"Mirage" album cover backstory

[cliffdweller]

I always thought Stevie's neck looked weird in that photo. Then I remembered something she said in the past about how she thought she was a good dancer but how she was never able to "give with her neck"-- something about her neck being the stiffest part of her body when she danced, maybe that's why it looks weird. I don't know, I always think about that when I look at that album cover.

[Sarah]

Originally posted by celestenadia
Isn't that painting derived from the photographs on the inside gatefold
of the Live Album?

I was thinking Tusk tourbook.. it might be the live gatefold though. I'd have to go dig in the "box of fm junk" to find out.

[Les]

Originally posted by Johnny Stew
There are outtakes of the 'Mirage' cover photo-session, including one where Stevie & Christine have swapped places.

This one? I wish it was slightly better quality.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally posted by Les
This one?

Yes, that's the one!

I've been looking for it ever since I got my new computer... thank you, Les!
I actually think it was on the original Ledge boards that someone posted it the last time.

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by cliffdweller
I always thought Stevie's neck looked weird in that photo. Then I remembered something she said in the past about how she thought she was a good dancer but how she was never able to "give with her neck"-- something about her neck being the stiffest part of her body when she danced, maybe that's why it looks weird. I don't know, I always think about that when I look at that album cover.

I know, I always think about the hairdresser and past life beheading quote. It almost looks like an Adam's Apple is trying to break free.

- Jake

[cliffdweller]

Originally posted by darklinensuit
I know, I always think about the hairdresser and past life beheading quote. It almost looks like an Adam's Apple is trying to break free.

- Jake

exactly.

[SuzeQuze]

Yes! I always thought Stevie's neck looked really weird here too. She has said she can't put her neck back without it just falling all the way back which is probably what happened for the shot. Very strange. Here's the quote from inherownwords:

[On her past lives] I think I spent a lot of time in old churches, like a monk. I'm very comfortable around that kind of music, with that kind of creeping around, with being very quiet. My ballet teacher believes that my head was cut off in another life, too. I totally give with my body except for my neck. Even if I go to the beauty salon, I can't put my head back. They have to hold it or it will drop. The same thing happens when I dance or get a massage. It's very weird.

~Stevie Nicks, Playboy, July 1982

~Susan

[littlelies7]

Originally posted by SuzeQuze
Yes! I always thought Stevie's neck looked really weird here too. She has said she can't put her neck back without it just falling all the way back which is probably what happened for the shot. Very strange. Here's the quote from inherownwords:

[On her past lives] I think I spent a lot of time in old churches, like a monk. I'm very comfortable around that kind of music, with that kind of creeping around, with being very quiet. My ballet teacher believes that my head was cut off in another life, too. I totally give with my body except for my neck. Even if I go to the beauty salon, I can't put my head back. They have to hold it or it will drop. The same thing happens when I dance or get a massage. It's very weird.

~Stevie Nicks, Playboy, July 1982

~Susan

Huh. That's interesting. I never noticed her neck. I've always been staring at Lindsey...

[littlelies7]

Originally posted by Les
This one? I wish it was slightly better quality.

Oh, wow! Thanx Les! It's pretty cool!

[ricohv]

OK-I've been looking for this since this thread started and I finally found out (now that we're on page 4-hope everyone is still reading!):
From Us Magazine, Aug 94 (Tom Hanks on cover)
pg 87 Q & A w/ Stevie (it has a vey strange creepy/cool pic of Stevie, too...wish I had a scanner). Anyways, I knew she addressed the Mirage cover directly somewhere and I found it!

I've heard that you have a hard time tilting your head back because you beleive you are the incarnation of Marie Antoinette. Is this true?

When I was little my ballet teacher brought this to my attention-that I could not put my head back-and we came to the conclusiion that I must have been put to death in a past life, like Marie Antoinette. It's weird, this reflex. Like when I go to the beauty parlor, I can't put my head back in the sink for a shampoo.

But on the cover of Fleetwood Mac's 'Mirage', you are shown with your head thrown back.

I hated posing for that more than life. And then, when I shot the video for "If Anyone Falls", the director wanted me to dance with this guy and throw my head back, and I couldn't do it. We had to call in a back up singer to do it. I called her my stunt neck.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally posted by ricohv

When I was little my ballet teacher brought this to my attention-that I could not put my head back-and we came to the conclusiion that I must have been put to death in a past life, like Marie Antoinette. It's weird, this reflex. Like when I go to the beauty parlor, I can't put my head back in the sink for a shampoo.

But on the cover of Fleetwood Mac's 'Mirage', you are shown with your head thrown back.

I hated posing for that more than life. And then, when I shot the video for "If Anyone Falls", the director wanted me to dance with this guy and throw my head back, and I couldn't do it. We had to call in a back up singer to do it. I called her my stunt neck. [/B]

Cool! Thanks for posting this, I've never read this. Now, I'm thinking, what about "Like a willow I can bend" in the Stand Back video. She also tilts her head back in that if I recall correctly.

If I had taken ballet as a little girl and came home and said, "Mommy, my ballet teacher and I figured out that I've been beheaded in another life because I cannot tilt my head back." my mother would've had a cow I think. It's very strange, IMO.

~Susan

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by ricohv
We had to call in a back up singer to do it. I called her my stunt neck.

Food for Debate:
Which back up singer would make the best stunt neck for Stevie?
Discuss amongst yourselves. (Her neck is like buttah.)


- Jake

[Johnny Stew]

Originally posted by darklinensuit
Food for Debate:
Which back up singer would make the best stunt neck for Stevie?
Discuss amongst yourselves. (Her neck is like buttah.)

*lol* Well, Lori got the honors, so I guess she was deemed the "best stunt neck"!

[Cammie]

You all are sooo very very observant!!!
Very glamorus pose!Chris's dress is cute!
My neck does that! I have to stand to get
my hair washed at the beauty shoppe!
A carwreck did it to me!Nice cover!Sky

[The Chain]

I agree with the adam's apple.... yikes...... But if Stevie couldn't throw her head back, what's with that wild dancing on Stand Back, Red Rocks....