Stevie Nicks Rails Against Computers, Cell Phones: "They've Ruined Our Children"

NEW YORK -- Friends who want to get in touch with Stevie Nicks know not to send an e-mail, call on a cell phone, or reach out by text message, because she won't respond.

It's not that she's being rude: Nicks doesn't own a computer or a cell phone. The 60-year-old rock legend, who is currently on tour with Fleetwood Mac, is a proud technophobe.

"I believe that computers have taken over the world. I believe that they have in many ways ruined our children. I believe that kids used to love to go out and play," Nicks says in her famously smoky voice.

"I believe that social graces are gone because manners are gone because all people do is sit around and text. I think it's obnoxious."

Nicks does own an iPod, but she prefers to listen to music -- which includes her new CD, "The Soundstage Sessions" -- on a boombox. (The CD also comes packaged with a DVD.)

Better yet, give her a cassette version and she'll be in musical heaven. "It sounds better and you'd be convinced," she says.

AP: This is your first live project in 22 years. What took so long?

Nicks: I don't really know exactly how that happened. Before I knew it, it was 2007 ... (my) tour was over, and I'm sitting in my house going, "I can't believe I'm sitting here again, and I didn't film this show." So I got on my phone and I called my managers, and I said, "Make some calls, because I need to film this show." I'm very, very proud of it. I'm almost glad that I waited this long to do it, because maybe that's what God wanted me to do.

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AP: You say you hope this project is a blueprint for the next generation. Why do you think there's a lack of strong rock acts?

Nicks: Because the music business is in terrible trouble. People are stealing our music. That's all there is to it. In the old days ... they would help you to develop into the artist that they knew you were going to be. In the last 10 years, the record companies don't have the money to do that. I don't know what the answer is to it. The only thing I can say to people is, "Buy music, do not steal music." If you do, you won't have any new music later on.

AP: If you and I were having lunch, and I pulled out my cell phone ...

Nicks: I'm gonna put my hand on your hand and say, "Turn it off, for now. Just give me an hour, of you, I really want an hour of just you, and your heart. I don't want you talking to someone else while we're having lunch." It's love, you know, it's relationships. I don't want love and relationships to be lost, and I feel like that's happening.

AP: Have the nation's economic troubles inspired you musically?

Nicks: Absolutely, I want to go home and write Bob Dylan songs, I want to go write radical, rebellious "let's try to make it better" songs. I'm very affected by everything going on. When I do get finished with this Fleetwood Mac tour, I will absolutely write about the political situation, which I have never done before. I have never actually been very political before, and I'm starting to feel more political every day. So, pretty soon, governor (laughs).

Comments

[patrickjkiger]

When you call her a "rock legend," you're lowering the bar to knee level.

[coastalcarla]

Remind me again how many "children" Stevie has? Oh, that's right - none. She was too busy partying her nose off for 20 years to become a parent. This is like listening to a priest give marriage advice.

And newsflash: The recording industry has ALWAYS been about the money. Those lucky enough to get a break got to be artistic. Thousands with as much merit and talent as Stevie were tossed into the trash heap by executives over the years.

[protagonia]

Her point is still valid though.

You can separate apples and oranges, right?

[sws3030]

She is correct about one thing-this constant attachment to cell phones and texting is awful. It is terribly rude and dehumanizing. Unfortunately good manners have gone the way of the good music Ms. Nicks produces. Turn off your cell phones and enjoy for a change.

[OBXartist]

I think Stevie is suffering from the selective memory that comes with being 60 years old. The music business has always been cutthroat and the alleys are littered with great bands that were snuffed out or outright robbed by the suits. It was always all about the making of money, not the making of music. Technology has probably helped to level the playing field now than anything in the history of popular music. Now muscians are not dependent on some guy in a $10k suit to get their music to the public.

But, I'll partially agree with Stevie on one point. I never was a big fan of tapes, but the older music usually does sound better on vinyl. Old b&w movies seldom benefit from being colorized and old music seldom benefits from being converted to "0s" and "1s". Those old analog guys knew what they were doing. It took them three or four tries to get Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" to sound half decent on CD and I still think the vinyl sounds better.

[Paxhope]

Ms. Nicks has it right.
She's Derrick Jensen-ready!
Earth will win the war.

[RJB Boston]

Cant run away from progress - you can adapt it to, make it work for you on your terms, but you cant act like its a diabolical threat.. Technology connects as much as it disconnects.

[pfc1369]

Of course she is right.

But that ship has sailed, and it ain't coming back.

[AbbieHoffman2]

accurate comment

[american-dolt]

I concur

[castlerider]

What Stevie is really right about though, is the music business. It's awful for people trying to come up. It's turned into something like a multi-level marketing thing where it's more like winning the lotto as opposed to someone with a lot of talent and a lot of heart getting a break.
I've always wondered why succesful artists like her didn't pull together and start their own MTV; something like a composium where artists take their turns running it for a while, bringing the music they'd like to produce and bands and singers they'd like to see get a break, for like a week , or a few days at a time.. You know the waiting list on that would be 2 years long at least, but it sure would be fun. People would be tuning in big time for their favorite artists to turn 'em on to their favorite stuff. If someone didn't make it, there'd always be artists who'd be happy to fill in. like millions of others, I used to love MTV until the corporatists took over and made it into homogenized crap.
If something like that was setup where the artists, the ones who think with the other sides of their brains, could run it, -the wildness would never end.
...Yeah, I know, I know... Dream on, right?

.

[castlerider]

Technology is good and bad. She's right about her point, but actually, it's the same as always, a parent needs to be close to their kids.

I never got, or allowed my kids to have video games. They're both now 18 & 15, and they never really missed 'em. They go online some, but what they pay attention to has always been important for me, and they've respected that, because they know I just want what's good for 'em. Some things they keep private, I don't force them to tell me anything. I don't know if that's a reason that's helped them stay in honor roll or close to it, but they know they can always talk to me, and I do all I can to talk to them about things they should be aware of.



.

[LMPE]

Criminy! She's a luddite!

[trebledamages]

She IS a Luddite! You hit the nail on the head!

[D-Driller]

I wish we could go back to easier days as well. There is no wonder in the world anymore. I really can't describe it - It's like breaking out the old record player and listening to an LP of a favorite band. You have several .mp3's and CD's of that same music floating around in your car or office, but it never sounds as good as when you hear it on vinyl... I think that is what she means, in a way, and I think she's right.

[tech84]

Its too bad that Nicks wont be reading any of the comments lol. Unless one of her"people" print things off or read it to her!!
I agree with the part of her statement, but life in this decade is about keeping up with technology, and parents do need to step in and set limits on computer/cell phone or any electronics use, anything in life is about balance.

[blytzd]

Actually the last few generations are a bunch of rotten apples so she can start by blaming herself.

[jeliz]

I don't think the kids in the last few generations make up the largest portion of her fan base. I'm 48, and I think she might get the 30 and above crowd these days. Most of us were hooked on Fleetwood Mac and then followed her career. You should really listen to some of her music. She has some beautiful songs.

[rabidbaby]

I'm in my 20s and am enamored by Fleetwood Mac & Stevie. Why? Because nothing my own generation produced was worth listening to, so I went out and found the good stuff.

[roch20]

Wow, you are bitter, nothing happen without a reason, it's not her fault, grow up!

[protagonia]

Lazy comment. Easy and cheap.

[lmvd3]

You know what? It's not always safe for kids to go out and play these days...has she also not watched the news in several decades?

[lmvd3]

I think she is out of touch, really showing her age and seems unable to change with the times. Technology is like anything else-it can be a great thing or a terrible thing. Kids need love, discipline and constant guidance into adulthood. They need limits as well, including access to internet, cell phones, etc. We can--and do-- have techno-savvy kids who grow up to be wonderful people who make terrific contributions to the world. Embrace the progress, people--your kids will respect you for it, and you will be able to give them better guidance to navigate this technological world in which we live. It's time for more than a few of you to ask the kids or grandkids for lessons (view this as together time) or take a computer class at the local college.

[ZenCrusader]

Being personally tuned in with the natural universe is never out of touch - listen to yourself - you are so into computers and tech that you did not even grasp the point she made - you are a great example of her being right and you being clueless.