Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks photo
Stephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks (born May 26, 1948 in Phoenix, Arizona) is an American singer and songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac.
Biography
Nicks met future partner Lindsey Buckingham while in high school and along with two others formed a band called Fritz which became popular as a live act from 1968 until 1972. They were the opening act for, among others, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. After the band parted, Nicks and Buckingham remained as a duo releasing the album ''Buckingham Nicks'' in 1973. While not a commercial success it caught the attention of drummer Mick Fleetwood who was looking for a new guitarist for his band Fleetwood Mac. Stevie was reduced to cleaning houses at the time that Fleetwood Mac stumbled onto the duo. They invited the duo to join them, and the new ensemble released the album ''Fleetwood Mac'' in 1975. Nicks contributed songs such as "Rhiannon" and "Landslide", originally written for the second Buckingham Nicks album. The team-up proved to be no fluke, as the Mac enjoyed its first #1 on the Billboard 200 and sold more than five million copies.The album was a considerable success, and its follow-up ''Rumours'' released in 1977 became one of the all-time best-selling albums, selling more than 19 million copies. With several Nicks songs such as "Gold Dust Woman" it also contained Fleetwood Mac's only Billboard Hot 100 number one single, Dreams which was written by Nicks and featured her on lead vocals. The band's next album ''Tusk'' was more experimental in sound, and while successful, alienated some of its fans. Though the album sold four million copies, it was considered a failure. One urban legend states that Nicks' single from the album, "Sara," was written about a terminated pregnancy Nicks had with Don Henley, a member of Eagles; however, no evidence for the truth of this rumor has been found. Nicks has consistently stated the song is about band member Mick Fleetwood's girlfriend at the time. Around this time Nicks had another hit with Kenny Loggins on "Whenever I Call You Friend".Nicks recorded her first solo album ''Bella Donna'' in 1981. Its lead single "Stop Dragging My Heart Around" was a collaboration with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and it reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Other singles included "Leather and Lace" with Don Henley and "Edge of Seventeen". ''Bella Donna'' reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and as of 1990 is certified quadruple (4x) platinum. Nicks joined Fleetwood Mac for their 1982 album ''Mirage'' and contributed the hit "Gypsy". The set quickly went double platinum. Nicks released a second solo album titled ''The Wild Heart'' in 1983, which featured the Prince inspired track "Stand Back", and "If Anyone Falls". That set also went double platinum and featured three hit singles. In 1985 she released the platinum ''Rock A Little'', scoring more hit singles with "Talk To Me" and "I Can't Wait". The "Rock A Little" Tour following the release of the album was widely successful, resulting in a filmed concert at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, and a solo outing with Tom Petty and Bob Dylan in Australia. Though Nicks was at the top of her game, a devastating drug addiction was taking a toll on her voice, career, and personal life.In 1986, Nicks was treated for cocaine addiction at the Betty Ford Center. Later, Nicks was advised to take Klonopin, a sedative, to counteract her anxiety after ceasing her use of cocaine. This lead to another addiction battle which she would not overcome until 1994. Her next album with Fleetwood Mac, titled ''Tango in the Night'', included Nicks' song "Seven Wonders," which reached #19 on the Billboard charts. Sandy Stewart wrote the song "Seven Wonders," and because Nicks had only listened to the song a few times before recording it, the lines ''"all the way down you held the line"'' was misheard by Nicks as ''"all the way down to Emmeline"''. Fleetwood Mac had always had high personality conflicts, but the tension between Buckingham and Nicks had grown unbearable; Buckingham quit the group right before their ''Tango in the Night'' world tour. Album cover of "The Other Side of the Mirror" (1989)