Stevie Nicks

Stevie Nicks (born 26.5. 1948)

Stevie Nicks is an American singer and songwriter; best known for being a member of the influential group, Fleetwood Mac.

Stevie Nicks: Childhood & Early Career

Stevie Nicks was born in Phoenix, Arizona. Her father, Jess, was a corporate executive and her mother, Barbara was a housewife. Stevie was taught to sing by her grandfather, Aaron Jess Nicks, a country music singer.

On her 16th birthday, she received a Goya guitar and wrote her first song, which was entitled 'I've Loved and I've Lost and I'm Sad But I'm Not Blue.' Whilst studying at Arcadia High School in Los Angeles, she joined her first band, The Changing Times.

The Nicks family moved frequently, with her father's profession and it was whilst at Menlo Atherton High School that she met Lindsay Buckingham. A few years after meeting, she asked to join his band, Fritz. Fritz had a degree of popularity and opened for the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.

Nicks and Buckingham started to record as a duo, releasing the album Buckingham Nicks in 1973.

Stevie Nicks: Fleetwood Mac

Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham joined Fleetwood Mac in 1974. The following year, the band found success with their self-titled album. Stevie ended their personal relationship when tensions between them took its toll on their creativity.

The hugely successful follow-up album, Rumours, was released in 1976. Nicks wrote the song 'Dreams' for the album, which became their first and only number one single in the USA. She also wrote 'Silver Springs', which was used as a B-side for 'Go Your Own Way.'

Towards the end of 1977, Stevie Nicks started an affair with Mick Fleetwood (he was married to Jenny Boyd at the time). They ended the affair but Fleetwood later left his wife for Stevie's best friend Sara Recor. Recording to the follow-up to Rumours, began in the spring of 1978 and resulted in the album Tusk.

In 1979, Stevie Nicks recorded the duets 'Whenever I Call You Friend' with Kenny Loggins and 'Gold' with John Stewart. In 1981, Stevie Nicks toured with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and the band Split Enz. That same year, she released her debut solo album Bella Donna.

The Wild Heart - another solo album by Stevie Nicks was released in 1983. The follow-up, Rock a Little, was released in 1984. Two years later, she toured with Bob Dylan. By this stage in her career, however, Nicks was suffering heavily with her cocaine addiction, which was affecting her onstage performance.

Fleetwood Mac started recording Tango in the Night. Nicks joined the recordings later on in proceedings once she had left the Betty Ford Clinic where she was being treated for addiction.

The Other Side of the Mirror was released in 1989 and achieved commercial success. She began a relationship with the record's producer, Rupert Hine. Later that year, she started work on another Fleetwood Mac album, Behind the Mask.

The Fleetwood Mac song 'Don't Stop' was used as Bill Clinton's campaign theme song in 1993. The next year, she released Street Angel, though much of the production work was carried out whilst she was in rehab.

Fleetwood Mac reformed in 1996 and went on to record The Dance. The album was nominated for a Grammy and Nicks herself was nominated for a Rock Vocal Performance Grammy.

In 1994, Stevie Nicks started writing for Trouble in Shangri-La, with the help of Sheryl Crow. Sarah McLachlan and Macy Gray also contributed.

Another Fleetwood Mac album, Say You Will, was released in April 2003 and although it was commercially successful, it received mixed reviews.

A 'best of', released in 2007, was entitled Crystal Visions and was supported by a tour with Chris Isaak. In February 2010, Dave Stewart (of Eurythmics) announced, via Twitter, that he was working with Stevie Nicks and that they had four new songs, including one called 'Everybody Loves You'. The album, In Your Dreams was released in May 2011.

Stevie Nicks' music has had a widespread influence on contemporary artists, such as Courtney Love and her band, Hole, Belinda Carlisle, Taylor Swift, Sheryl Crow and Kelly Clarkson, to name just a few. Nicks herself has been influenced by the likes of Grace Slick and Janis Joplin.

Stevie Nicks: Personal Life

Whilst Stevie's relationship with Mick Fleetwood has been well documented, it is less well known that she was romantically involved with Don Henley (of The Eagles), as well as the Fleetwood Mac concert promoter David Pesnell.

Stevie Nicks has been married once, to Kim Anderson, the widower of her friend Robin Anderson. The marriage was short-lived and both parties admitted marrying out of grief, rather than love.