Gold Dust Woman: The Biography of Stevie Nicks

Honestly, if you're interested in this book, don't waste your money - check it out at your local public library instead. As a fan of Stevie's (and Fleetwood Mac itself) for nearly 4 decades, I expected far better from Stephen Davis than this waste of ink and paper, particularly considering that he collaborated with Mick Fleetwood on his autobiography way back in 1990 (which caused quite a stir with the controversial allegation that Lindsey Buckingham physically assaulted Stevie, which Davis goes into in more detail in this volume; Mick backtracked on the story a while after his book's publication, but Stevie has confirmed that it did happen and is quoted to some length on the incident). The biggest problem of all is the cascade of basic errors of fact, not to mention some egregious spelling errors; the book is a perfect data point for the proposition that core editing skills are endangered in much of American publishing. To my own personal point of view, one of the most irritating flubs is Davis' claim that Stevie performed "I Can't Wait" (her second single from her 1985 album "Rock A Little") on "Late Night with David Letterman" in 1986. I know for a fact that this never happened - I was actively involved with the Stevie fan community for about fifteen years from the mid-1980's through the late 1990's, and Stevie's failure to accept Letterman's invitation to appear on his show (and his subsequent repeated jokes during his monologues about Stevie) were well-known, and in fact those jokes were part of one of the numerous video-clip compilations passed around on VHS tape by collector-fans at the time. To my best knowledge, Stevie's first appearance on Letterman was in 1994, at the time of her tour to back up her album "Street Angel".

Because Stevie is adamant on reserving her right to write her own autobiography once she retires, no biography of her is technically "authorized", including this one. That's not a problem in itself, but it does mean that Davis has to rely on research and interviews with people who've known her professionally and personally. Again, this wouldn't have been an issue if Davis hadn't made so many downright elementary mistakes.

NOT recommended. Go read Zoe Howe's "Visions, Dreams and Rumors" instead; that book, while also "unauthorized" and quite gossipy in spots, is far better in my opinion.

After reading the life of Harry Nilsson I wanted to travel further in the choppy waters of late twentieth century American pop music and drug addiction, and right next to each other in alphabetical order next to Nilsson I found the life of Stevie Nicks. Despite their propinquity in the phone book of the Betty Ford Clinic, Nicks and Nilsson don’t seem to have made many overlaps in real life, which I find rather odd. Between the two of them they burned enough bridges to shore up a tottering empire of rock. Nicks married once, but only for three months, whereas Nilsson married three times and had more children than his idol, Johann Sabastian Bach, so they had different ideas about propagation, but made about the same number of LPs.

Davis, who penned the scabrous story of Led Zep in HAMMER OF THER GODS many years ago, covers all the bases, and in a lot of ways his recounting of the Fleetwood Mac story opens it up a way unusual for previous journalists. We see the close knit family from which Nicks sprang, and we see why her meeting with Lindsay Buckingham was able to change her life forever. Two crazy kids in love, both festering with talent and yet somehow they couldn’t catch a break, but thanks to Keith Olsen they found themselves in the floundering blues rock band Fleetwood Mac, which had a curse on it right from the very beginning. And somehow Stevie’s ritualistic shamanism gave the tired old band a new shine, put them on to the cutting edge of soft rock. Davis is sympathetic to Stevie throughout, even at her worst he finds something kind to say about her, but if there’s one fault it’s an unwavering antipathy toward Lindsay. I think the book would have found more balance if Lindsay wasn’t painted as a monster without talent. How many times does Davis describe a Fleetwood Mac show by saying audiences were spellbound when Stevie came on, but when Lindsay took the stage to do one of his own numbers, that’s when they visited the beer concession or the urinals? But repetition is built right in to the saga of Fleetwood Mac, and it stops being interesting when Stevie turns thirty-two or so.

I did appreciate the verification of something I had always suspected, that it’s Stevie providing background vocals to Kenny Loggins’s hit track “Whenever I Call You Friend.” Really she sings more of the song than he does, “I know forever we’ll be doing it, doing it.” It’s inane but so catchy.

The throughline in “Gold Dust Woman” might well be Stevie’s attempt to get her mother royalties from the gift of her song “Silver Springs.” Rejected from Rumours, “Silver Springs” became the B-Side to Lindsay’s “Go Your Own Way” but if it had been on Rumours, then Stevie’s mother would have been a wealthy woman from 1977 on. It wasn’t until 15 years later that “Silver Springs” became a hit and allowed the mother her own financial freedom. Davis sets this up as another of the egregious slights that Lindsay, jealous of his girlfriend’s appeal to crowds,” dealt her again and again. He’s still doing it, we understand. But now she’s risen above it. I found it very elegant the way that Stevie could write two songs, “Gold Dust Woman” and “Silver Springs,” contrasting gold and silver like Hugh Grant singing “Pop Goes My Heart, “YOU ARE GOLD AND SILVER.” For that matter, for the Fleetwood Mac comeback album Tango in the Night, Lindsay wrote “Big Love” and Christine “Little Lies,” and the dynamism of the big-little split haunts that record to this day.

Stevie wasn’t a lesbian exactly but has any man had such beautiful girlfriends as Stevie? Stephen Davis is always referring to her entourage as though it were a floating seraglio, and of course, Stevie was so involved with Robin Anderson that, when she died so tragically after giving birth, Stevie married her widower (Kim) and started to raise her son with him, but after three months she had a crystal vision and realized she was doing the wrong karmic thing. It’s confusing, and part of that is the buzzy drive that brought Robin and Kim to marriage in the first place, since Kim could be a man’s name or a woman’s, and Robin too.

How is it possible that an author could make Stevie Nicks' life seem so boring? This book is the equivalent to reading my grocery list. The author rambles, providing pointless details while getting key facts wrong. Not worthy of the queen of rock and roll.

Poorly written. several times we are made aware that Stevie's father meant the world to her. Then as an afterthought, while telling another story we are told he died. Lots of wasted paper telling the reader what songs are on the albums she recorded. Run-on sentences abound. On page 24 there is a 50 word sentence! Very little insight. I am a casual Nicks fan but I already knew most of the stuff in this book. Very childish writing. "Quicker than you can say Rhiannon he was on a plane" "Iovine was famously Street" Let's hope Stevie writes her autobiography soon!

Agree with the other negative reviews: pieced together interviews, inaccurate, too much focus on Stevie’s appearance, big reveal that it’s an unauthorized biography at the end. I’m not even a super fan and I was able to pick out the inaccuracies. I barely finished the book. Was really disappointed that he wrote that her SNL and Solid Gold tv appearances were lipsynched. They were not. Watch them on YouTube, they’re phenomenal. Glad I got this from the library and didn’t buy it.

I read some of the reviews and several were about mistakes that were made including her birthday. Several others I considered were minor errors. I wanted to read this book to try and get some insight about her life and this book did just that. It was well researched and had a lot of inside information from several sources.

I thought it moved at a good pace and I did not find it boring as some other reviewers said they did. There are a lot of highs and a lot of lows written about her struggles and triumphs. I found her more fascinating after reading about her dedication and her genius.

Naturally, there's a lot about Fleetwood Mac and how she had very little influence with the band in the early years but it certainly grew and dominated in later years. She and Christine McVie were a major reason for the band's success. McVie is beautiful but chose to let Stevie take the front in the concerts and doing so the face for the band.

Lindsey Buckingham is shown as the narcissist that he is. Always jealous,and childish with his tantrums and his awful behavior towards Nicks throughout the years. I know you can't help who you love but it it's hard to understand the years she felt that way about him. One of his favorite pastimes was to beat and choke petite blonds (Nicks & Harris). What a monster.

The book starts about her childhood to the present. It's 311 pages long and a good read. Carol Ann Harris book Storms was good but this one has a lot more details about the band. Nicks' solo career is well documented. She is most certainly one of the finest songwriters and singers of the last 40 years. A true artist.

I especially admire her strong loyalty to her family and her friends. She seems to be a truly good person who cares about many things, especially our veterans. I hope she is happy and well. I also enjoy watching her on American Horror Story.

After reading the life of Harry Nilsson I wanted to travel further in the choppy waters of late twentieth century American pop music and drug addiction, and right next to each other in alphabetical order next to Nilsson I found the life of Stevie Nicks. Despite their propinquity in the phone book of the Betty Ford Clinic, Nicks and Nilsson don’t seem to have made many overlaps in real life, which I find rather odd. Between the two of them they burned enough bridges to shore up a tottering empire of rock. Nicks married once, but only for three months, whereas Nilsson married three times and had more children than his idol, Johann Sabastian Bach, so they had different ideas about propagation, but made about the same number of LPs.

Davis, who penned the scabrous story of Led Zep in HAMMER OF THER GODS many years ago, covers all the bases, and in a lot of ways his recounting of the Fleetwood Mac story opens it up a way unusual for previous journalists. We see the close knit family from which Nicks sprang, and we see why her meeting with Lindsay Buckingham was able to change her life forever. Two crazy kids in love, both festering with talent and yet somehow they couldn’t catch a break, but thanks to Keith Olsen they found themselves in the floundering blues rock band Fleetwood Mac, which had a curse on it right from the very beginning. And somehow Stevie’s ritualistic shamanism gave the tired old band a new shine, put them on to the cutting edge of soft rock. Davis is sympathetic to Stevie throughout, even at her worst he finds something kind to say about her, but if there’s one fault it’s an unwavering antipathy toward Lindsay. I think the book would have found more balance if Lindsay wasn’t painted as a monster without talent. How many times does Davis describe a Fleetwood Mac show by saying audiences were spellbound when Stevie came on, but when Lindsay took the stage to do one of his own numbers, that’s when they visited the beer concession or the urinals? But repetition is built right in to the saga of Fleetwood Mac, and it stops being interesting when Stevie turns thirty-two or so.

I did appreciate the verification of something I had always suspected, that it’s Stevie providing background vocals to Kenny Loggins’s hit track “Whenever I Call You Friend.” Really she sings more of the song than he does, “I know forever we’ll be doing it, doing it.” It’s inane but so catchy.

The throughline in “Gold Dust Woman” might well be Stevie’s attempt to get her mother royalties from the gift of her song “Silver Springs.” Rejected from Rumours, “Silver Springs” became the B-Side to Lindsay’s “Go Your Own Way” but if it had been on Rumours, then Stevie’s mother would have been a wealthy woman from 1977 on. It wasn’t until 15 years later that “Silver Springs” became a hit and allowed the mother her own financial freedom. Davis sets this up as another of the egregious slights that Lindsay, jealous of his girlfriend’s appeal to crowds,” dealt her again and again. He’s still doing it, we understand. But now she’s risen above it. I found it very elegant the way that Stevie could write two songs, “Gold Dust Woman” and “Silver Springs,” contrasting gold and silver like Hugh Grant singing “Pop Goes My Heart, “YOU ARE GOLD AND SILVER.” For that matter, for the Fleetwood Mac comeback album Tango in the Night, Lindsay wrote “Big Love” and Christine “Little Lies,” and the dynamism of the big-little split haunts that record to this day.

Stevie wasn’t a lesbian exactly but has any man had such beautiful girlfriends as Stevie? Stephen Davis is always referring to her entourage as though it were a floating seraglio, and of course, Stevie was so involved with Robin Anderson that, when she died so tragically after giving birth, Stevie married her widower (Kim) and started to raise her son with him, but after three months she had a crystal vision and realized she was doing the wrong karmic thing. It’s confusing, and part of that is the buzzy drive that brought Robin and Kim to marriage in the first place, since Kim could be a man’s name or a woman’s, and Robin too.

How is it possible that an author could make Stevie Nicks' life seem so boring? This book is the equivalent to reading my grocery list. The author rambles, providing pointless details while getting key facts wrong. Not worthy of the queen of rock and roll.

Poorly written. several times we are made aware that Stevie's father meant the world to her. Then as an afterthought, while telling another story we are told he died. Lots of wasted paper telling the reader what songs are on the albums she recorded. Run-on sentences abound. On page 24 there is a 50 word sentence! Very little insight. I am a casual Nicks fan but I already knew most of the stuff in this book. Very childish writing. "Quicker than you can say Rhiannon he was on a plane" "Iovine was famously Street" Let's hope Stevie writes her autobiography soon!

Agree with the other negative reviews: pieced together interviews, inaccurate, too much focus on Stevie’s appearance, big reveal that it’s an unauthorized biography at the end. I’m not even a super fan and I was able to pick out the inaccuracies. I barely finished the book. Was really disappointed that he wrote that her SNL and Solid Gold tv appearances were lipsynched. They were not. Watch them on YouTube, they’re phenomenal. Glad I got this from the library and didn’t buy it.

Complete waste of time and money. This book is a total flop. Nothing in here that hasn't been written before and lots of errors in the book. The author himself admits he took his material from what's been published before. Good thing I borrowed it from the library for free, but it was still a huge waste of time to go through it.

During my years in public education, I helped to educate students regarding the differences and strengths of different literary genres, including biography and auto-biography. In my opinion, the book suffers due to the lack of direct input and interviews with Stevie Nicks herself. The author states that much of the information was culled from magazine articles and interviews done with and about Fleetwood Mac as a band and also Stevie's individual career. The photos only reference Stevie's performing career, and no personal family photos from her childhood are included despite a very interesting beginning chapter regarding Stevie's early childhood and performing career with her grandfather, A.J. Nicks. Towards the end of the book, the reader learns that Stevie has stated that she will never write her own autobiography due to the fact that she is too honest and doesn't want to reveal intimate details from her life regarding some of her past relationships. As readers, we'll have to hope that Stevie herself decides to "set the record straight" someday and write her own auto-biography. Regarding this book, I really enjoyed the insights into Stevie's writing process as a singer/songwriter and also the music business in general. In my opinion, those were the strengths of the book. Other reviewers have referenced numerous factual errors regarding different dates, bands, etc. The lack of proper vetting and first-hand interviews with Stevie are the weaknesses of the book. I believe that most readers will come away with a greater appreciation for Stevie and her dedication to her art as a singer/songwriter and musical "tour de force" in rock music.

Agreed that some factual errors may be present - and agreed that may be a bummer, BUT when it gets down to the interviews and the intimacy and process of creating the music, and the choices BEHIND some of Nicks most titillating personal choices - this book outshines so many others I've read that prefer to focus on the torrid headlines and indulging in the Sex drugs and Rock N Roll atmosphere instead of illuminating the people.
Anyone who is a true Stevie fan will enjoy and relish the insight that this book explores into the woman.

This is a story about a musician. It begins with a child who sings and performs with her grandfather, who is a country/western ,singer/muscian. During her childhood, the family relocates to several states, as the father's positions also change. Stevie gives up friends and her mother stands by her man. Stevie and Lindsey Buckingham begin their career performing in the lobster and steakhouse circuit. They perform their own compositions over the preferred top 40. She meets with challenges when working diligently in the entertainment industry. She achieves stardom, and friendships, along with hardships. She downward spirals into tricky, deadly traps. She turns to medical interventions at different stops and is able to heal. She works in an industry that affords luxury, opportunities and can also be very wicked. The band Fleetwood Mac reaches success and stardom so they are able to internationally work around the world to perform. Stevie secretly wanders from the band to pursue her dreams. With new music producers and executives, she establishes her own title. Stevie Nicks is a gifted songwriter. Her signature pieces from early on in her career, Rhiannon and Landslide travel with her over decades, from stage to stage. Stevie Nicks has a public that adores her.

This unauthorized but balanced view of Ms. Nicks' journey is entertaining and lets the reader understand how much she struggled and fought to attain super-stardom. It is not perfect and there are some errors but its handling of its subject is largely respectful and even-handed, avoiding blind fandom and low point vulturism. I certainly feel like I understand both Stevie and Fleetwood Mac much better after this bio. The photo section was a bit disappointing and with better visual prompts, I might have given this five stars.

The first page - literally... the FIRST page - has an error (the Midnight Special performance was June 11, 1976 - not 1975).

Seems most reviews highlight the shoddy research. Debating whether to continue or just put it down.

So disappointing.

It shocks me that people suggest they couldnt get through chapter one. I read this book and found it enlightening, engaging and exploratory! Stevie Nicks represents not just her music but th
of a wild time in the world of music and culture. Davis does a masterful job of exploring this story and this incredible artist, and I highly recommend this read.

I love the Stevie Nicks story. This was an insightful look into the history of one of my favorite bands and solo artist. I only hope Stevie writes her memoir before she leaves this Earth because her fans are definitely ready for it!

Don't understand terrible reviews because of a wrong date or two. This book is well-researched and is one of the best bios that I have read. Full of stories about other rockers in Nick's world. I wasn't even a Nicks fan, but bio made me appreciate her accomplishments.

There are few authors of our generation as insightful and entertaining as Stephen Davis. He obviously, has lived the life. His version of the truth is probably more accurate than some of his living subjects care to remember. I savor all Mr. Davis' books and see them sequentially as milestones in our own misguided adventures, reminiscent of the Patrick O'Brien series about Captain James Aubrey. Dig up his own stories about Morocco, forwards in others' books, life as a music loving journalist and you'll see what I mean. Keep 'em coming Cap'n Day.

I enjoyed this latest divertissement about Ms. Nicks and I feel the author conducted himself respectfully; perhaps too much so. I often felt like he tiptoed around this diva whom he opted to write about and while I am respectful of HIS respectfulness I also feel as if at some point he should have "stood up boldly" and proclaimed this spoiled little girl who never grew up for what she is - pampered and overindulged. I'm casting no aspersions on her talent. I'm a fan and have been since... well... let's just say she isn't much older than me. That being stated I personally think her music has deteriorated markedly ( Italian Summer being the best song in a long, LONG time) and this author was too timid to say so, thus he glossed over albums which may have contained one or two gems at best. Page after page bespoke of her fear of being alone and surrounding herself with sycophantic hangers on who said what she needed to hear and basically played kept slaves to her need for idolization. Ms. Nicks couldn't survive on her own. She knows this, the author of this tryst knows this and frankly I think her timidity is why she is still alone and childless well into her 60's. She wears this fact like proud armor when all it truly amounts to is baggage she can't cast aside. The author coddles her. He should rethink this book, go back to press, put in more photos (huge disappointment in that department) and re-release. I felt he tip-toes way too much to dare refer to this book as am honest Bio.

Exciting, entertaining, and illustrating. For fans of Ms. Nicks, this book is an absolute must. incidentally, I'm surprised by the blind rage of some of the previous reviews. I wonder, would people be so vociferous face to face? Feels like a "road rage" style smear campaign to me.

Epic biography about this magical rock empress. Her story, captured by the thoughtful prose of Stephen Davis, never ceases to amaze me. Before you jump to conclusions based on the few righteous reviews of some, get this book, slip into the story, and take a ride for yourself.

Lots of errors (as mentioned by previous reviewers) including this one: Jimmy Iovine is not Greek! He’s Italian. Also reads sort of “mansplainy.” Got this for free and will be leaving it on a “free/take” table in my laundry room. Disappointed. Stevie is a queen who deserves better than this. Boy bye.

This is a wonderful, respectful, but biting biography of a legend. Stephen Davis is an incredible writer--the words flow beautifully and you can tell he was out to tell the full story of Stevie rather than run a hit piece. Why focus on nitpicking a typo? The content here is amazing--maybe I wasn't a Stevie expert coming in, but I found a great book here and I learned so much about the artists I've enjoyed all my life. Can't wait to get a copy for my Fleetwood Mac-loving mom.

What a bunch of lame reviews. Who cares what date she was born. Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood are about the essence, the feel, a sexy groove like no other with lyrics that stamp themselves in your mind. Stephen Davis definitely captures the essence. Great captivating read— I really enjoyed it.