In this installment of Vintage Videos, Stevie talks about her favorite Christmas memory: waking up on Christmas Eve to find her dad unexpectedly building a baby buggy for her because “Santa was very, very busy tonight.” The interview is followed by Stevie’s Top of the Pops performance of “Silent Night,” which she recorded for A Very Special Christmas in 1987. She is joined by Robbie Nevil, best known for his hair and Top 10 1986 hit “C’est La Vie.”
Like on the classic ’80s music-countdown show Solid Gold, guests of Top of the Pops seemed to lip-synch their performances. But Stevie has the distinction of being one of the few artists to have sung live on both shows — extremely rare for the time. That’s nothing to keep silent about! Well, to be accurate, most singers performing on Solid Gold did actually sing live, according to Michael Miller, the show’s musical director for eight years. “The vocals were live and the music was taped. The reason for taping the music is that live music didn’t always sound quite as good as it should have when played through a television’s audio system.”
Looking radiant and remarkably youthful, Stevie attended Wednesday night’s film premiere of The Book of Henry at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Donning her trademark black attire and wearing a (rock) star necklace, Stevie posed for a sea of photographers on the red carpet with The Book of Henry cast members. The film opens to the general public on Friday, June 16.
For Henry, Stevie recorded the lovely ballad “You Hand I Will Never Let It Go,” a song written by Guster singer-songwriter Ryan Miller. (See lyric video at the bottom of this page.)
Following the red carpet event, Stevie watched the screening of The Book of Henry and celebrated with the film’s cast at the after party. She schmoozed with the guests, providing inspiration and wisdom for the film’s many young stars. Stevie has long embraced her role as a mentor to the younger generations. Her long list of famous protégés includes Adele, Lana Del Rey, Lady Gaga, Lorde, Lea Michele, Harry Styles, and the School of Rock band, among many others. From the looks of it, being “Rock Mama” certainly keeps her young at heart!
According to the L.A. Times, Fleetwood Mac members Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie are planning to release their first…wait for it…duets album! There’s no doubt that Lindsey and Christine have long had musical chemistry. After all, some of their best songs — “Don’t Stop” and “Hold Me” — have been Buckingham/McVie collaborations, not to mention Billboard Top 5 singles and now SiriusXM classic rock radio staples.
But are they serious? Maybe. Stevie has made it clear that she isn’t in a hurry to release another Fleetwood Mac album, arguably residual effects from the contentious 2003 Say You Will sessions, where Stevie and Lindsey bickered like bitter ex’s (cue: their screaming match in Destiny Rules documentary DVD). The rest of the band is clearly restless to get back on the road and probably hoping to support something besides Rumours for the gazillionth time. So now they’re tired of waiting.
But the proposed name of the album, Buckingham McVie, sounds like a little…cheeky…and far too similar to the iconic Buckingham Nicks brand. And will they seriously go down the indie route again, like 2013’s Extended Play. (Warner Bros. Records is unlikely to back a Fleetwood Mac release without Stevie Nicks.) Sounds a little fishy.
With Mick Fleetwood and John McVie still involved in the project, it seems more likely the latest media bombshell is intended to light a fire under Stevie to finally get on board with a legitimate Fleetwood Mac release. It’s a passive-aggressive approach, but it may ultimately get Stevie to declare, “Uh, not over my dead body! Still, with Stevie’s 24 Karat Gold Tour to pick up again this February in the States, with a possible leg in Australia and New Zealand to follow, the dream of another Fleetwood Mac album with the classic 1975 lineup seems to be fading.
Whatever happens, the latest news adds yet another dimension to the crazy Fleetwood Mac story, whether it’s “the-drama-of-the-moment” posturing or going their own way, once again.
Read more about the ambitious project here, here, and here.
“And a memory is all that is left for you now…” And what memories they were! 2016 was packed with big moments for Stevie Nicks, which likely maxed out the pages of her journals! From releasing new music to appearing on major TV shows to performing sellout concerts across the country, it was another busy and productive year for Stevie. So, Ladies and Gentlemen, let’s relive some of them now…with the occasional sassy commentary…our Top 10 Stevie Nicks Moments of 2016!
10. Fleetwood Mac rocks Vin Scully’s world.
In July, Fleetwood Mac had the opportunity to send off the great Vin Scully with a special concert at the Blue Diamond Gala. Scully, veteran sportscaster for the Los Angeles Dodgers, retired from broadcasting after 67 seasons with the Dodgers’ organization. Fleetwood Mac band members met Scully before the show and later treated him and the star-studded spectacle (Matthew McConaughey, John Mayer, Sylvester Stallone, Arsenio Hall, and Will Forte to name a few) to their recent “On With the Show” concert set list.
The Moment: Stevie dedicated “Landslide” to Scully and joked “We’re right behind you, Mr. Scully” (referring to retirement). The good-humored Scully returned the quip, saying “I wish I could sing with Fleetwood Mac, but I can’t.”
In 1979, Fleetwood Mac famously recorded the music video for the single “Tusk” at Dodger Stadium, alongside the USC Marching Band.
(Los Angeles Dodgers)
9. Stevie schools Charles Kelley, sings backup on ‘Southern Accents’
In February, Stevie helped kick off Lady Antebellum singer Charles Kelley’s solo career by lending her voice to his cover of Tom Petty’s “Southern Accents.” Stevie naturally jumped at the chance to sing along to her favorite songwriter’s track…and spend a lot of time with a tall, young, handsome, strapping, southern gent (he’s married, Stevie). For Kelley, it was an opportunity to work with a rock legend and understand her creative process. “She was talking about picking takes and how it’s not always about the perfect note, it’s about the emotion, She has a thing and she knows what her thing is. And she does it so well,” Kelley told Rolling Stone back in July.
The Moment: Stevie sings the lyric “There’s a dream I keep having / Where my mama comes to me.” You can’t help but get a wee bit weepy-eyed to think that Stevie was probably thinking about her own mama, the brilliant Barbara Nicks, right up there in heaven.
Stevie Nicks and Charles Kelley discuss their Tom Petty cover “Southern Accents.” (Photo: Philip Macias)
8. Stevie joins the ‘Stop the Gun Violence’ campaign.
In June, Stevie Nicks added her name to Billboard magazine’s open letter, demanding Congress to pass stricter gun regulations. More than 180 musicians and music executives signed the letter, which appeared in this July 2nd issue of Billboard with a headline that read, “Stop Gun Violence Now.” The letter emerged in response to the June 11th gun violence at an Orlando LGBT nightclub, where a shooter killed 49 people. Stevie addressed the Orlando tragedy in a thoughtful message posted to her official sites.
The Moment: Stevie shared a rare demo of “Touched by an Angel” in memory of the victims.
Stevie briefly stepped into the political arena to voice her support for Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton in this year’s presidential election. “My heart is with Hillary,” she told Us Magazinein September. Having long advocated for more leading women in music, Stevie naturally supported the proposition of Clinton being the first female president. Although her candidate didn’t win the election, Stevie kept things positive and classy, telling the audience at her November 10th show in Charlotte, NC, “Take a deep breath, this is a place of happiness and love.” So obviously, there will be no invitation to sing “Landslide” at Hillary’s inaugural event…Stevie for 2020?
The Moment: When she also told the New York Times, “Of course, I’m for HIllary!”
6. Stevie shines on Ellen, James Corden.
In October, Stevie made two notable appearances on two major talk shows, in advance of her 24 Karat Gold Tour. Stevie gave an exciting preview of the tour on The Late Late Show with James Corden, performing “Leather and Lace,” her 1981 Top 5 duet with Don Henley. She sang it much like the all-girl rendition from 1981’s White Winged Dove Tour. At the end of the performance, the cheeky James Corden immediately bowed to Stevie’s feet and frantically kissed her boots, which had Stevie in stitches. Also in the show, Stevie debuted the newest member of her family, Lily, an adorable baby Yorkie. (Her “life partner” Sulamith passed away earlier this year.)
Earlier in the week, Stevie performed “Edge of Seventeen” on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Her voice clear and strong, Stevie delivered a straightforward, polished rendition of the 1981 Bella Donna rock anthem. Stevie has been performing a shorter, less-vocally-taxing rendition of “Edge” for a few years now, conspicuously leaving out the signature growl that could raise the dead. Here it is again, for the nostalgia: “Ooooooohhhhh- ahhhhhhhhhhh-arrgghhhhhhhh-yahhhhhhhhhhhhh-arghhhhhhhhhh-yahhhhhhhhhh-arrrghhhhhhhhhh…yeah!!” Something like that, anyway.
The Moment: Stevie broke into hysterical laughter when James Corden started kissing her boots.
Leather and Lace (The Late Late Show with James Corden)
Edge of Seventeen (The Ellen DeGeneres Show)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUVvsrMGx6A
5. Stevie’s got talent!
Stevie continued to reach new audiences by hitting the prime-time TV circuit. Her Season 12 appearance on the September 14th America’s Got Talent (AGT) finale was a ratings winner, with a 49% percent jump in viewership from the previous year’s finale, according to Nielsen ratings. That 12-year-old prodigy Grace VanderWaal probably had something to do with this, too. Stevie performed Fleetwood Mac’s perennial classic “Landslide,” sharing her music with yet another generation, another cross-section of music listeners; even Simon looked impressed.
The Moment: At the end of the performance, AGT host Nick Cannon affirmed to the world that Stevie Nicks is not just a “Rock Goddess” or a “Rock Icon” or the “High Priestess of Rock and Roll” or some other deflecting title, but none other than…THE QUEEN OF ROCK, bitches! Justice has been served.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqvD3pz3pCE
4. Stevie stuns audiences, jams with School of Rock band.
Stevie crashed the April 26th evening performance of School of Rock musical during the show’s curtain call. The stunned audience gave Stevie a standing ovation when she magically appeared. She then delivered a lively rendition of “Rhiannon,” twirling in long, flowy sleeves, which cast a heavenly spell on the crowd. (There was also a two-drink minimum.) Afterwards, Stevie posed with the band and had nothing but glowing praise for her talented young cast musicians. Stevie’s appearance was part of the Broadway Cares’ Easter Bonnet Competition, an annual fundraiser for HIV/AIDS service organizations, where she performed “Rhiannon” with the little prodigies for guests, who — once again — had no idea she would be there! Weddings, birthday parties, Bar Mitzvahs, the lady does it all!
The Moment: Two standing ovations from regular, non-fanatical people!
School of Rock curtain call
Easter Bonnet Competition
3. ‘Brokenhearted,’ ‘My friend is gone’
The Grim Reaper was especially cruel to the music industry in 2016, taking away beloved rock stars — cultural icons to many — far too soon. Notable deaths included David Bowie, Glen Frey, Natalie Cole, George Michael, and Prince, among others, who graced this world with their talent and tunes. Though Stevie’s friendship and “Stand Back” collaboration with Prince are well-documented, she offered both visual and spoken tributes to him during her 24 Karat Gold Tour. Her connection to guitarist Glen Frey dates back to the mid-’70s when she and Frey’s band The Eagles spent key years together in the Southern California rock scene. Stevie reflected on both Glen Frey and Prince’s sudden deaths, sharing moving thoughts about her musical contemporaries on her social media channels.
The Moment: Reading those crushing words…”brokenhearted,” “seeing through my tears,” “my friend is gone.”
2. Deluxe Treament: Bella Donna, The Wild Heart, Mirage
For longtime collectors, it was Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac Christmas, so to speak, when they were treated to a bevy of reissues and deluxe editions throughout the year. Still overjoyed from last December’s incredible Tusk reissue, fans continued to feel the love with the expanded Mirage package released in September. Three words: “Gypsy” Video Version.
But the bigger treat for Stevie Nicks fans was yet to come when news of deluxe releases for both Bella Donna and The Wild Heart dropped. With remastered sound, Bella Donna featured two additional discs; one disc with Bella Donna-era demos and outtakes and the second disc including Stevie’s 1981 Wiltern Theater show in Los Angeles. The Wild Heart featured one additional disc of session material and outtakes, including a rare demo for “Sorcerer.”
The Moment: “Sable on Blond (Alternate Version).” EPIC. Enough said.
Of course, there was an even bigger surprise waiting in the wings…
1. 24 Karat Gold Tour: ‘This is not the same ol’ Stevie Nicks show.’
Stevie’s surprise 24 Karat Gold Tour (accompanied by Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders) was undoubtedly the highlight of the year for most fans. But it wasn’t just any tour, or the “same ol’ Stevie Nicks show,” as Stevie put it. She decided it was finally time to shake up her unchanging concert set list and perform a wider variety of songs from her vast 43-year-career catalog. She did not disappoint, pulling out songs from the “dark, gothic trunk of magical and mystical things.” Among those treasures were beloved album tracks “Bella Donna” and “Wild Heart”; newly re-recorded demos “Starshine” and “Moonlight (A Vampire’s Dream)”; and the elusive and oldest song in the set list, 1973 track “Crying in the Night.” For casual fans and beer runners, there were familiar favorites, such as “Gypsy,” “Gold Dust Woman,” “Rhiannon” and “Landslide,” to help pass the time. The musical cauldron of variety was a smashing success, as fans and critics alike responded with praise and their pocketbooks: Stevie sold out many shows in key markets, such as Madison Square Garden in New York and The Forum in Los Angeles. For 2017, 20 additional have been added so far to the bill, with an Australian leg in the works.
Top Moments: 1) Consulting her indispensable FitBit; 2) encouraging dreamers to reach out into “The Belladonna Starland” and 3) accidentally dropping the F-bomb at her Washington, D.C. show.
2015 was another busy year for Stevie and the members of Fleetwood Mac. The ON WITH THE SHOW TOUR was front and center, but Stevie made headlines of her own throughout the year. Here is a recap of some of the year’s biggest moments for the band.
January
Following her surprise New Year’s Eve appearance at a Deer Tick concert in Brooklyn a few weeks earlier, Stevie treated fans to another surprise — an unexpected acoustic performance of “Gypsy” and “Blue Water”! Rolling Stone hosted the performance in honor of Stevie appearing solo on the cover of its magazine for the first time since 1981.
Just a few shows into the second leg of the tour, Mick Fleetwood fell ill after a show in Nebraska. It appeared to be the stomach flu. Fortunately, Mick recovered quickly and the band was back in business.
Stevie graced the cover of Rolling Stone Australia. The editors went retro for the cover, opting for a ’70s-era photo by Sam Emerson. The US version of the magazine, released in January (RS1227), featured a newer photo by Peggy Sirota.
As Leg 2 of Fleetwood Mac’s insanely lucrative ON WITH THE SHOW TOUR was ending, Warner Bros. took advantage of the moment by reissuing Stevie’s 2007 release Crystal Visions…The Very Best of Stevie Nicks on clear double vinyl, with a large poster and a handy-dandy vinyl messenger bag.
LIFE featured Fleetwood Mac in a collector’s edition. Despite the great exposure (for already overexposed album!), the feature met with some controversy, namely from Rumours co-producers Ken Caillat and Richard Dashut who questioned the merits of the piece. Most fans know that the album couldn’t have been made without their studio craftsmanship, so don’t sweat it, boys!
Between tour legs, Lindsey Buckingham paid a visit to USC, whose world-renown marching band helped make his Fleetwood Mac’s iconic “Tusk” legendary…and the focal point of every college football game’s half-time show! Linds performed his acoustic classics before aspiring student entrepreneurs and encouraged the kids to make a big splash, creatively speaking.
Age-defying Miss Nicks turned 67 in May. People have longed marveled at the seemingly ageless woman with flawless skin, but Stevie’s night-owl schedule, free of those damaging UV rays, is largely to credit. (La Mer skin care products help out, too.)
Fleetwood Mac kicked off Leg 3 of their ON WITH THE SHOW TOUR in May, a day after Stevie’s 67th birthday. Celebrities such as Adele and Florence Welch (of Florence and the Machine) attended the European opener, later taking to Twitter to gush about meeting Stevie. (She seems to have that effect on people.)
In June, Fleetwood Mac performed at the Isle of Wight, England’s largest and most famous music festival of nearly 60,000 attendees. The barrage of hits caused a drunk sing-along among the sea of fans, which spanned kilometers!
As expected, Fleetwood Mac made Forbes’ coveted list of the World’s Highest-Paid Celebrities, ranking at #24 with a whopping paycheck of $59.5 million. Stevie and Christine were the third highest-paid women in music, behind Katy Perry (#1) and Taylor Swift (#2).
Fleetwood Mac’s music continued to reach new audiences with this Watkins Family Hour cover of “Steal Your Heart Away” from Mac’s 2003 album Say You Will. Not bad for a band you’ve probably never heard of.
Stevie Nicks ranked No. 53 on Rolling Stone‘s list of 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time. Some fans felt the prolific songwriter should have been ranked higher on the list, but considering the magazine once described her second solo album The Wild Heart as an “outright catastrophe” and her singing as “inchoate ramblings,” it’s a sheer miracle she’s on the list at all! By the way, that disparaging assessment of this two-million seller that produced the monster hit “Stand Back,” is curiously omitted from Rolling Stones‘ online album review archive. Editor’s remorse? Karma? Who knows? But you can read the full critical takedown here.
https://stevienicks.info/2015/08/145381/
September
Thirty-four years after they released “Leather and Lace,” Don Henley and Stevie Nicks reunited for a tender new ballad called “It Don’t Matter to the Sun.” Even if the two are no longer “lovers forever,” they still know how to tug at those heart strings.
Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley made headlines in 2015 by announcing his plans to record a solo album. Leaving a supergroup to do your own thing? Having done it herself, Stevie might have a few things to say about this subject, like “Let me sing on your record!” (Stevie will be providing harmony vocals on Kelley’s cover of Tom Petty’s “Southern Accents.”)
If showing up unexpectedly at a Los Angeles Foo Fighters’ concert to perform two of your own songs wasn’t shocking enough, what Stevie did toward the end of “Gold Dust Woman” will have you in jaw-dropping disbelief. The impromptu moment showed that even Stevie, who rarely strays far from her stage routine, could be spontaneous.
In October, Fleetwood Mac finally made its way to Australia after cancelling a planned tour in 2013 due to bassist John McVie’s cancer scare. Fortunately, McVie recovered and the band was ready to rock fans Down Under. The opening shows in Sydney were blockbusters, catapulting the band into the top spot on Billboard Boxscore, with gross sales exceeding $5.4 million.
After a staggering 150 shows, most of which were sold out, Fleetwood Mac ended the ON WITH THE SHOW TOUR in the beautiful city of Auckland. For most Australasian fans, it was the wind…the rain…the water! that they had to contend with in order to see their heroes in action. Despite the elements, which often made for a soggy concert experience, most fans would probably say it was all worth it. #BucketList Fleetwood Mac closed out the year at No. 6 on Pollstar’s Year End Top 20 Worldwide Tours, with total gross sales of $125.1 million.
Rock a Little was kind of Stevie’s Tusk…big, brash, and a bit all over the place. It also represented everything The Big ’80s could serve up…drum machines, synthesizers, and power ballads. So how does it stand 30 years later?
On December 4, Fleetwood Mac’s most unusual album Tusk got the deluxe treatment, augmented with elaborately reissued editions. Getting the DVD-Audio mix of the album, the track-by-track analysis, and The Alternate Tusk impressed even the most jaded Fleetwood Mac fans.
Never ones to stay at home for long, Stevie and Mick attended the star-studded Broadway premiere of School of Rock in New York. The two megastars schmoozed with the likes of Sting, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Helen Mirren. Mick’s uber-cute twin daughters Ruby and Tess were there too!
Both Mick and Lindsey have been fanning the flames of a possible new Fleetwood Mac album for the past two years. It was clear that Stevie was the lone hold-out, or so it seemed. But now she appears to be on board, if what she told an interviewer at the School of Rock Broadway premiere is accurate.
Though it was an awkward pairing, The Voice judge Gwen Stefani and contestant Jeffery Austin did their best to cover Stevie and Don Henley’s classic duet “Leather and Lace” for the live finale. By the end, you didn’t quite get the sense that Gwen and Jeffery were “lovers forever,” but maybe “pals for a while.”
Get ready to rock…gently to Fleetwood Mac! On Tuesday, Feburary 10, the music of Fleetwood Mac receives a baby-friendly transformation from the award-winning lullaby series Rockabye Baby with the release of Lullaby Renditions of Fleetwood Mac.
Unsurprisingly, Christine McVie’s songs work the best. The eternal optimist’s bright pop melodies naturally lend themselves to this genre. After hearing their impressive transformations, it’s hard to imagine her hit Fleetwood Mac singles “Say You Love Me,” “Don’t Stop,” Everywhere,” and “Little Lies” could have been anything else but these adorable lullabies.
Similarly, the whimsical quality of Lindsey Buckingham’s acoustic classic “Never Going Back Again” and Stevie Nicks’s majestic “Gypsy” shine through as carefree jaunts to dreamland…or the Enchanted Forest!
Rounding out the collections are the less lullaby-like, more meditative “The Chain,” “Dreams,” and “Gold Dust Woman,” which are clearly for the grown-ups.
Be sure to check out the liner booklets for fun games (involving the song titles) and a baby food recipe called “You Make Pumpkin Fun.”
All Rockabye Baby releases are available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon and the Rockabye Baby site. To hear samples of lullabied music from The Beatles, Kanye West, Madonna, Guns N’ Roses and more, click here.
Stevie Nicks hangs out with Lady Gaga at the Vanity Fair Oscar party.
From storming Rockefeller Plaza to officiating a rock star wedding, the members of Fleetwood Mac made big headlines all throughout 2014.
Stevie Nicks was the most ongoing of the five members, making several high profile, A-List appearances, such as the Vanity Fair Oscar Party this past March.
Here’s how Fleetwood Mac’s biggest moments from the past year stacked up:
10. Stevie mentors for Team Adam on The Voice.
In October, Stevie appeared on the hit reality singing competition The Voice to mentor for Team Adam. Mentoring for “The Battle Premiere,” she encouraged the aspiring singers to “walk out there with a big attitude [and] big voice. Work the mic, spend a little eye time with the people who are watching, [and] you gotta break some hearts at the same time.”
Stevie also had a guest stint on American Idol, mentoring season 11 contestants.
Stevie Nicks mentors for Team Adam on The Voice. (Photo: NBC)
9. Fleetwood Mac works on a new album.
Over the summer, Fleetwood Mac began recording tracks for a new album. The band (sans Nicks, who was working on an album of her own in Nashville) worked on new material brought in by returning member Christine McVie. Though no release date has been issued for the album, Lindsey Buckingham was confident that their studio work would come to fruition. “There’s no danger that [the album] will slip between the tracks. It’s too profound to,” he told the Wall Street Journal in October. So Mac fans everywhere lie in wait!
8. Stevie officiates Vanessa Carlton’s wedding.
As if recording a brand new solo album and touring with Fleetwood Mac weren’t enough, Stevie somehow found time to officiate Vanessa Carlton’s marriage to Deer Tick musician John McCauley. Technically, the wedding occurred at the end of 2013 on December 27, but the rock star spectacle managed to set the Internet ablaze well into 2014 and missed every Top 10 list that year, so it’s worth including here. By the power vested in her as an ordained minister, Stevie declared the happy couple husband and wife at an intimate hilltop ceremony in Los Angeles. Carlton shared the exciting news on Twitter, tweeting pictures of Stevie officiating the wedding. The “Thousand Miles” singer-songwriter has formed a close relationship with Stevie and her family over the past few years – even spending the Christmas holidays with the Nickses!
(Photo: Vanessa Carlton)
7. Mick Fleetwood releases second autobiography Play On.
In October, Mick Fleetwood released his second autobiography Play On: Now, Then, and Fleetwood Mac. This time around, Mick tread lightly on the band’s most intimate secrets to prevent another band implosion. (His last exposé, 1991′ s Fleetwood: My Life and Adventures in Fleetwood Mac, strained relationships with band members Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, whose volatile blowup in 1987 was well documented.) All for the better, Fleetwood’s latest work reflects someone who has matured and grown over time. One regret that Fleetwood revealed was the fact that he never wrote any songs for Fleetwood Mac in the band’s 47-year history, creative expression which he is exploring now in an exhibition of his photography.
6. Stevie performs with Lady Antebellum on ACM Awards.
On April 6, Stevie Nicks teamed up with Lady Antebellum to perform the country trio’s hit single “Golden” on the ACM Awards. Nicks loved the song so much that she added her vocals to a special version of “Golden,” which was released on April 1 – no joke! Stevie and Lady also performed Fleetwood Mac’s classic “Rhiannon” on the show, which, as shown in the video, drove the crowd wild!
(Photo: CBS)
5. Stevie joins all-female tribute to 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Linda Ronstadt.
Some of biggest names in music took to the stage for a tour-de-force tribute to 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Linda Ronstadt. Joined by Sheryl Crow, Glen Frey (the lone male), Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, and Carrie Underwood, Stevie took the lead on Ronstadt’s 1977 hit single “It’s So Easy,” a Buddy Holly cover. Stevie made it all look so easy.
4. Stevie Nicks receives BMI Icon Award for Songwriting
On May 13, Stevie received the highest industry honor for songwriting at the BMI Icon Awards. The prestigious event included an all-star musical tribute to her. While giving her acceptance speech, Stevie shared an old poem by Lord Byron titled “When We Two Parted” and brought the Goya guitar that her late parents presented to her for her 16th birthday. Stevie explained how these personal items inspired her to write songs.
(Photo: Lester Cohen / WireImage)
3. Fleetwood Mac takes over Rockefeller Plaza.
On October 9, Fleetwood Mac rocked NBC’s Rockefeller Plaza for the Toyota Fall Concert Series on Today. Despite the cold weather, the band was red hot as it played abbreviated versions of “The Chain,” “Gypsy,” “Little Lies,” and “Go Your Own Way.” Fleetwood Mac fans who arrived early were treated to the sound check, where the band practiced the same songs.
2. Stevie Nicks releases 24 Karat Gold – Songs from the Vault.
No one believed it would ever happen, but hell frozen over in October when Stevie finally recorded many of the old demos that she had amassed over the years. Titled 24 Karat Gold, a reference to one of those precious demos dating back to the 1980s, the album features several new recordings of demos that Stevie found circulating on YouTube. Rather than crying foul with litigation, Stevie used the social media tool to her advantage and selected the most popular ones to record. Created in a Nashville recording studio in just three months, the album featured the classic sound and production — recalling producer Jimmy Iovine’s production work on Bella Donna (1981) and The Wild Heart (1983) — that many fans were pining to hear once again. For the most part, their wish was granted as Nicks and producer Dave Stewart stayed to true her original demos and classic solo artist sound that fans had grown to treasure and associate with her all these years.
Nicks also included photos in an oversized booklet that accompanied the deluxe edition of 24 Karat Gold – Songs from the Vault. Long before there were “selfies” on Instagram and Facebook, Stevie perfected the art of taking self-portraits with her trusty old Polaroid camera. She captured herself at home and in hotel rooms while on tour. In October, Stevie unveiled her extensive collection of self-portraits at the Morrison Hotel Gallery in New York.
1. Christine McVie reunites with Fleetwood Mac for first tour in 16 years.
As she had done in 2013, Christine McVie once again topped the list of the year’s biggest Fleetwood Mac moments when she hit the stage for her first full Fleetwood Mac concert performance since 1998 at the Target Center in Minneapolis on September 30.
Christine McVie returned to the megaband whose legacy she helped to create with her cozy pop songs, such as “Say You Love Me,” “Don’t Stop,” and “Little Lies.” Overcoming a fear of flying, McVie returned to the stage with a renewed confidence. Throughout the tour, she has been grateful to the band for granting her a “second chance” to perform with one of the most enduring bands in rock history.
Once McVie started to sing the opening lines of her 1977 Rumours hit single “You Make Loving Fun,” fans rejoiced and showed their appreciation by giving her warm ovations. Though face-value ticket prices swelled in upwards of $300 a pop at some venues, for many, seeing McVie’s unexpected return to the band was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. All was good in the universe once again.
The band was equally as delighted to see McVie return to the stage. “Our songbird has returned,” Mick Fleetwood gushed at each show of the first leg of the tour, which ended on December 20. The outing was a tremendous success, with sold-out arenas throughout the U.S. and Canada, and earned unanimous praise from critics. With fans on board for the nostalgic ride, 2014 easily became the biggest year for Fleetwood Mac since releasing the reunion album The Dance in 1997.
Tori Amos covered “Silver Springs” at her Rotterdam, Holland show on Monday night in honor of Stevie’s birthday. Amos, a longtime fan of Stevie’s music, has covered many of Stevie’s songs at past concerts, such as “Dreams” and “Landslide,” among others.
All the best rock stars have their trademark stage moves. Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and pop singer Christina Aguilera are certainly aware of the attention that these singular moves command, having sung about “Moves Like Jagger” in the summer of 2011. From Chuck Berry’s rhythmic “duck walk” to Roger Daltrey’s swinging mic routine to the late Michael Jackson’s gravity-defying moonwalk, the greatest performers know exactly what it takes to put on the most memorable stage shows. The Queen of Rock and Roll herself, Stevie Nicks, is no different on her mission to leave the crowd visually spellbound at each show.
Without further adieu, here are Stevie’s Top 10 Stage Moves over the years.
10. Air guitar, drums, keyboards… (video: Luana Barrett)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut_-_7RPBec
Who doesn’t want to play guitar, drums, or keyboards like a rock star? Granted, Stevie is already an established rock star who has nothing more to prove, so this spectacle is unnecessary. But a girl can still dream, like in this clip, in which Stevie’s gets so lost in air keyboards that she misses her vocal cue to start “Rhiannon.”
9. Shake those maracas! – “Sara” (video: Nicole Barker)
This is a relatively new stage move that Stevie introduced during the instrumental breaks in “Sara.” It’s kind of tribal at first glance, as Stevie raises her arms up high and shakes her hands like maracas. She even varied it in latter tours by walking backwards. At 65, that takes coordination!
8. Crouching Stevie, Hidden Dragon (video: Andy Leo)
There’s something imposing about this great stance, like some serious sh*t is about to go dowwwwn. Stevie digs in, assumes the position, and just lets loose, like in this unforgettable performance of “Rhiannon” from Fleetwood Mac’s 1982 Mirage tour.
7. “Say You Will” Lasso dance (video: evie1942)
The “Say You Will” lasso dance has arguably been Stevie’s most elaborate stage move because it involves so many steps. So here’s the breakdown, with lyrical cues in parentheses:
1) Face forward and start singing, “Say you will, say you will…,”
2) point your index finger up (“Give me one more chance…”),
3) open your hands, bend your arms and spread them to the side (“At least give me time…”),
4) shake your hands in disapproval (…to change your mind”),
5) place your arms to the side, raise them up, extend them to the center (“It always seem to heal the wounds if I can…”), and finally
6) put your left arm on your hip and wave an invisible lasso overhead with your right hand. (“…get you to dance.”)
Got it? It’s OK if you didn’t because, fortunately, we have a video tutorial. Front row fans realized that once they got the steps down, they could mimic the lasso dance at the shows. And they did just that!
Miley Cyrus may have popularized the move, but she’s got nothing on Stevie’s version of the hoedown throwdown, complete with happy feet. Adorable.
5. Graceful spinning – “Gypsy” (video: CroNix99)
She is dancing away from you now…and spinning! Stevie introduced this continuous spinning move during The Dance. It’s slower than another great spinning move that she’s known for (coming up!), but the speed is just right for the midtempo “Gypsy.” Donning a beautifully layered black dress with long, flowing sleeves, Stevie exudes elegance and grace with each turn.
Nothing captures Stevie’s mystical charm like the series of moves she has put together for “Gold Dust Woman.” There have been variations on this interpretive dance over the years, and every time we see it, we are simply entranced.
3. Marching high kick – “Gold and Braid” (video: Andy Leo)
Fans often pay homage to this memorable stage move at tribute parties. But most fans will turn to this familiar performance from the 1981 White Winged Dove Tour to rekindle fond memories of marching high kicks and flying tambourines. Unfortunately, Stevie no longer performs the move onstage, otherwise it would be higher on this list. But seeing the clip over again continues to make fans nostalgic.
2. “Stand Back” high kick (video: WMG)
Stevie performs the “Stand Back” high kick so fast that you could literally blink and miss it. But it is a sight to behold. Stevie has mentioned in interviews that she has always been incredibly limber, boasting that she can do the full splits in a heartbeat. While we’ve never seen Stevie throw down the full splits in performance, the “Stand Back” high kick is the next best thing. (To see Stevie doing a full split, watch the opening scene of the “Gypsy” video.) If you pumped your fist in pride when Daniel LaRusso of The Karate Kid (aka “Daniel-san”) performed the winning “Crane Technique,” against his formidable competitor, then you will be knocked out when Stevie does her stage-right “Stand Back” high kick.
1. “Stand Back” spinning (video: evie1942)
It’s probably no surprise that Stevie’s best stage moves happen in “Stand Back,” the pulsating highlight of Stevie’s live shows. The infectious beats and ominous synth notes just command energy and movement. Though her spinning velocity may vary from tour to tour, fans roar in approval whenever Stevie puts herself into circular motion. It’s a happy moment for everyone, bringing a smile to even the most jaded music fan.
Before their performance at last year’s Grammy Celebration, The Lumineers stopped by a private performance area for a special web series that would be released months later.
Today, Grammy.com officially launched the ReImagined Series, an interview and performance-based series that highlights how contemporary artists were influenced by past Grammy winners.
Covers range from The Shins taking on Bukka White to TJ Stafford covering the Beastie Boys. In the first installment, The Lumineers take on Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way,” a cut from their legendary album Rumours. Check out the video above.
