Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks Rejected Prince Collaboration

Stevie Nicks enjoyed lots of success, however, when it comes to collaborations, the artist doesn’t just jump into anything. That was the case with a rumored biopic about her life, which was said to be released with Lindsay Lohan playing her role. Nicks was quick to dismiss those rumors and made mention that it would never happen.

This ordeal was very different, as Nicks was offered a massive opportunity to work alongside Prince. In truth, it is a collab few artists would’ve turned down. Stevie could’ve taken part in one of Prince’s most iconic songs, but ultimately had her reasons for backing out. We’ll take a look at why she said no, along with the buildup to the release of Purple Rain, and why Prince worried about the song.

Purple Rain Was An Iconic Track And The Last Song Performed By Prince Prior To His Passing

Purple Rain turned into an iconic track but at the start, Prince had a few worries about the song. For starters, he had requested Stevie Nicks join him for the track. Once the song was made without Nicks, he other worries and one of them was that the song sounded similar to Journey’s Faithful. However, Jonathan Cain assured the icon that the songs were not the same aside from a few cords.

“I thought it was an amazing tune,” Cain said. “I told him, ‘Man, I’m just super-flattered that you even called. It shows you’re that classy of a guy. Good luck with the song. I know it’s gonna be a hit.'”

The song proved to be a massive success, and it also allowed Prince to take home an Oscar for Best Original Song Score. The late artist would also open up about the meaning behind the memorable song.

“When there’s blood in the sky – red and blue = purple… purple rain pertains to the end of the world and being with the one you love and letting your faith/god guide you through the purple rain.”

It turned out to be his final song ever, as he performed it at the Super Bowl halftime show and in addition, he played it during his final concert in Atlanta, Georgia. He passed away just a week later.

Stevie Nicks Was Offered A Spot Alongside Prince For Purple Rain But She Was ‘Too Scared’ To Accept

Given the success of the song, Prince likely didn’t have any bitterness towards Stevie Nicks for backing out of the track. In truth, Nicks was thrilled that the song turned into a monster hit. At the end of the day, the Fleetwood Mac star decided to turn down the offer given that it was too overwhelming of a project to take on.

Nicks revealed, “It was so overwhelming. I listened to it and I just got scared. I called him back and said, ‘I can’t do it. I wish I could. It’s too much for me.’ I’m so glad that I didn’t, because he wrote it, and it became ‘Purple Rain.’”

Nicks would go on to reveal that she still had the instrumental track, and she could not stop listening to it, “I’ve still got it, the whole instrumental track and a little bit of Prince singing, ‘can’t get over that feeling’, or something. I told him, ‘Prince, I’ve listened to this a hundred times but I wouldn’t know where to start. It’s a movie, it’s epic.”

Although the collab wasn’t meant to be, Prince proved to be a major inspiration for Stevie Nicks on another track.

Prince Was A Major Inspiration For Another Song Stevie Nicks Released

Listening to the Prince song ‘Little Red Corvette’, Nicks was immediately inspired, and it created her track, ‘Stand Back‘. Nicks recalls getting instantly inspired and needing to write the lyrics down.

“All of a sudden, out of nowhere, I’m singing along, going, ‘Stand back!’” she recalled. “I’m like, ’Kim, pull over! We need to buy a tape recorder because I need to record this.’ And so we do—we careen off the freeway to find a radio, record shop or something, and we go in and we buy a little tape recorder.”

Nicks took a chance and contacted Prince about it. Much to her delight, the artist instantly met up with her to hear the tune.

“I know that 50 per cent of it is yours—and, what are you doing later? Because we’re here at Sunset Sound.”

“Never in a million years thinking that he would say ‘Yes.’ And he said, ‘Yeah, I’ll be right down,’ and he came down. Takes him an hour; he gives me a little ‘I don’t really know you’ hug, and, uh, he’s gone. Like a little spirit.”

Prince wanted to continue their working relationship with Purple Rain following the collab, but of course, it was not meant to be.

Here are some of her major successes:

Fleetwood Mac

Stevie Nicks joined Fleetwood Mac in 1975 and quickly became a key member of the band, contributing her songwriting, vocals, and stage presence to their sound. Some of her most famous songs with the band include “Dreams,” “Rhiannon,” “Landslide,” and “Gypsy.” Her distinctive voice and bohemian style helped make Fleetwood Mac one of the most popular and influential bands of the 1970s and 1980s.

Solo Career

Stevie Nicks also had a successful solo career, starting with her debut album “Bella Donna” in 1981. The album spawned hit singles such as “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” (a duet with Tom Petty), “Edge of Seventeen,” and “Leather and Lace” (a duet with Don Henley). She has released a total of eight solo albums, and her songs have been covered by a wide range of artists.

Awards and Honors

Stevie Nicks has been recognized for her contributions to music with numerous awards and honors. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: first as a member of Fleetwood Mac in 1998, and again as a solo artist in 2019. She has also been honored with the ASCAP Golden Note Award, the BMI Icon Award, and the Recording Academy’s MusiCares Person of the Year Award.

Cultural Impact

Stevie Nicks has had a significant cultural impact beyond just her music. Her bohemian style, including her flowing dresses and shawls, has inspired fashion trends for decades. She has also been an inspiration to many women in the music industry, both as a solo artist and as a member of a successful rock band. Her music and persona have become synonymous with the idea of “witchy” femininity, and she continues to be a beloved and influential figure in music and popular culture.

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