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This Journal Belongs to
Stevie Nicks
year at Arcadia High school in California, she met Lindsey Buckingham, who asked her two years later in 1967 to join his psychedelic rock band the Fritz when two of its band members left for college. The band opened for Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Both of which inspired Nicks’ own stage performances. The Fritz disbanded in 1972 and Nicks and Buckingham continued on as a duet, BuckinghamNicks. STEVIE NICKS was 16 when she got her first guitar and that’s when she wrote her first song. She had always been interested in writing and has kept a journal throughout her life. Nicks has always written poetry which translated well into writing music. Her father was a country music singer so she grew up in a musical household. By the age of four she was singing duets with her father. She was playing records constantly in high school and eventually joined her first band The Changing Times. Her senior
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Buckingham and Nicks lived as starving artists in love for a couple years, writing music and working odd jobs. This time in her life inspired the song “Gypsy.” Buckingham landed a guitargig and brought Nicks along with him on tour across the United States. On the road Nicks wrote “Rhiannon” and “Landslide.” Nicks wrote “Landslide” in Colorado surrounded by its beautiful mountains; it was inspired by her inner battle with deciding whether or not to pursue music and her relationship with Buckingham. STEVIE NICKS
her heartbreak, passion, anger, frustrations, and regrets: all are present in her work.
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In 1975 Mick Fleetwood and Christine McVie asked BuckinghamNicks to join Fleetwood Mac. The band released the album Fleetwood Mac that year which included Nicks’ songs “Rhiannon” and “Landslide.” This was the album that helped them achieve worldwide success. This was also when Buckingham and Nicks broke off their relationship. Additionally in this year Nicks was working on developing her stage style which included flowing fabrics, shawls, and platform boots. In 1976 Rumours was released which included Nicks’ song “Dreams.” Nicks’ songs began to center more around her recent break up and the emotional tolls of this part of her life. Not included on this album but written at this time was “Silver Springs” which also was about 8
her split. On this record “Go Your Own Way” was Buckinghams’ song about Nicks and his side of their break up. On the Rumours tour in 1977 was when Nicks found her iconic Top Hat, which she performs in and still brings on tour with her to this day. Additionally this is when Mick Fleetwood and Nicks secretly began an affair. Ultimately Nicks did not want to ruin Fleetwood’s marriage STEVIE NICKS
and they ended things. By 1978 Nicks realized that she had a large enough collection of songs that she had written dating back to her days with Buckingham up till this point in time that she could record and publish her own solo album. So as Fleetwood Mac worked on their 12th album Tusk which was released in 1979, Nicks worked on her first solo album Bella Donna which was released in 1981. Nicks was fully invested in both parts of her life; the band and her own solo career. GREATEST WORKS
this time in her life inspired the song “gypsy�.
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After her first album release she was deemed by Rolling Stone to be
"“ t he Reigni of Rock a
ing Queen and Roll � "
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This album included “Edge of Seventeen,” “How Still My Love,” and “Leather and Lace.” Nicks considers “How Still My Love” to be her sexiest song; she doesn’t usually write sexy songs but still a favorite of hers to perform. Additionally this album marked a turning point in Nicks music, her songs turned from emotional and heartbreaking to nostalgic and confident. Nicks was at a high point in her career. Bella Donna had reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart. However at this time in her life her best friend, Robin Anderson, passed from Leukemia. After her death Nicks began to draw angels GREATEST WORKS
in addition to her poetry and journal writing. Following her death Nicks and Robin’s widower, Kim Anderson, married for eight month out of grief. They divorced because they realized they had married for the wrong reasons. Despite all this heartbreak in 1981 she embarked on her first solo tour called The White Winged Dove tour. This was cut short to record Mirage with Fleetwood Mac and then later to tour with Fleetwood Mac for this album in 1982. 13
she is an inspiring artist and woman and many look up to her as a role model. 15
In 1983 her second solo album The Wild Heart was released and reached number five on the Billboard 200 albums chart. On this album Nicks included the song “Beauty and the Beast” which referenced her relationship with Buckingham, whom she has said she will continue to write about throughout her life. Her third album Rock a Little was released in 1985 and included songs “I Can’t Wait,” “I Sing for Things,” and “Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You.” Before Nicks toured with this third solo album she was warned that if she continued her cocaine use she might die. With that news, after her tour she checked herself into Rehab to overcome her cocaine addiction. She later met with a psychiatrist who prescribed her with a sedative called Klonopin to help her remain cocaine free. In 1987 Fleetwood Mac released Tango in the Night, Nicks was unable to contribute very much
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to this album but it did include her song “Seven Wonders.” This album became the band’s second-highest selling album ever and concluded in a world tour. Tensions became too high for Buckingham so he left the band and they toured that year without him. Also during this time Nicks Psychiatrist began overdosing Nicks and she became gravely addicted to Klonopin. Through this addiction she wrote The Other Side of the Mirror released in 1988 and Street Angel released in 1993. Nicks barley remembers her own tour in 1989 and was severely disappointed in her Street Angel album due to the Klonopin. Nicks also quit Fleetwood Mac around this time. Nicks committed herself to Rehab again in 1993. This was her lowest point in her career and she took a much needed break from performing. In 1996 Nicks was back to her normal self and happier and healthier than she had been in awhile and her music showed it. Eventually Fleetwood Mac reformed and in 1998 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Nicks, after her break, put together several more albums. First was Trouble in Shangri-La in 2001, In Your Dreams in 2011, and 24 Karat Gold in 2014. Totaling 8 solo albums so far.
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in 1996 nicks was back to her normal self and happier and healthier than she had been in awhile and her music showed it.
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Nicks still performs like she used to in the 70s and 80s. She continues to include her ballet twirls, poetic movement, and her iconic style. Her dancing and the flowing fabrics of her performance outfits always add a dynamic element to her shows. Additionally Nicks would often decorate her stage microphone stand with roses and ribbons. She has always had a mystical visual style that is present in her performances and music.
Stevie Nicks is a strong and amazing musician who wrote and performed with so much passion. She is an inspiring artist and woman and many look up to her as a role model. She went through some tough breakups and drug use but made it through and is now a happier and healthier person.
even in my really bad, drugged - out days, i didn’t go away. i still toured, still did interviews. i never gave up the fight. that’s why i’m who i am today, because i didn’t leave. and i think i made the right choice. STEVIE NICKS 18
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