Rock On, Gold Dust Woman: Inside Stevie Nicks’ Magical Legacy

“She is the magical gypsy godmother who occupies the in-between. It’s a space that can and will only ever be hers… And by being so unapologetically herself, she gives others permission to do the same. And that is true Stevie.”

-Harry Styles, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction

In her 72 years, Stevie Nicks has solidified herself as a cultural icon. For almost half a century, she has persevered through the male-dominated rock industry, becoming one of its premiere singer/songwriters; she has been a voice for women everywhere experiencing heartbreak, loss, and vengeance. Her aesthetic is widely imitated (though never replicated), with fans adopting her infamous shawls and cloaks, black top hats, and quintessential ‘70s blonde waves, complete with the sudden urge to practice witchcraft and carry around crystals in their pocket. As biographer Stephen Davis writes in Gold Dust Woman: The Biography of Stevie Nicks, “The appropriate response of her fans to this golden presence, which seems to embody the idea that we all have sacred powers within us, is worship and love.”

Stephanie Lynn Nicks was born on May 28, 1948, in Phoenix, Arizona. She began singing at the age of four with her grandfather, who insisted to Nicks’ parents that she was destined for mainstream success. Nicks was an eccentric character from her youth, insisting on dressing up as a witch for Halloween every year (a foreshadowing of her future, perhaps), embracing bohemian and “beatnik” style that starkly contrasted her peers, and preferring the company of her radio over the outside world. It was from this private ritual of hers that she learned the art of songwriting, and, on the night of her first heartbreak, she composed and wrote her first song. Describing that fateful night in Gold Dust Woman, Nicks says, “I finished that song, hysterically crying. And I was hooked. When I played my own song later that night, I knew - from that second on - that I was not going to sing a lot of other people’s songs. I was going to write my own.” 

Stevie Nicks is best known for her role as singer/songwriter in British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, which she joined with her then-boyfriend, singer/guitarist Lindsey Buckingham, in 1975. The band’s 1977 release, Rumours, is the fifth greatest-selling studio album of all time, and was named the number-one best-selling album on vinyl this decade. Though Nicks’ work on the previous album, Fleetwood Mac, is equally iconic, with classics such as “Rhiannon” and “Landslide”, it was Rumours that catapulted both Nicks and the rest of the band to rock ‘n’ roll stardom - and solidified Nicks’ reputation as a brilliant songwriter. The hit song “Dreams” is Nicks’ story of her diminished relationship with Lindsey Buckingham; she reflects on their seemingly one-sided relationship, allowing him to leave while asking him to remember what he’ll lose without her. “Thunder only happens when it’s raining / Players only love you when they’re playing / Women, they will come and they will go / When the rain washes you clean then you’ll know.” Nicks also sings backup vocals for Rumours’ “Go Your Own Way” and “The Chain” both written by Lindsey Buckingham through his point of view of the infamous breakup. 

The final song on the album, “Gold Dust Woman” (my personal favorite) is a powerful song of a woman in turmoil, going through a failed relationship and attempting to cope with excess drugs. Nicks tells biographer Stephen Davis that “Gold Dust Woman” was written as a “symbolic look about somebody going through a bad relationship, and doing a lot of drugs, and trying to… just make it, trying to live, trying to get through it to the next thing.” The song starts out calm and slow, surely working its way up to mirror pain and anguish, as both Nicks’ vocals and the accompanying instrumentals convey almost every emotion you could possibly feel. The song maintains a somber tone, and you feel the sadness in Nicks’ voice as she sings about this ill-fated woman; yet, as the song progresses, you feel hints of longing, of torment, and the listener is left in a vulnerable, dark place, realizing that this song could be about anyone, even themselves. I had the privilege of seeing Stevie Nicks on her 24 Karat Gold Tour in 2016, and hearing “Gold Dust Woman” live equated to a spiritual experience. Nicks completely lost herself in the song, twirling around the stage, wailing into the microphone, her face filled with passion and intensity. I’m not ashamed to say that it brought tears to my eyes, as well as a whole new meaning to the song for me. 

Growing up, listening to Stevie Nicks’ music was a common occurrence in my household; my father, being a huge fan of Fleetwood Mac, absolutely adored Nicks, and taught me to do the same. Listening to her music at a young age was a genuine, meaningful experience for me. Though I was a little too young to comprehend her lyrics, I knew that what Nicks was singing about was important, her voice being enough to move me emotionally. As I fell in love with Fleetwood Mac’s discography, I simultaneously fell into Nicks’ solo work, as well. Her classic solo debut, Bella Donna, has always been a favorite of mine, with timeless songs like “Leather and Lace” “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” (featuring Tom Petty), and, of course, her most famous, “Edge of Seventeen.” My personal favorite is “Kind of Woman,” a piano-led song about infidelity and the vengeful powers of a woman wronged. As Nicks sings about the “kind of woman that’ll haunt you,” she admits that, while she will miss the person who hurt her, she is aware of her influence upon him and will therefore use it to her advantage. To me, it is a song about reclaiming one’s worth in a time of suffering, with Nicks taking her pain and turning it into self-empowerment and assertion. The entirety of Bella Donna displays Nicks as a force to be reckoned with, her songwriting and singing abilities finally having the platform to shine on their own and grant Nicks the respect she rightfully deserved. 

Since Bella Donna’s release in 1981, Nicks has become a staple in rock culture, releasing seven more studio albums as well as continually working with Fleetwood Mac, complete with touring for both projects - and she’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Just last year, Nicks was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - for the second time. Inducted by none other than Harry Styles, she became the first woman to be granted the honor twice (first with Fleetwood Mac, and now as a solo artist), yet again making history for female musicians. Yet, through it all, what I find to be most admirable about Stevie Nicks is her ability to be such an impactful figure in popular culture while remaining genuinely humble and down-to-earth. She consistently offers her sage advice to her devoted fans, as if she were speaking to close loved ones. A constant influence to musicians across generations, Nicks has adopted a number of artists into her inner circle, some of which include Sheryl Crow, Haim, and Lana Del Rey. It is safe to say that Stevie Nicks is a timeless icon, having paved the way for women in rock ‘n’ roll, unashamedly candid and spiritual. When you listen to Nicks sing, it’s like listening to an old friend, her stories offering all the comfort and solace you can ask for in a true musician - and that is what makes her the enduring idol she has always been.