Stevie Nicks – One of the Great Music Witches of Our Age
Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac fame is our feminist icon of the week. We adore you, Stevie, you wondrous witchy woman.
Dear Stevie Nicks,
My mother named me after a song you wrote and recorded with Fleetwood Mac. Realizing you were singing about a Welsh Witch and that my name is in fact that of an ancient goddess of Celtic origin, I developed a slight complex…
More importantly, I acquired knowledge; knowledge that what some consider weird may truly be extraordinary. I was raised on both your music and your wisdom. You were my first big-name concert, when I went to see the Enchanted tour ’98 as a girl of eleven. Now, I’m going to come off as cheesy and fangirl as f*ck here, but I don’t care. You, Miss Stevie Nicks, whom I’ve never met, I truly feel kindred to. You are the woman who taught me to love myself for who I am, to not take shit, to not be afraid to love, to not be afraid to lose, to not be ashamed to ask for help when I need it, and to always Rock a Little.
Love Rhiannon xxx
(Editorial note: Stevie Nicks speaks beautifully in her own words about her song Rhiannon here. Her words capture her spirit.)
Who is Stevie Nicks?
Honoured as “The Reigning Queen of Rock and Roll” and one of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time” by Rolling Stone, Stevie Nicks is, no doubt, one of the most influential musicians of, not just our time, but our mothers’ as well. This woman bridges a generation gap. She teaches us to face adversity, overcome addiction, and has just kept rocking. She’s in her 60’s and is (in my and many others’ opinion) a God Mother of Goth.
Stevie Nicks has always been a private woman, keeping things such as her religious views quiet, but then again it’s been said that one of the five disciplines of a practising witch is “To Keep Silent”. Stevie has been my primary role model for as long as I can remember. She’s been paid homage to by contemporary musicians such as Taylor Swift and Beyonce Knowles as well as the movie Gypsy 83 and has been immortalized in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Stevie Nicks Quotes
“You know, the man of my dreams might walk round the corner tomorrow. I’m older and wiser and I think I’d make a great girlfriend. I live in the realm of romantic possibility.”
“It was my 16th birthday – my mom and dad gave me my Goya classical guitar that day. I sat down, wrote this song, and I just knew that that was the only thing I could ever really do – write songs and sing them to people.”
“For 70 nights, right across America, I’ve been getting out there with two ex-lovers and we’ve been playing songs which are so specific about each of us, you just wouldn’t know. We’re friends now but we can’t forget what happened between us.”
Stevie Nicks is Best Known For…
Her impeccable style, beautiful music, and always audacious Wild Heart.
Stevie Nicks is Least Known For…
Her impeccable style, beautiful music, and always audacious Wild Heart. More people need to know.
Mooky Factor
Stevie Nicks married her best friend’s husband after her friend’s death. They were married a little over a year and both acknowledged that they did so in order to hang on to the memory of their lost loved one.
A Short History of Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks (born Stephanie Lynn Nicks) was born on May 26th, 1948, in Phoenix, Arizona. She dropped out of college and signed with Fleetwood Mac in 1975 at the age of 27, becoming an overnight sensation. She also released numerous solo albums including Bella Donna, Timespace, Wild Heart, and Rock a Little. There were years of contesting with addiction (though she continued to tour and put out new albums), but eventually she regained her health and energy. Fleetwood Mac did a reunion tour and live album in 1997 (The Dance) and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
Before Fleetwood Mac, Stevie teamed up with Lindsey Buckingham in a band called Fritz. Stevie and Lindsey were romantically involved for a very long time and she, alone, put food on their table by waitressing and house cleaning. Together they released a demo/EP called Buckingham-Nicks, which was later discovered by Mick Fleetwood. Lindsey and Stevie eventually broke up and remained in the band together. She then hooked up with Mick, and managed to keep the band together. The emotional turmoil and jubilation came across through their music and the band kept touring and releasing albums.
Stevie collaborated with Tom Petty and Don Henley on her 1981 solo album, Bella Donna. The album reached No. 1 on Billboard charts with the hits “Edge of Seventeen“, “Leather and Lace“, and “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around“. Stevie hit a phenomenal velocity, releasing Mirage with Fleetwood Mac in 1982 and her second solo album, The Wild Heart, just one year afterward.
Stevie Nicks released her most recent solo album (24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault) in 2014. She continues to touch fans with her music, her essence. Play some of her music today, and dance with her for a while.