Home » Why is everyone obsessed with Stevie Nicks?

Why is everyone obsessed with Stevie Nicks?

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Stevie Nicks turned 66 years old not long ago, and she’s everywhere. She sang a duet on Jimmy Fallon, with him as Tom Petty. She was on American Horror Story: Coven, having played herself – possibly because Ryan Murphy can’t resist writing his love of her straight into his characters’ minds. She even did a weather report.

With her vampish hedonism and love of shawls and Victoriana, there is something delightfully absurd about Stevie Nicks’ persona that seems to resonate in San Francisco. She is approachably, unpretentiously weird. As a drag icon for years – although the Night of 1000 Stevies is a New York thing – she’s a recurring specter on the scene. We asked some creative current and former Bay Area residents their thoughts on this brilliant woman, the goth-witch draped in chiffon who sings white-bread songs with universal appeal.

And although they’re skipping San Francisco for Sacramento and San Jose, Fleetwood Mac will tour this fall, in their full lineup. Just in case you were wondering.

One of the last weekly T-Shacks I went to was their “Stevie Nicks” nights at The Stud. In retrospect I see now why they needed a bigger venue – it was the only time I’ve been trampled at a drag show! I even fell to the ground, and was walked on by giant heels. Thankfully I am resilient, and used the emergency exit to get away. Even though “Stand Back” can sometimes evoke memories of the drag-trauma, I refuse to give up my love for the White Witch. – Jimmy Swear, resident DJ, the Lone Star Saloon

I’m too young to have followed Stevie’s history of coked-out drama, but I live for the heartfelt intimacy in her music, ranging from brilliant masterpieces like the somewhat awkwardly danceable “Stand Back,” to the overplayed (but I don’t care!) “Landslide,” to my favorite of favorites: “Wild Heart” (but only in the unreleased practice-session version that some kind soul posted to YouTube). I’ll say it: she’s one of the best songwriters of all time. And of course, how can you not like a girl in a shawl? – Little Miss Hot Mess, drag queen, Santa Cruz

The first concert my parents allowed me to attend was Peace Sunday, an anti-nuclear day of protest, at the Rose Bowl on June 6, 1982. As if art directed, when the moon rose over Pasadena, Stevie took to the stage. Her familiar voice, the soundtrack of my childhood ripped through me when she sang “Sara” and “Edge of Seventeen” (which I was at the time). There was a woman at the corner of the stage, who had been signing for the deaf all day and had gone unacknowledged. Stevie twirled around the interpreter, put her shawl-covered arm around her and dramatically bowed to her at the end of the song. Stevie Nicks is MY diva. – Matthew James DeCoster, executive board member, Litquake

Stevie Nicks saved my life. As a sensitive young gay boy, I used to lay alone in my bedroom and stare at my Fleetwood Mac poster. I would stare at her image, play “Landslide” over and over, and think, “Only Stevie understands me.” – Heklina, drag impresario

I think her songs are perfect for karaoke. In fact, I ignore all Fleetwood Mac songs not sung by Stevie Nicks. – Julia Leeman, 6th grade math teacher

As a child I used to have a recurring dream in which an invisible witch cackled maniacally as she tickled me. Stevie Nicks sounds like that witch. So it took me a while to warm up to her but now I’m totally a fan. – Rotimi Agbabiaka, actor

My thoughts on Stevie Nicks: in 1982 I did a lot of roller-skating to “Edge of Seventeen.” – Rob McLaughlin, managing writer, Menlo Park/SF

Stevie Nicks made me gay. There, I said it. At four years old, I recall her on MTV within a white-haze video, wearing a glimmering, purplish, phosphorescent shawl that looked as if she mugged Liberace’s grandmother. My life was altered. I was in love. I made a drink up about two years ago in the White Witch’s honor: Equal parts St. Germaine and Jameson, a squeeze of a Meyer lemon and a sprig of lavender: The Stevie Nicks. – Jenn Koscielniak, “the nice cook in the kitchen at Zeitgeist”

Stevie Nicks wrote “Stand Back,” “Wild Heart,” and “Landslide.” That alone guarantees a lifetime of my adoration. To paraphrase Sandra Bernhard, ‘She sang it, she snorted it, she fucked it – she lived it.’ What current musician can touch her? Besides, no one is going to Night of 1000 Rihannas. – Don-Scott Cooper, general manager, American Conservatory Theater

Stevie Nicks isn’t merely a fine singer/songwriter, she’s a force of nature and a true original like we rarely see these days. Her contributions to Fleetwood Mac are deservedly legend, of course. I might love her first two solo albums even more. The hits you know, but deep cuts like “Nightbird” and “The Wild Heart” are just as superb. She’s so awesome that having a (now ex-boyfriend) who wrote poetry “inspired” by Stevie couldn’t kill my love for her. – Thomas Inskeep, pop critic, The Singles Jukebox

The White Witch? I loved her on Coven! – Sudhir Popat, chef

To a kid growing up in the ’80s during the satanic panic, she was a shining beacon of occult light. I grew up in a very religious home. My mom burned a lot of my books and records and games one summer while I was visiting my dad. I was devastated, but one of the records she didn’t burn was Belladonna. I guess Stevie had enough hippie pop cachet to stay off my mom’s Satan-busting to-burn list. And I saw her a couple Halloweens ago – she was the entertainment at this schmancy party I worked at. And the old gal has still got it. – Ric Ray, art director

The liner notes on Timespace speak for themselves: “And the white wing dove takes flight.” They are a must-read. – Scott Hirsch, tech marketer

Stevie Nicks is the voice I most adore from Fleetwood Mac, although the others are compelling enough. Perhaps it’s how she allowed us to embrace our flowing hippie girl in an era fraught with tube tops and stacked Candie’s-style heels. Go with it girl, and add a drape of black lace and/or white lace. My collection of scarves, accessories and animal-themed blankets are a direct wink in the mirror to beautiful Stevie. – Mary Ladd, writer

Peter Lawrence Kane / The Bold Italic / Tuesday, July 1, 2014

stevienicks

LIVE IN CONCERT (2024)

Stevie Nicks

MAY 3, 2024 – MAY 5, 2024
Lovin’ Life Fest
Charlotte, NC
TICKETS

MAY 7, 2024
Enterprise Center
St Louis, MO
TICKETS

MAY 10, 2024
WinStar World Casino & Resort
Thackerville, OK
TICKETS

MAY 14, 2024
Bridgestone Arena
Nashville, TN
TICKETS

MAY 18, 2024
Frost Bank Center
San Antonio, TX
TICKETS

MAY 21, 2024
Yaamava’ Resort & Casino – Yaamava’ Theater
Highland, CA
TICKETS

MAY 24, 2024
BottleRock Napa Valley
Napa, CA
TICKETS

MAY 27, 2024
Delta Center
Salt Lake City, UT
TICKETS

MAY 30, 2024
Ball Arena
Denver, CO
TICKETS

JUN 4
Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Indianapolis, IN
TICKETS

JUN 9 
Mohegan Sun Casino
Uncasville, CT
TICKETS

JUN 12
MVP Arena
Albany, NY
TICKETS

JUN 15
Hersheypark Stadium
Hershey, PA
TICKETS

JUN 18
Van Andel Arena
Grand Rapids, MI
TICKETS

JUN 21, 2024 (with Billy Joel)
Soldier Field
Chicago, IL
TICKETS

JUL 12, 2024
BST Hyde Park
London, England
TICKETS

^ Non-Live Nation show


Previous 2023 dates

March 10, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Los Angeles, CA
SoFi Stadium

March 15, 2023
Seattle, WA
Climate Pledge Arena

March 18, 2023
Las Vegas, NV
T-Mobile Arena

May 12, 2023
Raleigh, NC
PNC Arena

May 16, 2023
Knoxville, TN
Thompson-Boling Arena

May 19, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Nashville, TN
Nissan Stadium

May 22, 2023
Atlanta, GA
State Farm Arena

May 25, 2023
Orlando, FL
Amway Center

June 16, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Philadelphia, PA
Lincoln Financial Field

June 20, 2023
Toronto, ON (Canada)
Scotiabank Arena

June 23, 2023
Chicago, IL
United Center

June 27, 2023
Louisville, KY
KFC Yum! Center

August 5, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Columbus, OH
Ohio Stadium

August 8, 2023
Milwaukee, WI
Fiserv Forum

August 12, 2023
Houston, TX
Toyota Center

August 15, 2023
Austin, TX
Moody Center

August 19, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Kansas City, MO
Arrowhead Stadium

September 23, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Foxborough, MA
Gillette Stadium

September 27, 2023
Pittsburgh, PA
PPG Paints Arena

October 1, 2023
New York, NY
Madison Square Garden

October 4, 2023
Buffalo, NY
KeyBank Center

October 7, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Baltimore, MD 
M&T Bank Stadium

October 28, 2023
Memphis, TN
FedEx Forum

November 1, 2023
Savannah, GA
Enmarket Arena

November 4, 2023
Allentown, PA
PPL Center

November 7, 2023
Detroit, MI
Little Caesars Arena

November 10, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Minneapolis, MN
U.S. Bank Stadium

November 29, 2023
San Diego, CA
Viejas Arena

December 2, 2023
Inglewood, CA
The Kia Forum

December 5, 2023
Palm Desert, CA
Acisure Arena

December  8, 2023 – BILLY JOEL
Phoenix, AZ
Chase Field

December 12, 2023
Sacramento, CA
Golden 1 Center

December 15, 2023
San Francisco, CA
Chase Center

FEB 10, 2024
Mark G Etess Arena
Atlantic City, NJ

FEB 14, 2024
UBS Arena
Belmont Park, NY

FEB 17, 2024
CFG Bank Arena
Baltimore, MD

FEB 21, 2024
Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Greenville, SC

FEB 24, 2024
Hard Rock Live
Hollywood, FL

FEB 28, 2024
Smoothie King Center
New Orleans, LA

MAR 3, 2024
CHI Health Center
Omaha, NE

MAR 6, 2024
Simmons Bank Arena
North Little Rock, AR

MAR 9, 2024
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, TX
Billy Joel

 



2022 Tour

Stevie Nicks

Jazz Aspen Snowmass
Snowmass, CO
Labor Day 2022

Ravinia Festival
Highland Park, IL
September 8, 2022
September 10, 2022

Pine Knob Music Theatre
Clarkston, MI
September 13, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Sea Hear Now Festival
Asbury, NJ
September 17, 2022

Xfinity Center
Mansfield, MA
September 19, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Maine Savings Amphitheatre
Bangor, ME
September 22, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Sound on Sound Festival
Bridgeport, CT
September 24-25, 2022

Ohana Festival
Dana Point, CA
September 30, 2022

Hollywood Bowl
Los Angeles, CA
October 3, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

POSTPONED
Ak-Chin Pavilion

Phoenix, AZ
October 6, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

POSTPONED
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

The Woodlands, TX
October 9, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Alpharetta, GA
October 12, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Ascend Amphitheater
Nashville, TN
October 16, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Credit One Stadium
Charleston, SC
October 19, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

PNC Music Pavilion
Charlotte, NC
October 22, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Tampa, FL
October 25, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
West Palm Beach, FL
October 28, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Orion Amphitheatre
Huntsville, AL
October 31, 2022

RESCHEDULED SHOWS

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
The Woodlands, TX
November 2, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton

Ak-Chin Pavilion
Phoenix, AZ
November 5, 2022
w/ Vanessa Carlton