing. My story is much shorter.

I think I've always loved the sound of Stevie's voice. For years, every time GDW or Eof17 or the Chain would come on the radio, I remember thinking "I love this song." What stopped me from becoming a fan? Mainly, the fact that as those songs were playing, my mother would invariably say, "I hate this song." And normally mutter something about ridiculous spinning in chiffon. My mother has unimpeachable taste in almost everything, but she loathes la Nicks. And because I have a terrible habit of trusting my mother's opinions more than my own, I'd always shrug, decide she was probably right about the song, and forget all about it. Until a couple of years ago, Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac were only vaguely familiar names to me.

Actually, when I finally got into them last summer, I found my way in more by the drama than the music. Confession time: my name is G.G., and I'm addicted to other people's drama.
I don't want it in my life, but hearing about it in others' is my crack. Eh, blame it on having spent way too much of high school and college in drama club.
Anyway, the Mamas and the Papas are my other all-time favorite band, and I'd always kind of loved all of their crazy, screwed up relationships (note: this is before the incest came out in the open--I may love drama but that devastated me). I loved how John wrote it all into their songs. To me, the stories gave their music that extra something to latch onto. I loved other bands, but I was fascinated by them.
There was a sudden flood of articles about the group following High on Arrival, all of them mentioning the tumultuous history, and most of them describing the Mamas and the Papas as "rivaling Fleetwood Mac" in that regard. I remember reading comparisons between John reveling in making Denny and Michelle sing about their affair, and Lindsey making Stevie sing about "shackin' up."
Now that got my attention. I knew literally nothing about FM, but after hearing that they made an entire record about all breaking up with each other? I was so completely sold. Honestly, Rumours probably could have sounding like dying cats and I would have listened to it.
So I listened to Rumours straight through, and of course, it didn't sound like dying cats. I remember being amazed--most of the songs were familiar to me, but I'd never known who sang them or the stories behind them. I fell in love immediately.

This made me laugh . Really, it's great that you admit you were attracted by the drama. Most of us are ashamed to say that we love Fleetwood Mac's drama, but we do. Or i do. Or maybe i did, i'm kind of sick of it now, but i'm still a shipper, so yeah, it mattered, in the beginning. (and you made me read The Mamas and the Papas' article on wikipedia---gross!).
Does your mother hate you?

My story isn't that interesting, but the feeling is. I never felt THAT connected to someone i don't know, without even knowing the reason.
Heard Edge of Seventeen in School of Rock. Loved it immediatly, but had no idea who it was. Then, i checked a video on youtube : it was Stevie singing Edge of Seventeen in 1981 (HBO special). It was the first time in my life i saw someone CRYING on stage, and it was shocking, seriously (though i know now it was coke ). Then i watched it a second time, and cried with her.
I did some research, and listened to Rhiannon, for like a week. I was already hooked.

Someone in this thread said something very true : thanks to Stevie, i learned to listen to the songs' lyrics, and have a different view on music now.
I'm aware of her imperfections, and of why she's so great too, but the only thing i can't explain is why i'm feeling this way about her. Weird. But she's almost a part of me now.

[jellyman10]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

Enough about Stevie. There seems to be a much more interesting story for you to tell! Feel free to share, if you like. Consider me fascinated!

Possibly the worst sentence I have ever constructed. Off now to tear up my Society of Authors membership.

[OooMissionary]

I was born in 1987...

...The first song I ever clearly remember from childhood was 'Tell Me Lies'... My mother used to sing the chorus continually throughout the late 1980s, apparently...

Then...

It was the fall of 1996... and I was in the 3rd grade. I was eating red beans and rice (I always find it odd that I remember what I was eating). My father would always give me random albums to listen to that he thought I would like. On this night, he gave me Fleetwood Mac "Rumours"... EPIC evening... I loved it all front to back (or maybe back to front?) The songs that stuck out to me the most were Dreams, The Chain and Gold Dust Woman I became obsessed with the witchy woman on the cover with the hypnotic voice. That week, my father purchased 'Timespace' for me... I was even more blown away. For that Christmas I received my own copy of 'Rumours', the white album, 'Tusk' and 'Belladonna'... I was fully obsessed... The only kid in elementary school raving about the genius of Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks...

Then it happened... 'The Dance'... I was fully prepared for a new era of the Mac, and just in time...

In Middle School, I made friends with another odd girl in my classes... We bonded over our love of everything Stevie Nicks... Taking summer art classes and bringing in our parents old FM albums to pay is a memorable highlight for me...

Now, well over a decade later... I am married to that odd little girl from middle school (under its own interesting circumstances)... and we still obsess, daily, over Miss Stevie Nicks...

Andy

[Aussie W/Heart]

Don't worry Loz, i know exactly what you meant, i felt the same way at 16yrs old in 1977 lol.. i remember staring at Stevie's photos inside the cover of Rumours, & wishing she was my big sister.. how weird is that?? lol

That was a really cool story Andy..

[Pooks]

I discovered Stevie in 1997 during a painful breakup.

My once-upon-a-time boyfriend of 2 1/2 years had decided to completely disappear from my life... no warning, no explanation... for all I knew he was dead. I had moved home from college for the summer so I could spend more time with him (he had recently moved away from my college town), only to find that *POOF* he was gone. I knew he was living with his mom for awhile, whom I had never met (red flag, anyone?), so after a few days I decided to go hunt him down, stalk him out at her apartment and wait in the parking lot for him to get home from work. I'm making myself sound like a crazy woman, but I was hurting; I was desperate; I didn't know what else to do.

To make a long story short, he eventually came home. We talked. He lied. I cried. And I got in my car to drive home. I was crying so hard I could barely see to drive. As I was pulling away, I started listening to the song that was playing on the radio. It was a beautiful, almost magical female voice that was singing exactly the thoughts that were running through my head. I remember thinking, "wow, this woman knows EXACTLY how I feel!" Come to find out I was listening to Silver Springs (the Dance version) by Stevie Nicks (well, technically Fleetwood Mac). That very moment was when my love of Stevie began. I watched The Dance over and over on TV, started researching her music and went to Best Buy to buy Enchanted. I remember listening to each song and feeling this deep connection with her music. I became a HUGE fan and have been ever since. Stevie helped me get through an extremely painful time, and countless hard times through the years. She's who I turn to in the depths of my despair; the one I turn to to pick my spirits up. So, thanks, once-upon-a-time boyfriend. You introduced me to one of the best things in my life.

I'm relatively new to the board, btw. This is my first post! Thought it might be a good way to introduce myself. Glad to be here.

[holidayroad]

Originally Posted by Pooks

I'm relatively new to the board, btw. This is my first post! Thought it might be a good way to introduce myself. Glad to be here.

Welcome to The Ledge!!