Bella Donna Live 1981 features all of the broadcast tracks from Stevie’s concert at the Fox Wilshire Theatre in Los Angeles on December 13, 1981, the last night of the “White Winged Dove Tour.” Though 13 of 14 tracks originally appeared on NBC’s The Source for a special 1983 radio broadcast, “After the Glitter Fades,” excluded from the broadcast, makes its commercial vinyl debut on Bella Donna Live 1981. The concert was first reissued back in 2016 for the deluxe edition of Bella Donna. Two other songs that Stevie performed that night, “Think About It” and “Blue Lamp,” remain elusive.
Description:
Available for the first time on vinyl, this 2LP set features Stevie Nicks live, a recording from the White Winged Dove Tour, at the Fox Wilshire Theatre on December 13th 1981. The show included tracks from Bella Donna including “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” “Leather and Lace” and “Edge of Seventeen,” along with Fleetwood Mac favorites “Gold Dust Woman,” “Dreams,” “Sara” and “Rhiannon.”
Side 1 A1. GOLD DUST WOMAN A2. GOLD AND BRAID A3. I NEED TO KNOW A4. OUTSIDE THE RAIN
Side 2 B1. DREAMS B2. ANGEL* B3. AFTER THE GLITTER FADES B4. LEATHER AND LACE*
Side 3 C1. STOP DRAGGIN’ MY HEART AROUND C2. BELLA DONNA* C3. SARA C4. HOW STILL MY LOVE*
Stevie Nicks has canceled three upcoming shows on her current solo tour: Oklahoma City, New Orleans and Birmingham. The Oklahoma City and New Orleans show had originally been rescheduled for April 11th and 15th, respectively, but are now officially canceled due to ongoing COVID illness within the band. This also affects Stevie’s Two Icons One Night show with Billy Joel scheduled for April 8th in Arlington, which has now been rescheduled for March 9th, 2024.
On Wednesday night, Stevie Nicks performed at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, the first show of her 2023 solo tour. During rehearsals last month, Stevie invited fans to share their set list requests, and as expected, there were literally hundreds of songs submitted for consideration. To everyone’s surprise and delight, Stevie pulled out the obscure “I Sing for the Things” from her third solo album Rock a Little, the first time that the song has ever been performed in concert. See a clip of it below.
The rocker “Fall from Grace” and Fleetwood Mac masterpiece “Sara” also returned to the set list.
Outside the Rain/Dreams
Stevie opened the show with her reliable “Outside the Rain”/”Dreams” combo. During “Dreams,” she threw in an impressive sustained note on “you know what you lost…” during the pre-chorus.
If Anyone Falls
Stevie welcomed the Seattle crowd and let them know that she had broken her “little toe” on Monday afternoon. Wearing less precarious footwear, Stevie was still able to move about the stage with ease, throwing in the occasional twirl and keeping the energy level high, like a self-dubbed “cheerleader.”
“Welcome, Seattle! Can I tell you how glad we are to be here. We got here on Monday night instead of being in Los Angeles, where all of our houses are falling off the mountains. Nothing we can do, so we’re happy to be here. I will tell you one little thing because it’s truth, I love to tell my audiences truth. You might know this, that I’m not wearing high heels tonight. The reason being, I found out on Monday afternoon right before I got on the plane to come here that my little toe was broken. I know, what a downer. I said to say like hello/goodbye di Fabrizio and hello Balenciaga. So if I appear to be a little bit cheerleader-y, that’s why! And I have family here and so…I know they’re out there somewhere. She’s a nurse, so in case I need you, I’ll call you, you’ll run right up.
“So anyway, let’s get this party started. We’re so glad to be here! So you glad you’re here! Welcome!”
Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around
The blues rocker “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” from Bella Donna was next. Guitarist Waddy Wachtel resumed his role as Stevie’s duet partner on the song.
Fall from Grace
Stevie has been mixing classics with lesser-known tracks, along with their stories, while being mindful of her fans who just wanted to hear the hits. She revisited the electrifying “Fall from Grace” from Trouble in Shangri-La, and the pensive “Soldier’s Angel” from In Your Dreams, which has taken on new meaning for Stevie since Russia invaded Ukraine.
For What It’s Worth
Stevie continues to perform her cover of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth,” which she recorded and released as a digital single last May.
Gypsy
“Gypsy,” a Billboard No. 12 hit for Fleetwood Mac back in the fall of 1982, was bright and graceful.
Wild Heart
Stevie began performing shortened versions of “Wild Heart” and “Bella Donna” during her 2016 24 Karat Gold Tour. She has since included these title tracks from her first and second solo albums in her most recent concert sets.
Bella Donna
During “Bella Donna,” Stevie draped herself in the famous blue cape.
Stand Back
I Sing for the Things
Stevie performed “I Sing for the Things” for the first time in her solo concerts. It followed “Stand Back” in the revised set list, with the Tom Petty cover “Free Fallin’” moving to the first encore position.
“It’s going to be like Prince and the Pea, except it’ll be Princess and the Cape.
“So I have to just say one thing about this next song. First of all, it’s never been done onstage before. Why? Because when I wrote it, and it was recorded somewhere, we think, 1986, I was not in a good place. We don’t exactly remember what place that was, but we know it wasn’t a good place and it’s very sad when you hear it on the recorded version. Or as Waddy likes to say, “agonizing.” So we decided that we would like to do it now because it was never meant to be agonizing. It was meant to be a really good, uplifting song about people that do what we do. So anyway, that’s what it is and it’s called “I Sing for the Things That Money Can’t Buy.”
Stevie gave an exquisite rendition of “Sara,” her Fleetwood Mac classic from Tusk. She sustained some notes, while pleasantly inflecting others. Wearing a sparkling red shawl, she danced playfully around the circular stage figuration, which resembled a crescent moon.
Edge of Seventeen
The show culminated with Stevie’s signature set closer “Edge of Seventeen,” which did not disappoint. At the end of the song, she danced and waved at the crowd, with her ribbon-laced tambourine in hand.
Free Fallin’
For the first encore, Stevie paid tribute to her longtime friend and collaborator Tom Petty by covering “Free Fallin’”from his 1989 solo album Full Moon Fever.
Rhiannon
Stevie performed “Rhiannon” without the piano introduction. She danced and showed off the long flowy sleeves attached to her trademark black chiffon shirt.
Landslide
Stevie ended the evening with “Landslide,” the emotional high point of the show. With just guitarist Waddy Wachtel and keyboardist Darrell Smith accompanying her onstage, Stevie dedicated the tender ballad to the late Christine McVie. As old pictures of the two displayed on the large monitor at the back of the stage, the crowd smiled and sang along. Time makes you bolder, children get older. I’m getting older too.
Singer CIL (“One More Shot”) was Stevie’s support act. CIL will be opening at four West Coast shows: Seattle, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Sacramento.
Special thanks to Michael Wight and Devin Creisler Studios for the videos and @BRStevieNicks for the live, play-by-play action from the show!
Produced by Gorillaz’s Damon Albarn and Grammy-Award-winning producer Greg Kurstin (Adele, Kelly Clarkson, Sia), the otherworldly track takes “fairy-like companions” to a fantasyland of “interlocking cluster bombs like drum and bass.” Stevie adds her trademark vocals to some pretty trippy stuff, but it’s just classic Gorillaz-speak — rambling, poetic and brilliant all at the same time.
“Oil” opens with 2-D (Albarn) pondering the disappointment of having coded a world of “faulty dreams.” He’s all alone, instead of being with the “early database of your love.” As he explores, the environment is bleak, war-torn and riddled with “wells of poison” (oil?) and those darn interlocking cluster bombs! But as he processes the surreal predicament, 2-D suddenly becomes hopeful, not so cold, as if, um, a mystical superhero enchantress shared some timely wisdom: Your heart is not a sad affair! Individual actions can change the world, so fill them up with love!
This is virtual insanity that only Gorillaz could have envisioned, so jump onboard and “fly out of the doldrums”!
“Oil” is out now on Gorillaz’s new album Cracker Island.
Lyrics
Then I put my codes in the machine But the world I found was made
Of faulty dreams (of faulty dreams)
I was on my own there
In the psychic silence I was looking out for
Some other kite to
Fly out of the doldrums
And recall the log From the early database
Of your love (of your love)
Fairy-like companions
To the dark mass that catapult Us into imagined worlds
Seems a mockery remote
Interlocking cluster bombs
Like drum and bass I thought Close the wells of poison
Fill them up with love
I was on my own there
I was all alone I got lost intangible
But that’s thе place you reach when
You can’t hеlp yourself anymore
And the madness comes You’ll be falling into the
Bass and drum (bass and drum)
Fairy-like companions
To the dark mass that catapult Us into imagined worlds
Seems a mockery remote
‘Cause I got no choice in it
And I’m not so cold I could look you in the eye
And not recall (and not recall)
Don’t think that my heart is a sad affair
Without you Individual actions
Change the world Fill them up with love
Read More
Gorillaz’s Most Purely Pleasurable LP Yet – Rolling Stone
Stevie Nicks, Bad Bunny, and Beck are all on board, but there’s less guest-list whiplash here than on any of the cartoon band’s previous records
Gorillaz Release New Album Featuring Stevie Nicks… – Stereogum
Cracker Island, the latest album from Gorillaz, has arrived. The title track was released way back in June 2022, and the rollout has continued on from there. “New Gold” came out in August alongside the official album announcement, and that was followed by “Baby Queen,” “Skinny Ape,” “Silent Running,…
Rhino will be issuing Bella Donna Live 1981 for the spring edition of Record Store Day on April 22, 2023. The special release, limited to 10,000 copies, coincides with Stevie Nicks‘ upcoming tour, which kicks off in March.
Bella Donna Live 1981 features all of the broadcast tracks from Stevie’s concert at the Fox Wilshire Theatre in Los Angeles on December 13, 1981, the last night of the “White Winged Dove Tour.” Though 13 of 14 tracks originally appeared on NBC’s The Source for a special 1983 radio broadcast, “After the Glitter Fades,” excluded from the broadcast, makes its commercial vinyl debut on Bella Donna Live 1981. The concert was first reissued back in 2016 for the deluxe edition of Bella Donna. Two other songs that Stevie performed that night, “Think About It” and “Blue Lamp,” remain elusive.
Description:
Available for the first time on vinyl, this 2LP set features Stevie Nicks live, a recording from the White Winged Dove Tour, at the Fox Wilshire Theatre on December 13th 1981. The show included tracks from Bella Donna including “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” “Leather and Lace” and “Edge of Seventeen,” along with Fleetwood Mac favorites “Gold Dust Woman,” “Dreams,” “Sara” and “Rhiannon.”
Side 1 A1. GOLD DUST WOMAN A2. GOLD AND BRAID A3. I NEED TO KNOW A4. OUTSIDE THE RAIN
Side 2 B1. DREAMS B2. ANGEL* B3. AFTER THE GLITTER FADES B4. LEATHER AND LACE*
Side 3 C1. STOP DRAGGIN’ MY HEART AROUND C2. BELLA DONNA* C3. SARA C4. HOW STILL MY LOVE*
Side 4 D1. EDGE OF SEVENTEEN D2. RHIANNON
Read More
RSD ’23 Special Release: Stevie Nicks – Bella Donna Live 1981
Available for the first time on vinyl, this 2LP set features Stevie Nicks live, a recording from the White Winged Dove Tour, at the Fox Wilshire Theatre on December 13th 1981. The show included tracks from Bella Donna including “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” “Leather and Lace” and “Edge of Sevente…
Happy Valentine’s Day! Stevie Nicks has been busy rehearsing for her upcoming tour. “Working on a new set list…any requests? she asked in a new social media post on the famous day for lovers. Of course, this generated thousands of suggestions from her legion of fans, who took a deep dive into Stevie’s five-decade back catalog. 50 years! Long Distance Winner! The Highwayman! Talk to Me! Angel!
While Stevie can always unleash a good cover, fans seem divided on whether any of those songs should be included at all for the tour. On the one hand, Stevie has always honored her musical inspirations on stage; Tom Petty (“I Need to Know”), Led Zeppelin (“Rock and Roll”), and most recently Buffalo Springfield (“For What It’s Worth,”) for example. But, with the future of Fleetwood Mac forever cast in doubt, every opportunity to perform seems more precious than ever. So why not fill the set list with the very best songs, which Stevie Nicks devotees feel is material from her own catalog? So the discussion wages on.
Whatever she decides to include, I can’t wait for Stevie to hit the stage and rock a little (nudge nudge hint hint).
In a new interview with USA Today, Dolly Parton dropped the title of her new track with Stevie Nicks, “What Has Rock and Roll Ever Done for Me.” “I had fun singing with Stevie (Nicks),” Dolly said in the interview. “It’s a song she wrote called ‘What Has Rock ‘n Roll Ever Done for Me,’ a cute little song.”
If the title sounds familiar, you may have stumbled upon Stevie’s Rock a Little-era demo on YouTube, where it’s called “What Has Rock and Roll Ever Done for You.” Given how many people have shared the demo over the years, perhaps something got lost in translation. Whatever happened, it’s exciting that “What Has Rock and Roll Ever Done for Me” was finally recorded!
Dolly Parton’s double album Rock Star” (with 28 tracks anticipated) is expected in late summer/early fall.
Listen to the demo below:
Read More
Dolly Parton has Elton, McCartney, Stevie Nicks on upcoming rock album
Dolly Parton has lined up a parade of big names for her rock album – McCartney, Elton John, Stevie Nicks – but she still wants one major star.
Stevie’s first solo show will take place in Seattle, WA at the Climate Pledge Arena on March 15. Stevie shared the news on her Facebook page:
Surprise! Tickets for my 2023 tour go on sale Friday at 10am local time. Which show will we see you at? ✨https://stevienicksofficial.com ~ Fan/Live Nation Presale: Thur 1/26 @ 10am
On Monday evening, Christine McVie’s close friends and bandmates gathered for her “Celebration of Life” in Malibu, California. Christine’s longtime musical companions Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, and Stevie Nicks reunited for the sad but celebratory occasion. Christine passed away at the age of 79 on November 30, 2022 after a short illness.
On Wednesday, Mick shared Christine’s eulogy, which has been transcribed below from his social media post.
This is what I presented Monday, January 9, 2023 at the Celebration of Life for Christine McVie in Malibu, CA where the band members with their/our personal family and extended family of Fleetwood Mac gathered. It was a beautiful tribute to a wonderful woman and an incredible talent.
I wrote this for Chris right after she passed away…
For Chris, This is a day where my dear sweet friend Christine McVie has taken flight, And left us Earthbound folks to listen with bated breath to the sounds of that “song bird…” Reminding one and all that love is all around us to reach for and touch in this precious life that is gifted to us. Part of my heart has flown away today… I will miss everything about you Christine McVie Memories abound…they fly to me
Thank you for coming today as we celebrate the incredible life of our sweet Christine.
So, when we first learned that we might be losing Christine, there was an immediate coming together of everyone in the band and the Fleetwood Mac family with the hope and possibility that we would not lose Chris.
And NOW since the loss of Christine, we all are still trying to come to terms with the fact she has really flown away.
In THIS moment in time, we celebrate her life, all together here today to help with our healing.
I’ve been blessed to be a part of a family that created a safe place for Chris and the band’s music to unfold. I am extremely honored for her to have been in my family’s life for over 55 years. Amy, Lucy, Ruby and Tessa, my four beautiful daughters and extended family grew up sharing life with Christine. We all love and miss her so much already.
The other day when John and I were sitting together and not knowing how to come to terms with the Loss of Christine, I blundered into a powerful word… I said, “John, It’s the Enormity of it all!”
The enormity of our loss, the enormity of her passion, the enormity of her talents and her unshakable sense of grace in the way she handled life’s challenges.
I think she would have been truly amazed at all the attention and celebrations of her music around the world and in total disbelief at the fact they were closing down sporting events to pay tribute to her. But that was our Christine — she was a North country girl from beginning to end never caring about the fluff. Again, it was our Christine who gifted so much to millions around the world.
She is being remembered Everywhere. Just as her song says, “I want to be with you everywhere” and she is.
It’s with a sense of gratitude and thanks to The Fleetwood Mac Family that we are part of…and losing such a magical component: has sparked a celebration of what Christine means to us. We all miss her as a family member, as a friend: an artist, a perfomer and Gold know a writer of excellence. And those years sharing life together will always be remembered.
I have a poem I want to end with, it is an ancient Sanskrit poem I have next to my bed that was given to me by my mother, Biddy…
Look well to this day, For it is life, The very best of life. In its brief course lie all the Realities and truths of existence. The joy of growth, The splendor of action, The glory of power For yesterday is but a memory And tomorrow is only a vision But today, if we lived, makes Every yesterday a memory Of happiness, And every tomorrow A vision of hope, Look well therefore to this day.”
Eternal love for Christine and gratitude, Mick Fleetwood
Read More
Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood reunite in Malibu
– Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood celebrate the life of their late Fleetwood Mac bandmember Christine Mcvie on Monday night.
Beloved Fleetwood Mac keyboardist and singer-songwriter Christine McVie has passed away at the age of 79. (The Blast later obtained a copy of Christine’s death certificate. The main cause of death was revealed to be an ischaemic stroke and cancer as a secondary factor.)
On behalf of Christine’s family, her official social media team confirmed the sad news in the following statement:
“On behalf of Christine McVie’s family, it is with a heavy heart we are informing you of Christine’s death. She passed away peacefully at hospital this morning, Wednesday, November 30th 2022, following a short illness. She was in the company of her family. We kindly ask that you respect the family’s privacy at this extremely painful time, and we would like everyone to keep Christine in their hearts and remember the life of an incredible human being, and revered musician who was loved universally. RIP Christine McVie.”
Christine’s Fleetwood Mac band members also issued statements.
Fleetwood Mac: “There are no words to describe our sadness at the passing of Christine McVie. She was truly one-of-a-kind, special and talented beyond measure. She was the best musician anyone could have in their band and the best friend anyone could have in their life. We were so lucky to have a life with her. Individually and together, we cherished Christine deeply and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. She will be so very missed.”
Mick Fleetwood:“This a day where my dear sweet Friend Christine McVie has taken to flight and left us earthbound folks to listen with bated breath to the sounds of that “song bird…” reminding one and all that love is all around us to reach for and touch in this precious life that is gifted to us. Part of my heart has flown away today. I will miss everything about you, Christine McVie. Memories abound, they fly to me.”
Stevie Nicks: “A few hours ago I was told that my best friend in the whole world since the first day of 1975, had passed away. I didn’t even know she was ill…until late Saturday night. I wanted to be in London; I wanted to get to London ~ but we were told to wait. So, since Saturday, one song has been swirling around in my head, over and over and over. I thought I might possibly get to sing it to her, and so, I’m singing it to her now. I always knew I would need these words one day (written by the Ladies Haim). It’s all I can do now…”
I had a best friend
But she has come to pass
One I wish I could see now
You always remind me
That memories will last
These arms reach out
You were there to protect me
Like a shield
Long hair running with me ~
Through the field…
Everywhere, you’ve been with me all along
Why me?
How’d I get this hallelujah
Why?
How’d I get this hallelujah
Why me?
How’d I get this hallelujah
“See you on the other side, my love. Don’t forget me ~ Always, Stevie”
Lindsey Buckingham:“Christine McVie’s sudden passing is profoundly heartbreaking. Not only were she and I part of the magical family of Fleetwood Mac, to me Christine was a musical comrade, a friend, a soul mate, a sister. For over four decades, we helped each other create a beautiful body of work and a lasting legacy that continues to resonate today. I feel very lucky to have known her. Though she will be deeply missed, her spirit will live on through that body of work and that legacy.”
Christine McVie composed some of Fleetwood Mac’s biggest and most recognizable hits, such as “Don’t Stop,” “Hold Me,” “Little Lies,” “Everywhere,” and many others.
See all the loving tributes to Christine from the music community below.
