Stevie Nicks Returns to ‘SNL’ at a critical time to impart a critical message

Stevie Nicks Returns to ‘SNL’ After 40 Years With Powerful Women’s Rights Anthem ‘The Lighthouse’

Nicks also performs "Edge of Seventeen," the classic from her 1981 debut solo album.

By William Vaillancourt

Rollingstone

Stevie Nicks, whose last Saturday Night Live appearance came in December 1983, returned to the late night show at a critical time to impart a critical message.

Nicks first sang “The Lighthouse,” a call-to-action for women’s rights that she wrote shortly after Roe v. Wade was overturned two summers ago.

“Don’t let them take your power / Don’t leave it alone in the final hours,” she sings. “Don’t close your eyes and hope for the best / The dark is out there, the light is going fast.”

Nicks, although not explicitly endorsing a presidential candidate, recently praised Taylor Swift’s message supporting Vice President Kamala Harris.

Nicks’ second performance was a rousing rendition of “Edge of Seventeen,” one of the standout tracks from her 1981 debut solo album, Bella Donna.

“Edge of Seventeen” is also ranked number 217 on Rolling Stone‘s “Greatest Songs” list.

Saturday Night Live recap: Despite delays, Ariana Grande and Stevie Nicks deliver an entertaining episode

By Andy Hoglund

Entertainment Weekly

Tonight, we have a special match-up: Bowen Yang's Wicked costar Ariana Grande is being teamed with a deep cut SNL musical guest, a genuine legend: Stevie Nicks. Here is how big Stevie Nicks is: Not only was her first time playing at 8H way back in 1983, but there's a classic sketch spoofing Nicks that itself is over 25 years old! Longevity and lore, folks. SNL50.

Stevie Nicks performs "The Lighthouse"

"The Lighthouse" was released last month as a rally cry for women, intended to reinvigorate the fight for reproductive healthcare. "I have my scars, you have yours/ Don't let them, take your power," she sings. "They'll take your soul, they'll take your power, unless you save it." What a ballad.

As noted, Nicks first played 8H way back in the early '80s. Gary Kroeger recalls that season 8 performance: "I was in my 20s when she did SNL during my time there! When she came on the scene 10 years earlier, I was in my teens! Was I a fan of Stevie Nicks? Of course I was! She was one of, if not the Goddess of Rock and Roll. I was too nervous to say hello. My recollection was that she didn't hang out much and I don't recall her at the after-party, but that doesn't mean my memory is correct. Only that I was too shy to say anything. She was terrific on the show."

Sheryl Crow plays guitar and bass, and sings on this track, which she co-produced. (And yes, she has played at 8H three times.)

Stevie Nicks performs "Edge of Seventeen"

After this episode's second "delay of game," we return from commercial — and it's worth it! "Edge of Seventeen" is on the menu, and I know somewhere Joan Cusack is pleased. A timeless classic. I am a fan of this! 

Another sign of Nicks' longevity: 45 years ago today, Fleetwood Mac released their album Tusk. 

Stevie Nicks is reflecting on her first solo Saturday Night Live appearance

Stevie Nicks reveals sister-in-law saved 1983 SNL set by singing backup: 'Literally right before we went on'

"It was very scary to go on the show," she recalled ahead of her return to "SNL" this weekend.

By Wesley Stenzel 

Entertainment Weekly

Stevie Nicks is reflecting on her first solo Saturday Night Live appearance that almost ended in disaster.

The "Landslide" singer and on-and-off Fleetwood Mac member said a last-minute lineup change in her band nearly tanked her Dec. 10, 1983, performance on the show, she told PEOPLE. "You know, we practiced and practiced, and everything went well," Nicks said. "At the time, I had my friend who wrote 'Stand Back,' and she was gonna do the second song, which was called 'Nightbird' — and she freaked out and had terrible stage fright, so she couldn't do it."

That's when Lori Perry jumped in to save the day. "So one of my singers, who ended up being my sister-in-law Lori, she said, 'I'll do it,' and she's crazy, but she said, 'I'll do it,'" Nicks recalled. "This is literally right before we went on, and so we went on and we did it, and it came out perfect!"

The "Dreams" singer said the last-minute chaos inadvertently added to the performance's power. "It was one of those shows, that even with that horrible wrench that was thrown in the middle of it, it came off beautifully," she said. "I've never been so proud of anything as I was of that night. It was a magical show, and I was thrilled, and it definitely kicked my solo career up."

Nicks noted that her SNL debut came about two and a half years into her solo career. She released her first solo album, Bella Donna, in 1981, spawning her acclaimed solo hit, "Edge of Seventeen." Her second solo album, The Wild Heart, came out in June 1983, about six months before her SNL performance.

Despite her success as a solo artist, Nicks remained anxious about performing on SNL. "It was nerve-wracking because it was not Fleetwood Mac; it was my solo career, so it was very scary to go on the show when you've been in a huge band and now you're going on Saturday Night Live as a solo artist," she said.

Nicks will return as a musical guest for the first time since 1983, and she still sees performing on the NBC show as a tremendous achievement despite seismic shifts in the entertainment landscape. "Performing on Saturday Night Live is now as it was then. It’s just about the biggest thing you can do, bigger than a stadium show because it's going to go out all over the world," she said. "So if you wanna talk about being nervous about something! It doesn't matter how many shows you've done or how much you practice, you're going to be nervous!"

Nicks plans to perform her new track "The Lighthouse," which was written as a response to the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. "I'm really excited to play the new song," she said. "You can never say that Saturday Night Live does not help you to gain lots of new followers, younger people, older people, etc. And so to be asked to do it again... I never thought I would do it again — so to be asked to do it again has thrown me into an absolute nervous frenzy, but I'm really excited."

Stevie Nicks will perform on the third episode of Saturday Night Live's 50th season, hosted by Ariana Grande, on Saturday, Oct. 12.

Did you catch last nights Saturday Night Live? It Featured Fleetwood Mac's "I Don't Wanna Know"

Saturday Night Live Dec 7, 2013 

(Season 39 Ep. 8) 

"Diner Divorce" feat. Fleetwood Mac's "I Don't Wanna Know"

Host: Paul Rudd 

Musical Guests: One Direction.

Last nights show featured Fleetwood Mac's "I Don't Wanna Know" (from the 1977 Rumours album) during a skit with Paul Rudd, Vanessa Bayer, Kenan Thompson and Nasim Pedrad set in a Diner with Paul and Vanessa's characters sitting with their lawyers played by Kenan and Nasim arguing back and forth over their divorce settlement. In this segment called "Diner Divorce" which Entertainment Weekly called the "Worst Sketch" the two are seen arguing back and forth accusing the other for the breakdown of the marriage. Every so often (3 to be exact) the song "I Don't Wanna Know" would play (both their favourite song) and the conversation would break for a little happy groove session between the couple while their lawyers look on confused wondering if they really do want a divorce.  This would happen 3 times over the course of the segment. (Apparently because of copyright issues with the song, there isn't a clip available on-line like a number of the other clips from last nights show.)

After the second groove session, and their lawyers remarks about whether they really do want to divorce, Paul Rudd's character said "Yes, we do, but this song, I wish they'd stop playing this song". By the end of the skit and the third breakout groove session Paul's character says "Alright... who keeps playing that song!?" Kenan Thompson's character looks at his phone, speaks up and exclaims "Oh my goodness, that song is my ringtone. I've missed 3 calls... I'll never get that couch delivered"... Song begins playing again to end the skit... All four get up and groove to "I Don't Wanna Know".  Pretty cool... and not the traditional Fleetwood Mac song you hear, which is great!

Lindsey Buckingham on Solo Work, the Mac and 'Glee'

Billboard Magazine

Lindsey Buckingham... FINALLY on SNL... Persistence Does Pay Off

No only did Lindsey finally show up on Saturday Night Live tonight during the skit 'What Up With That' but he played a little bit of "Big Love"... During the segment Bill Hader began as usual sitting at the end of the panel silent of course, never getting the chance to speak... Bill Hader has been portraying Lindsey sitting in along with two other guests who are the real deal during the Keenan Thompson singfest since the 2009 season. Tonight Paul Simon was the musical guest along with a cast member of GLEE and spoke briefly about his album and made mention of the fact that Lindsey never gets to speak... Shortly there after Keenan Thompson, says something along the lines that he didn't know there were two Lindsey Buckinghams... Then out pops Lindsey strolling on stage, guitar in hand...and plays "Big Love" (no singing). At the end, the real Lindsey Buckingham DOES end up speaking and the Bill Hader version of him still remains silent.

Great stuff!.. Lindsey looked good. Bill and Lindsey were dressed identical in what Lindsey typically wore during the 2009 Unleashed Tour - red shirt, jeans and black leather.

Whether this was a calculated move on the part of SNL to get Lindsey to appear or not, I have no idea.  Bill playing LB is so random during this odd segment, that maybe that's the punch line.. If it was calculated, their persistence payed off!  All in all it was great to see Lindsey FINALLY appear... Hopefully he'll get invited back next fall when his album "Seeds We Sow" is released in September.

Also, during the first airing on the east coast... Lindsey was trending on Twitter which I don't believe has ever happened!

"WHAT UP WITH THAT".... LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM SNL DEC 4th

What Up With That...
A tribute to Hollywood.

The real Robert Deniro, Robin Williams and Lindsey Buckingham (portrayed by Bill Hader) on SNL December 4th.

In another classic version of this sketch... Lindsey's introduced as a Movie Enthusiast who agreed to appear on his birthday, with the possibility that he'll actually get to speak... But again, because of time restraints Lindsey misses out on the opportunity... In the end because they ran out of time the host Deandre Cole gives him a birthday present, a picture of the host with LB in the background.

Here's an idea of the skit... Rough recording!

WHAT UP WITH THAT LINDSEY.... SNL

I don't know how many times this season, but it's been A LOT! Saturday Night Live's "What Up With That" segment features Lindsey Buckingham as portrayed by Bill Hader. The skit is funny in that nobody ever really gets the chance to say anything, or much before the host breaks into song ... I'm not sure where the Lindsey connection is in all this... but I guess it's funny, just because it's so odd... Lindsey's character has been in every segment this season while the other two guests have always been different... I think tonights episode where he mouthed a few words is the most I've seen him move his lips other then to smile.  

This could be SNL's way of asking for the real Lindsey Buckingham to show up one show as himself... I can see him doing it.

What's Up With That? LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM ON SNL

For the second time this season on Saturday Night Live Lindsey Buckingham is portrayed by Bill Hader in the segment What Up With That?

For more appearances, hit the links below

12/4/10 - SNL here

03/4/10 - SNL here