Easily ranking as the most commercially successful of the FLEETWOOD MAC membership's adventures into solo territory. Strangely, for a bona fide megaband status act, it would only be Phoenix, Arizona native STEVIE NICKS (born Stephanie Lynn Nicks) that could demonstrate any real sense of independent achievement in the charts.

The ethereal world inhabited by the doe eyed beauty that was STEVIE NICKS translated well into a series of overtly romantic and whimsical releases that displayed both the gritty Rock edge Ms. Nicks was clearly capable of delivering and her uncanny ability to weave a spellbinding tale. Audiences would find her uniquely trademark mystique of lace, platform boots and cascading curls and hair extensions captivating.

It was an inspired move that paired Nicks with TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS for her debut 'solo' single. Both artists had a large and loyal fanbase which almost guaranteed a huge hit single. 'Stop Draggin' My Heart Around' did not disappoint proving a massive radio smash in America. The track very nearly didn't happen as Nicks, a vocal TOM PETTY fan, had been persistent in her attempts to record with the band but constantly rebutted by producer Jimmy Iovine. Undaunted Nicks persevered and ended up cutting the 'Insider' duet for TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS 'Hard Promises' as well as adding background vocals to "You Can Still Change Your Mind". In a twist of fate Iovine wound up as Stevie's producer and live in boyfriend.

'Bella Donna' itself took just over a month to grab the American Billboard number one spot in September of 1981. A tour of the South West ensued and, with perfect timing, an hour long live concert special was beamed to the nation. By October Stevie received not only a gold sales award but a platinum million seller RIAA certification too. The lady would still be riding high in the charts with 'Leather And Lace', another duet- this time with DON HENLEY, not only known to the world for his term in THE EAGLES but as another of Nicks' boyfriends. The hits from 'Bella Donna' would continue into 1982 as May found 'Edge Of Seventeen' just missing out on a top ten placing. As the years rolled by and Stevie's stature as a solo artist was assured 'Bella Donna' would keep pace clocking past 3 million sales in 1984 and pushing past the 4 million barrier in 1990.

Keen eyed fans would also find Stevie contributing to LOUISE GOFFIN's eponymous 1981 debut adding some distinctive backing vocals to the track 'If Ever You Did Believe'.

The 24th Annual Grammy Awards nominated Nicks in two categories for 'Best rock vocal performance by a female artist' on 'Edge Of Seventeen' and for 'Best vocal performance from a duo' for 'Stop Draggin' My Heart Around'. In 1982 'Bella Donna' was declared the highest selling album by a female artist for the second consecutive year by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers. The only time an album has earned such a citation for two consecutive years.

'Bella Donna' would not only mark an artistic high for STEVIE NICKS but also an emotional low. At the launch party for the album Nicks learnt that a childhood friend Robin was suffering from leukaemia. Robin would marry another friend of Stevie's Kim Anderson. A son, Matthew, was born but only shortly before his mother's death. It would be soon after that Anderson and Nicks announced their own betrothal. The media had a field day and the marriage lasted a matter of months.

Nicks would resume her position in FLEETWOOD MAC for their 1982 'Mirage' opus. Recording in Herouville France 'Mirage' contained three classic Nicks compositions in 'That's Alright', 'Gypsy' and Straight Back'. Nicks also found time the same year to cut a duet 'Smiling Islands' with ROBBIE PATTON for his 'Orders From Headquarters' album. A mammoth FLEETWOOD MAC tour got into gear but would feel the urge to fly solo yet again.

Prompted by the harder edged sound of hit single 'Stand Back' Stevie's sophomore outing 'The Wild Heart' made it into the U.S. top 5, gaining gold and platinum honours by December of 1983. It too would remain a steadfast seller being given double platinum status in 1990. Opening up a new avenue of success for Nicks 'Stand Back' had also become a big dance club hit, reaching number 12 on the Billboard Dance and Disco chart. It would also cultivate a nomination for 'Best rock vocal performance by a female artist' at the 26th Annual Grammy Awards. The album itself completed an 11-week run in the top 10. Stevie opened an extensive American tour schedule with a groundbreaking performance at Southern California's San Bernadino US Festival, playing to an estimated quarter of a million people.

Two more American hits found their way into the singles charts with 'If Anyone Falls' making it to 14 and 'Nightbird', a duet with the sultry SANDY STEWART, going top 40. Nicks found favour in unlikely quarters too when Country crooner GLEN CAMPBELL gave his rendition of 'After The Glitter Fades' on his 1984 album 'Letters To Home'.

Nicks would also contribute substantially to one of her backing singers plunge into a recording career appearing on no less than three tracks on SANDY STEWART's remarkable 'Cat Dancer' record. Old allegiences with TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS were also maximised on their 1985 live outing 'Pack Up The Plantation', Stevie duetting on both 'Insider' and 'Needles & Pins'.

'Rock A Little', issued in November of 1985, just missed out on the American top ten but would land Stevie a further platinum award. Initial recordings had commenced with Jimmy Iovine until Keith Olsen took over the project. Nicks had switched labels from WEA to the EMI stable for her third venture into solo waters. Another Rocker- 'I Can't Wait', preceded the album and second single 'Talk To Me' would give her another U.S. top 5 placing. In April 1986 Stevie embarked on a four month American tour followed by her inaugural international solo concert dates outside of the States in Australia. Upon her return the media would learn that the singer had checked herself into the Betty Ford rehabilitation clinic. Reportedly Nicks' addictions were cured and the singer has been clean to this day.

Nicks would be back in the FLEETWOOD MAC fold for their troubled 'Tango In The Night' 1987 record. The singer would donate 'Welcome To The Room ... Sara', 'When I See You Again' and 'Seven Wonders'. The album was capitalised on by a gargantuan American and European tour which stretched over a nine month span. It would be the first time the band toured without Buckingham, his position being filled by Rick Vito and Billy Burnette. STEVIE NICKS rounded off the year with her version of the carol 'Silent Night' for the star studded 'A Very Special Christmas' album. FLEETWOOD MAC also issued a 'Greatest Hits' package during 1988, which included a new song by Nicks, 'No Questions Asked'.

1989's 'The Other Side Of The Mirror' provided Ms. Nicks with her fourth platinum seller in the United States. The accompanying single 'Rooms On Fire' hit no. 16 on both sides of the Atlantic and became her biggest hit on the European mainland giving ample evidence of the lady's staying power. Longterm friends Lorri Perry and Sharon Celani and Lorri Perry joined her on the background vocals and promotional photographs for the record would often feature all three voices. The tour that followed began in America but finally brought Nicks to European shores for the first time outside of the confines of FLEETWOOD MAC.

Nicks maintained her public profile with a resumption of FLEETWOOD MAC duties for the 'Behind The Mask' record. Stevie contributed four songs to the album and formed part of the touring band for what was to become FLEETWOOD MAC's lengthiest tour ever taking in America, Australia and Europe before another American leg. With the tour completed in December both Nicks and singing partner CHRISTINE McVIE announced their resignation from the band. Reports filtered through that Nicks and Fleetwood had disagreed strongly over the rights for Nicks to use her track 'Silver Springs' for her forthcoming solo album. Other critics put more of a focus on comments made by Fleetwood about Nicks in a recently published book.

The summer of 1991 had STEVIE NICKS on a short run of American dates, kicking off in Dallas, Texas on the 11th of July, billed as the 'Whole Lotta Trouble Tour'. An obligatory STEVIE NICKS compilation 'Timespace', released in September 1991and showcased newer tracks, including JON BON JOVI's 'Sometimes It's A Bitch', alongside known solo works. 'Timespace' would find no trouble in pulling in a million sales.

In spite of the harsh words between then Nicks and Fleetwood would reforge their alliance for a quite unique event in 1992 as FLEETWOOD MAC performed 'Don't Stop' for President Bill Clinton's inauguration ceremony. Another duet arrived in 1992 as Stevie lent her talents to 'Desiree' on RICK VITO's 'King Of Hearts' album. The lady would also session on CHEAP TRICK vocalist ROBIN ZANDER's debut solo record of 1993.

For the 'Street Angel' record Stevie worked alongside BOB DYLAN on his 'Just Like A Woman'. The 60s veteran would also attend studio sessions to add both guitar and harmonica to the track too. Nicks would also reacquaint herself with SANDY STEWART. The Japanese release of 'Street Angel' would see a further two studio recordings as a bonus for the eastern market in 'Inspiration' and 'God's Garden'. The tradition of duets was maintained in 1995 with a rather oblique pairing of Stevie with RINGO STARR contributing 'Lay Down Your Arms' to a HARRY NILSSON homage.

LINDSAY BUCKINGHAM and STEVIE NICKS paired up in 1996 for a suitably titled track 'Twisted' for the action movie 'Twister'. This was their first musical collaboration in over two decades.

With the 20th anniversary of the 'Rumours' album approaching, Mick Fleetwood, Christine and John McVie and Stevie reunited for a live performance at the Kentucky Derby in May of that year fuelling anticipation that a full blown reunion was on the cards. Stevie's solitary 1996 live dates would be at the July 4th annual free fair at St.Petersburg Pier and at the Boston Mix Fest during October.

As 1997 broke plans for a 'Rumours' era FLEETWOOD MAC line-up reunion gelled into a reality. The individual members were requested by MTV to undertake a television special upfront of a summer tour. The TV special, recorded at 22nd and 23rd May in the the Warner Bros Studios in Fairbank, California became a huge international hit. Both the TV gigs and the subsequent tour centred naturally upon the bands greatest hits along with new songs such as STEVIE NICKS 'Sweet Girl'. Finally the ghost of 'Silver Springs' was also laid to rest performed live, making it onto the CD and the video. It would even be was released as a single.

'The Dance' tour commenced in September and lasted through until November. Although FLEETWOOD MAC played in every major city of the States but never made it onto the global stage.

As a member of FLEETWOOD MAC Nicks was inducted into the Hall Of Fame in January 1998.

An ultimate thank you to the fans was delivered in the shape of 'Enchanted' , a box set comprising of album tracks, B-side rarities, movie soundtrack contributions, duets and archive outtakes. The boxed set was certificated gold in the States, an enviable accomplishment for an expensive three CD set. The 'Enchanted' tour in the summer of 1998 was the lengthiest STEVIE NICKS had ever attempted and included a landmark showing at the ' Woodstock' festival to close the tour in early August.

Later the year Stevie colluded with SHERYL CROW on two tunes for the soundtrack of the Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman 'Practical Magic' movie. The film featured the single 'If You Ever Did Believe' and a re-interpretation of the old BUCKINGHAM/NICKS song 'Crystal' and "If You Ever Did Believe" which was released as a single. The liaison between Crow and Nicks would be strengthened when Nicks performed 'Gold Dust Woman' at SHERYL CROW's September 14th New York Central Park concert, captured for posterity on a live album. The pair would also make their presence felt at a benefit concert at the Los Angeles Wiltern Theatre on a billing that included NO DOUBT's Gwen Stefani and BJORK. To date these recordings have strangely only been issued to employees of AT&T as the CD 'Stormy Weather'.

STEVIE NICKS bounced back in quite spectacular fashion during 2001 with her renaissance 'Trouble In Shangri La' album crashing into the American charts at number 5. A period of uncertainty had led Nicks to ask assistance from her friend and previous hit making colleague TOM PETTY but a well meant rejection (Petty argued Nicks was more than capable of writing her own hit material) had spurred her on to turn out one of the finest albums of her career. The album not only displayed an adventurous contemporary style but boasted an array of guests from across the musical spectrum including R&B diva MACY GRAY duetting on 'Bombay Sapphire' and the DIXIE CHICKS Natalie Maines on the Countrified 'Too Far From Texas'. Surprising many was Nick's collaboration in the songwriting department with SHERYL CROW who listed no less than five co-compositions.

The touring band assembled for the summer 2001 'Trouble In Shangri La' concerts included renowned session drummer Lenny Castro, ex FOREIGNER, BILLY IDOL and CHER drummer Mark Schulman (who had laid off activity on his own CLOCK project to tour) and erstwhile DAVID LEE ROTH and WHITESNAKE keyboard player Brett Tuggle. Dates commenced on 6th July in Burgettstown, PA with JEFFREY GAINES acting as support.

Meantime the hottest R&B artist of the year without question- the multi platinum DESTINY'S CHILD, would also give favour to Nicks including her playing guitar in a cameo opening the video intro to their global smash 'Bootylicious'.

Stevie's inaugural hit 'Stop Draggin' My Heart Around' has seen cover versions from a disparate range of artists including Goth kings SISTERS OF MERCY, the less than serious WEIRD AL YANKOVIC and even LORD LUCY & LOUISE POST.