My favorite Christmas gift this past year was a ticket to see Stevie Nicks and Billy Joel live together this June. I have not been able to stop thinking about it and while I am over the moon about Billy Joel, I am probably more excited to see Stevie.
Listening to music is one of my favorite ways to express my emotions, and Stevie is no exception. After I Read Daisy Jones and the Six, I fell even more in love with Fleetwood Mac than I did before. The book is about a fictional band but is heavily based on Fleetwood Mac with a lot of the band tensions mirroring what you might see in a real documentary. Amazon Prime has finally released a limited TV series based on the book, sending me back into the Mac obsession, specifically Stevie.
Regardless of pure musical talent and songwriting ability, Stevie Nicks can at times be extremely relatable and tell some women’s stories. For one, Nicks has overcome multiple addictions. While this is not my story, it must help those in or recovering from addiction to turn to a public face. Nicks has been clean for decades after time spent at Betty Ford’s Drug Rehab Center. Her strength to share her story reduces the stigma and recognizes addiction as a disease, not an inherent flaw.
Nicks also uses her platform for good. With over a million followers on Instagram, she speaks out for Black representation in music, gun reform, world justice (specifically the conflict in Ukraine and Russia) and more. Stevie does not exclusively speak up for herself and her music. It can be easy to slip into the ‘advertising’ culture that social media can be, but Nicks knows she is impressionable and uses her fans’ attention wisely. I commend her for this.
Lastly, I would say Stevie is a ‘girls girl.’ Even while being in a band with her toxic ex, and an ongoing addiction, in documentaries, Stevie always makes sure to remind us all of Christine McVie, another singer and instrumentalist in the band who may not get as much recognition for her work. For context, while Lindsey and Stevie were not founding members of Mac, they have become the most notable names, especially because of their breakup. Stevie makes sure to remind us of her best friend, Christine, especially the time when they were living together. Stevie always supported her projects until Christine’s death earlier this year. At the show this June, I expect to see some kind of tribute to her, either sung or spoken.
Essentially, Stevie Nicks uses her platform, just to make money or increase her ego. She speaks for others and uses her songwriting to share the stories we have also experienced or want to know more about. I am so excited to see her live and keep watching the new episodes of Daisy Jones & the Six!