This week, Stevie Nicks is being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist, her second induction (the first with Fleetwood Mac).
Plus, the pending release of Stevie’s solo anthology Stand Back: 1981 - 2017, makes it a very special time for Stevie and her fans.
We trawl the archives to present some fabulous and fascinating career moments, including her surprise appearance as her witchy self on American Horror Story: Coven, a rockin’ Led Zeppelin cover and a rare and stunning “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” with Bob Dylan and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Stevie's work with Fleetwood Mac is legendary is it's own right, so for this particular run of events, we've stuck to the solo stuff!
“Rhiannon”, from American Horror Story
American Horror Story is one of the most loved American TV series of the past decade – an oddball mix of genuine horror and playful pop culture fun. When the season called Coven appeared in 2013, set in New Orleans and featuring a character obsessed with Stevie, maybe we shouldn’t have been too surprised when Stevie herself made an appearance. Not only as herself but as her white witch self! Of course, we got a song as well. Oh, and it was recently announced that Stevie will appear in the next season of American Horror Story, entitled Apocalypse, reprising her role alongside many of the other characters from Coven. Good times.
“Blue Lamp” from Heavy Metal
From the film based on the glossy adult fantasy comic art magazine Heavy Metal, which was a big deal with rock'n’roll types (and stoner types) in the late 70s. Of course, the film worked well with MTV in its fledgling days. This one appears on the three-disc, 50-track version of Stand Back.
“Ebony Eyes” by Bob Welch
Bob Welch was Fleetwood Mac’s frontman during their lost years of the early 70s – after their heavy blues days with Peter Green leading the way, and before Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks came on board. Stevie was obviously a friend and fan though, as she and Mick Fleetwood joined Bob for a version of his big 1978 hit (#2 in Australia) “Ebony Eyes” on stage at the 1978 Cal Jams 2 Festival.
“Needles & Pins” by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Another one that appears on the expanded edition of Stand Back. This beautiful version of the old Searchers hit (which will also be known to fans of the Ramones and Smokie, and which was actually co-written by Sonny of Sonny & Cher fame), first appeared on Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ Pack Up The Plantation live album in 1985. The Searchers’ pioneering use of electric 12-string guitar in the mid-60s hugely influenced The Byrds and in turn Petty’s classic early sound.
“Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” by Bob Dylan and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Sydney
More with Tom, and taken from the legendary Dylan/Heartbreakers 1986 tour’s stopover in Sydney. Stevie’s vocal contribution to this iconic tune is stunning – would love to hear her sing the whole thing. Stevie accompanied Tom on this tour, and her on-stage appearances caused trouble with the Australian immigration department – Stevie didn’t have a work visa – apparently pissing Tom off so much that he never again performed here. Such a shame.
“Edge of Seventeen” with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Another Australian performance, taken from Stevie’s 2006 appearance at Rod Lave Arena, backed by the Melbourne Symphony orchestra. A version of “Landslide” from this concert appears on the expanded edition of the new anthology.
Stevie & Chrissie Hynde on 60 Minutes
Staying in Australia – we really do love Stevie down here don’t we – check out this brief interview with Stevie & Chrissie Hynde filmed for 60 Minutes ahead of Stevie and The Pretenders 2017 Australian tour.
“Rock and Roll” by Led Zeppelin
Not a song we would ever have expected Stevie to cover – “Stairway To Heaven” or “Going To California” maybe – but Stevie sings up a storm and reveals some surprising similarities between her voice and Robert Plant’s. Waddy Wachtel tears it up on guitar. Another track we’ll be hearing on the expanded version of Stand Back: 1981 – 2017.
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