British Summer Time
Friday 12th July 2024
Hyde Park, London
Legendary American singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks returned to the UK for her first solo tour on these shores since 1989! She headlined the British Summer Time Festival in London’s gloriously bonny Hyde Park on 12th July. Prior to this event she was scheduled to play two sold out Arena shows in Glasgow on the 6th July (her first solo gig in Scotland ever!) and Manchester on the 9th July, but both were subsequently postponed, due to a leg injury, for Wednesday 24th July and Tuesday 16th July respectively. This was Stevie's third appearance in Hyde Park having played there on two previous occasions, the first in 2011 supporting Rod Stewart and the second in 2017 supporting Tom Petty.
Stephanie Lynn Nicks turned seventy-six in May this year and shows no sign of slowing down on her performing commitments. She started her musical journey in 1967 when she joined her future musical and romantic partner Lindsey Buckingham in the Psychedelic Rock band Fritz. After Fritz disbanded in 1972, Nicks and Buckingham continued to write as a duo. They secured a deal with Polydor Records, and the eponymous Buckingham Nicks was released in 1973. The album was not a commercial success and Polydor dropped them.
With no money coming in, Stevie began waiting tables and doing cleaning jobs. Famously, in 1974, producer Keith Olsen played the Buckingham Nicks track ‘Frozen Love’ for drummer Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac, who had come to Sound City in California in search of a recording studio. Being suitably impressed, Fleetwood called Buckingham, inviting him to join the band. Buckingham refused, insisting that Nicks and he were "a package deal" and he would not join without her. Reluctantly at first, Fleetwood eventually agreed, and the band set to work on their first album with the new lineup. In 1975, Fleetwood Mac achieved worldwide success with the album ‘Fleetwood Mac’. Nicks's ‘Rhiannon’ was voted one of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time by Rolling Stone Magazine. While Nicks and Buckingham achieved professional success with Fleetwood Mac, their personal relationship was eroding. They would go through a harrowing break up which would be played out on Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 massive selling ‘Rumours’ album. Despite the inner turmoil this lineup continued to release further hit albums including ‘Tusk’ in 1979, ‘Mirage’ in 1982 and ‘Tango in The Night’ in 1987.
During breaks in Fleetwood Mac’s frantic schedule, Stevie’s first venture as a solo artist came with the release of her debut album ‘Bella Donna’ in 1981. A huge success in the US, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 chart, with four singles making the Billboard Hot 100. Sadly, it didn’t make much impact in the UK. Stevie would continue to follow a successful solo career in parallel with her role in Fleetwood Mac, however, Mac activities would take priority over solo projects. Her second studio album ‘The Wild Heart’ would appear in 1983. The album went double platinum, reached number five on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and featured three hit singles. Over the next forty years a further six studio albums would be released including ‘Rock a Little’ (1985), ‘The Other Side of the Mirror’ (1989), ‘Street Angel’ (1994), ‘Trouble in Shangri-La’ (2001), ‘In Your Dreams’ (2011) and ‘24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault’ (2014).
Sadly, the classic ’Rumours’ lineup of Fleetwood Mac ended abruptly in 1988 after a massive fight between Stevie and guitarist Buckingham over his lack of desire to tour to promote the massive hit album ‘Tango in The Night’, this subsequently resulted in him leaving! The band continued without him and recruited two new guitarists and went out on tour. The new lineup would release one studio album called ‘Behind the Mask’ in 1990.
After releasing her most successful solo album to chart in Europe and the UK ‘The Other Side of the Mirror’ in 1989, Stevie embarked on her first solo European and UK tour. As soon as that tour was complete, she was back on the road with Fleetwood Mac to promote their latest ‘Behind the Mask’ album. Following that tour Stevie quit the band after an argument with Mick Fleetwood over his refusal to allow her to put her Fleetwood Mac song ‘Siver Springs’ on her own ‘Best Of’ solo album.
By 1997 wounds had healed and Stevie was back in the band for the hugely successful classic ‘Rumours’ lineup US reunion tour. Unfortunately, they never toured the UK or Europe. However, a live CD/DVD recording of the reunion called ‘The Dance’ was released in 1997. ‘The Dance’ earned the group several Grammy nominations, including a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for their live performance of ‘Silver Springs’. In 1998, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That same year, they were also awarded the Outstanding Contribution at the BRIT Awards in London. Sadly, Christine McVie left the band after the US tour as she wanted to retire to the English countryside and live a quiet life.
Fleetwood Mac soldiered on and got down to work on new material that surfaced on the next studio album release ‘Say You Will’ in 2003. Essentially a Buckingham Nicks album with the Fleetwood Mac rhythm section. The four-piece band marched on and completed another three mammoth World tours over the next ten years before reuniting with Christine McVie for a special classic ‘Rumours’ lineup reunion World tour in 2014. Thankfully, they made it to the UK for a handful of dates in 2015. Tragically, this would be the last tour with the classic lineup as Buckingham was sacked in 2018 and then McVie sadly died in 2022.
Stevie’s solo career reached another noteworthy high point with the release of her 2011 album ‘In Your Dreams’. The album debuted at number six on the US Billboard chart and reached number fourteen in the UK album charts. That summer she played her first UK solo gig in twenty-two years at London’s Hyde Park on 26th June supporting Rod Stewart. The following day she appeared in HMV record store on London’s famous Oxford Street to sign copies of her new album. Stevie’s next notable UK solo concert was once again at Hyde Park this time on 9th July 2017 supporting the great Tom Petty. Tom guested with Stevie on ‘Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around’, the song they recorded together for Stevie’s ‘Bella Donna’ album in 1981. Sadly, this would be the last time Stevie would sing with Tom and it was also to be Tom’s last ever UK performance as he tragically passed away three months later in October 2017.
The annual British Summer Time Festival in London’s Hyde Park runs over three weekends in July. Stevie’s headline concert was held on the last Friday of the festival, with an all-female supporting lineup appearing over three stages; The Great Oak Stage featured Nicks, Brandi Carlile, Anna Calvi and Paris Paloma; The Rainbow Stage featured Baby Queen, Nina Nesbitt and Catty; The Birdcage Stage featured Siobhan Winifred, Talia Rae, Stevie Bill and Nina Versyp. As the three stages were quite far apart, I only managed to catch a few of the supporting acts during the day. Unfortunately, as I wasn’t familiar with any of the acts material, and although they were all very good singers and performers, the lack of memorable songs failed to grip me. Probably the better of them all was Brandi Carlile who at least had some good Melodic Country-tinged Rock songs. She did deliver a blinding performance and it was quite clear that this was a pinnacle gig for her.
It is fair to say that there were more woman than men in the audience and quite a few of them embraced the spirit of the occasion and dressed like Stevie with sparkly shawls, lacey skirts and glittery top hats.
Stevie’s current live band consists of her longtime friend Waddy Wachtel on guitar and musical direction - Waddy has appeared on every Stevie Nicks solo album and tour - Al Ortiz on bass, Drew Hester on drums, Carlos Rios on second guitar, Ricky Peterson on keyboards, Darrell Smith on piano, Sharon Celani on background vocals – Sharon has also been on every Stevie Nicks solo album and tour – and finally Marilyn Martin on background vocals. The set consisted mainly of songs from Stevie’s first two solo albums and some of her best-known Fleetwood Mac songs.
Commencing Stevie's musical evening soiree was the sublime ‘Outside the Rain’ from the 1981 ‘Bella Donna’ album. Thankfully the rain stayed away, although the sun didn’t shine much! Without further ado it was on with a Fleetwood Mac classic in the form of the magical ‘Dreams’ from the 1977 Fleetwood Mac ‘Rumours’ album. Stevie’s distinctive velvety voice shined, if slightly cracklier these days. It was then time to dip into the 1983 ‘Wild Heart’ album for the blissfully jaunty ‘If Anyone Falls’. The beautiful lilt of ‘Gypsy’ from the 1982 Fleetwood Mac ‘Mirage’ album was arrestingly soothing with an unforgettable infectious swinging groove.
A surprise cover of the 1966 Buffalo Springfield song ‘For What It's Worth’ hot footed it up next. In Stevie’s words, the sentiment of the song rings true to this day. Sticking with the sentimental feeling was an emotional tribute to the late great Tom Petty in the form of the classic 'Free Fallin'' from Tom's 1989 ‘Full Moon Fever’ album. More poignant here. as this was the last place Stevie not only saw him, but sang with him. Very moving and not a dry eye in the park! Ever the professionals though and it was on with the show and time for the two enchanting title tracks from the 1983 ‘Wild Heart’ album and 1981 ‘Bella Donna’ album respectively. A seductively alluring performance from Stevie and band, on a harmoniously blissful evening.
A slight shift in gear and a notch up on the energy levels came next with the briskly spirited ‘Stand Back’ from the 1983 ‘Wild Heart’ album. This funky disco tinged anthem had Stevie twirling around the stage wearing one of her many sparkly shawls in tow. Despite the many young faces in the crowd, they all seemed to know the words! Taking proceedings into darker realms came the bewitchingly haunting ‘Gold Dust Woman’ from the classic 1977 Fleetwood Mac ‘Rumours’ album. Stevie dug deep into her soul and delivered a truly mesmerising performance that had the audience in raptures.
The time felt right to slow the pace down with the gorgeous ballad ‘Leather and Lace’ from the 1981 ‘Bella Donna’ album. On the album this is a duet with Don Henley of The Eagles, but tonight Don’s place was taken by Steve Real Vasquez, who is in fact Stevie's vocal coach. Their voices blended beautifully and they delivered an exquisite performance. Back to the 1981 debut solo album for one of Stevie’s best loved songs and an irresistibly potent tour-de-force, the monumentally immense ‘Edge of Seventeen’. Waddy lays the foundation of the song with that distinctive chugging guitar intro that builds up the tension over several minutes before Stevie and band exploded into action and executed a mind-blowingly intense rendition to spine-tingling effect. Stevie not only inhabits the song, but she takes it to the next level every night. A showstopper of a performance that elicited euphoric elation!
As if that wasn't enough rapturous intoxication, heading up the encore was another of Stevie's most revered songs, the spellbinding ‘Rhiannon’ from the 1975 Fleetwood Mac self-titled album. This was the song that the World finally discovered who Stevie Nicks was. She not only made her mark on popular music with this song, but she helped make Fleetwood Mac become one of the biggest and most successful bands in Rock history! Stevie's seasoned voice was as passionately emotive and richly resonate as ever it was, and she sure gave it her all! Delving deep into the spirited essence of the song she delivered a heart-wrenching performance. Of course, I miss Lindsey Buckingham's snaking guitar lines. However, Waddy did an immaculate job in replicating the intensity and nuances required to great effect.
With emotions running high and much tears shed, there would be more crying to come following the next two songs. First in line was the phenomenal ‘Stop Draggin' My Heart Around’ from the 1981 ‘Bella Donna’ album. Tom Petty dueted with Stevie on the original recording, and in this very park in 2017 was the last time Stevie and Tom sang the song together. To cover Tom's parts, Stevie brought on a current young Pop star by the name of Harry Styles as her guest. A great PR stunt as it guaranteed major press coverage of the event the following day, Harry being as big a Pop star as a Pop star can be these days! To be fair he did a great job and the crowd loved it. Personally, I would have preferred Waddy Wachtel to sing Tom's parts as he does every other night. Waddy, Stevie and Tom had a close friendship that spanned decades.
The tears continued to flow during the final song of the set, the affectingly stirring ballad ‘Landslide’ from the 1975 Fleetwood Mac self-titled album. This performance was a deeply heartfelt, emotional tribute to Stevie's Fleetwood Mac band mate, Christine McVie, who sadly passed away in 2022. Once again Stevie was joined by Harry Styles on vocals. Not a dry eye in the park after Stevie's final speech where she talks about her deep love for Christine and how her loss has profoundly affected her. If this turns out to be the last time I see Stevie Nicks in concert then I am so glad I was present to witness this deeply moving moment.
Steven C. Gilbert