Why Janis Joplin Yelled At Stevie Nick
Janis Joplin - criterioncollection / Youtube
Before Stevie Nicks became known as one of the greatest rock legends of all time, she had a pivotal moment early in her career that involved Janis Joplin, who was a big influence on Nicks personally and musically.
Encounter with Janis Joplin: A Defining Moment in Stevie Nicks’s Career
Nicks and her then-boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham collaborated musically in two separate projects: Fritz and their duo Buckingham-Nicks, before joining the renowned rock supergroup, Fleetwood Mac.
Nicks spoke about the encounter with Joplin during an interview with Ultimate Classic Rock Nights radio show. She recounted an event that took place late in the 1960s, where Fritz was given the opportunity to perform at a show in San Francisco, which featured Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. According to Nicks, the whole affair was a big deal,
“It was a big huge show in San Francisco. There was like 20 bands on; there was you, there were 15 more bands, and then there was Jimi Hendrix.”
During the show, Nicks’ set seemed to run over her scheduled time, which did not sit right with Joplin. According to the singer, Joplin yelled her off the stage so that she could begin her set on time. Being yelled off the stage by Janis Joplin was one of the greatest honors of my life, Nicks later said. The event had no impact on her perception of Joplin or her artistry. In fact, it became an integral part of Nicks’s musical journey and taught her an essential lesson on thriving in an industry that wasn’t welcoming towards female success.
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Stevie Nicks Reflects on Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix
During a 2011 interview with The Telegraph, Nicks shared the vital lessons she learnt from both Joplin and Hendrix, explaining,
“From Janis, I learned that to make it as a female musician in a man’s world is going to be tough, and you need to keep your head held high,” adding, “From Jimi, I learned grace and humility.”
Nicks regarded Joplin as a powerful presence in a predominantly male-dominated industry, admiring her boldness and self-assurance in forging her own path. She saw these traits as essential to her own success. Despite facing scrutiny and ridicule regarding her personal life and struggles with drug abuse, Nicks’s musical legacy remains unscathed.
Nicks and Joplin went on to become rock legends in their own right, who inspired many other female artists who succeeded them. The encounter, which was initially humiliating to Nicks, eventually became a significant chapter in her career that helped her navigate in a male-dominated industry. As Nicks concluded,
“Being yelled off the stage taught me a valuable lesson about the music business. You learn that you have to get it together and do it well because nobody’s going to want you on that stage if you aren’t good and aren’t ready.”
Stevie Nicks’s encounter with Janis Joplin, though initially humbling, became a pivotal moment in her career. From Joplin, Nicks learned the importance of resilience and self-assurance in navigating the challenges of a male-dominated music industry. Similarly, the grace and humility exhibited by Jimi Hendrix served as a guiding light for Nicks. Despite facing personal struggles and scrutiny, Nicks emerged as a rock legend, inspiring countless female artists who followed in her footsteps. The lessons she gleaned from these encounters continue to resonate in her music and serve as a testament to her enduring legacy in the music world.
