Canadian Press Q&A

[Livia]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/can...Agq73SsZ746Beg

Q&A: Rock legend Stevie Nicks explains why she's a technophobe
42 minutes ago

NEW YORK — Friends who want to get in touch with Stevie Nicks know not to send an email, call on a cellphone, or reach out by text message, because she won't respond.

It's not that she's being rude: Nicks doesn't own a computer or a cellphone. The 60-year-old rock legend, who is currently on tour with Fleetwood Mac, is a proud technophobe.

"I believe that computers have taken over the world. I believe that they have in many ways ruined our children. I believe that kids used to love to go out and play," Nicks says in her famously smoky voice.

"I believe that social graces are gone because manners are gone because all people do is sit around and text. I think it's obnoxious."

Nicks does own an iPod, but she prefers to listen to music - which includes her new CD, "The Soundstage Sessions" - on a boombox. (The CD also comes packaged with a DVD.)

Better yet, give her a cassette version and she'll be in musical heaven. "It sounds better and you'd be convinced," she says.

AP: This is your first live project in 22 years. What took so long?

Nicks: I don't really know exactly how that happened. Before I knew it, it was 2007 ... (my) tour was over, and I'm sitting in my house going, "I can't believe I'm sitting here again, and I didn't film this show." So I got on my phone and I called my managers, and I said, "Make some calls, because I need to film this show." I'm very, very proud of it. I'm almost glad that I waited this long to do it, because maybe that's what God wanted me to do.

AP: You say you hope this project is a blueprint for the next generation. Why do you think there's a lack of strong rock acts?

Nicks: Because the music business is in terrible trouble. People are stealing our music. That's all there is to it. In the old days ... they would help you to develop into the artist that they knew you were going to be. In the last 10 years, the record companies don't have the money to do that. I don't know what the answer is to it. The only thing I can say to people is, "Buy music, do not steal music." If you do, you won't have any new music later on.

AP: If you and I were having lunch, and I pulled out my cellphone ...

Nicks: I'm gonna put my hand on your hand and say, "Turn it off, for now. Just give me an hour, of you, I really want an hour of just you, and your heart. I don't want you talking to someone else while we're having lunch." It's love, you know, it's relationships. I don't want love and relationships to be lost, and I feel like that's happening.

AP: Have the nation's economic troubles inspired you musically?

Nicks: Absolutely, I want to go home and write Bob Dylan songs, I want to go write radical, rebellious "let's try to make it better" songs. I'm very affected by everything going on. When I do get finished with this Fleetwood Mac tour, I will absolutely write about the political situation, which I have never done before. I have never actually been very political before, and I'm starting to feel more political every day. So, pretty soon, governor (laughs).

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by Livia

[url]
AP: Have the nation's economic troubles inspired you musically?

Nicks: Absolutely, I want to go home and write Bob Dylan songs, I want to go write radical, rebellious "let's try to make it better" songs. I'm very affected by everything going on. When I do get finished with this Fleetwood Mac tour, I will absolutely write about the political situation, which I have never done before. I have never actually been very political before, and I'm starting to feel more political every day. So, pretty soon, governor (laughs).

Wow this, combined with her whole sirius interview make me wish this danmed Fleetwood Mac tour would just end. Please don't let them add dates past May 31st.

[Tango]

^^^
agreed!

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by Livia

NEW YORK — Friends who want to get in touch with Stevie Nicks know not to send an email, call on a cellphone, or reach out by text message, because she won't respond.

What are they supposed to use? A tin can? Everyone knows how to get a hold of Stevie...call, email or text Karen. You can bet that if the need arose, she'd learn how to work any of that stuff real quick. It does make nice fodder in the interviews, though. And I have never heard a cassette that sounds better than CD. Then again, I don't have Stevie Nicks stereo system.

[bikerchic]

I'm sure if her mother was on the other end of a cell phone call, Stevie would take the call People who don't keep up with technology are only losing out. I'm not talking about people like my 82 year dad who doesn't have a cell phone or a computer, that's understandable. Stevie's a buisness woman for god's sake. She such a hypocrite. She doesn't have them personally but we all know she uses Karen's. Why does she drive around in limo's? Why not a horse and cart? Does she use a microwave or does she still cook over fire? How does she think the music got on those i-pod's.

[trackaghost]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

And I have never heard a cassette that sounds better than CD. Then again, I don't have Stevie Nicks stereo system.

It must be the best cassette player in the world if it sounds better than CD or DVD

Originally Posted by bikerchic

How does she think the music got on those i-pod's.

~Magick ~ of course

The fact is she can be as snooty as she likes about all these new technologies because she doesn't have to use them: she can hire someone to do it for her. The rest of us mere mortals just have to move with the times or be completely cut off. "I believe that social graces are gone" says the woman who doesn't have the courtesy to respond to people trying to get in contact with her.

It's funny that she thinks downloading is the reason why major labels aren't investing in bands because you only have to read Danny Goldberg's book, the man who set up her solo deal, to discover that's been happening for much longer than that.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by trackaghost

The fact is she can be as snooty as she likes about all these new technologies because she doesn't have to use them: she can hire someone to do it for her. The rest of us mere mortals just have to move with the times or be completely cut off. "I believe that social graces are gone" says the woman who doesn't have the courtesy to respond to people trying to get in contact with her.

In all fairness, she didn't say she doesn't respond -- the author of the article made that statement. We know, at least, that she corresponds with Chris Isaak and Christine McVie via email, even if Karen is the one who actually hits "send."

I totally agree that she makes herself sound like a curmudgeon with some of these comments (although she also makes a few good points), but none of us has to have a computer or a cell-phone. There are still plenty of other ways to stay in touch with someone, if we really want to.

[bikerchic]

http://video.msn.com/video.aspx/?mkt...&wa=wsignin1.0

[MacMan]

[strandinthewind]

You people are deluded

For the slow in the uptake:

La Nicks clearly is not talking about taking an important call or message while in a social situation. That is not rude behavior.

La Nicks clearly is talking about people who you go to dinner, etc., with and they spend the entire time talking to someone else either by phone, text, or email.

Who wouldn't hate and be disgusted by that BS rude behavior?

Does anyone actually like to be treated like that?

Get some perspective people

[petep9000]

Stevie was an early adopter of microwave ovens, I remember hearing an interview from her from aroun '79 or so when she mentions tossing a burrito in the microwave.
I think in '79 microwaves not as common as they were by the mid-80's. I know my mom only got one in 1986. Because I bought it for her. And she used it as a 'bread box' for 15 years before it went to the curb. LOL
In 'Us' magazine in 1989, she had a photo spread and interview and the writer described stereo equipment with masking tape labels on it so she knew what buttons to push, and.....

a Mac computer.

So, she's pretty inconsistent.

[trackaghost]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

You people are deluded

For the slow in the uptake:

I am slow in the uptake, thanks for pointing it out Strand

But to be fair, it's not the first time she's made comments like that, this is just the latest. Hasn't she said in the past she refuses to have a cell phone or computer? She doesn't like these technologies but she still has the benefit of them because her assistant or whoever is just using them instead. (Like the fact she has an iPod, that she obviously didn't upload herself).

Despite the gripes, I do think the interviews she's been giving lately are fantastic. Stevie is in good form these days I have to say.

[thatgirlwasme]

I have to say I do agree with Stevie to a point. I don't think computers have ruined our children by any means, but I do think we have lost perspective a bit. I do think we spend a little to much time in front of the screen (she says as she feverishly visits all the latest Ledge posts )

I'm with Stevie in that I get very annoyed when people I'm around are constantly texting or answer their phone when we're having a conversation. Stevie's right--can I just have your attention for a short time? Stevie, I'll give you my undivided attention for an hour!

A

[goldustsongbird]

Originally Posted by petep9000

Stevie was an early adopter of microwave ovens, I remember hearing an interview from her from aroun '79 or so when she mentions tossing a burrito in the microwave.
.

Is this where SNL got the idea for the Stevie Nicks Fajita Roundup?

Originally Posted by thatgirlwasme

I have to say I do agree with Stevie to a point. I don't think computers have ruined our children by any means, but I do think we have lost perspective a bit. I do think we spend a little to much time in front of the screen (she says as she feverishly visits all the latest Ledge posts )

I'm with Stevie in that I get very annoyed when people I'm around are constantly texting or answer their phone when we're having a conversation. Stevie's right--can I just have your attention for a short time? Stevie, I'll give you my undivided attention for an hour!

A

I don't think it has totally ruined our children, but I do think a lot of people, even ones in their 20s have diminished verbal communication skills. Half the time, kids barely know how to hold a conversation with you because they haven't gotten used to talking to someone face to face. They're too used to facebook and texting. Nothing wrong with those things in moderation, but it's annoying to be with someone who checks their phone 584905 times in an hour because they can't bear to miss anything.

Uh. I think Stevie and I should talk about this. I think I'll IM her.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by thatgirlwasme

I have to say I do agree with Stevie to a point. I don't think computers have ruined our children by any means, but I do think we have lost perspective a bit. I do think we spend a little to much time in front of the screen (she says as she feverishly visits all the latest Ledge posts )

I'm with Stevie in that I get very annoyed when people I'm around are constantly texting or answer their phone when we're having a conversation. Stevie's right--can I just have your attention for a short time? Stevie, I'll give you my undivided attention for an hour!

A

I agree. I think this point, however, is lost in general on people. They cannot fathom not answering the phone when they are with you. It is one thing to do so when you are just hanging out in a casual setting. It is another to do it when the person or people you are with are there to be with you. Then, you talk on the phone, text, email, twitter, etc. for 45 minutes of that time - I mean BS on that I see people all the time having dinner with each other and they don't talk. I mean what's the point?