Next month will mark six years since we lost one of the greatest musicians of his time. Prince was found dead at his Paisley Park home in Minneapolis, in April 2016; he was 57 years old.
During his life, Prince collaborated with many stars, including Fleetwood Mac’s very own Stevie Nicks. Recently, Nicks opened up about their relationship and the advice Prince gave her about her drug use.
The two worked together in the early 80s, and their collaboration turned into an amazing relationship. Nicks recalled feeling flattered when she found out that Prince was “putting the moves on her.”
While on her way to her honeymoon, Nicks heard Prince’s song “Little Red Corvette” and immediately felt inspired to create her own version. She insisted on buying a tape recorder to capture her creation. That night, she worked on a song that became the lead single from her 1983 solo album “The Wild Heart.” The single reached No. 5 on the U.S. Billboard Top 100.
After completing the song, Nicks requested a meeting with Prince. Within 20 minutes, they were introduced to each other for the first time in a studio in Los Angeles. Prince listened to Nicks’ song and immediately added his own parts on the keyboard. He then hugged her and left.
Nicks expressed her admiration for Prince’s musical abilities, saying, “He spoiled me for every band I’ve ever had because nobody can exactly re-create — not even with two piano players — what Prince did all by his little self.”
Despite her attraction to Prince, Nicks consciously avoided a romantic relationship because she valued their musical connection. She appreciated having a strong musical relationship, especially after experiencing breakups and losing contact with previous collaborators.
Interestingly, Prince’s song “When Doves Cry” was inspired by Nicks’ song “Edge of Seventeen.”
Nicks admitted that during her collaboration with Prince, she was heavily into drugs. Prince, on the other hand, was against drug use. He often warned her about the dangers of drug addiction during their long phone conversations.
After Prince’s death, Nicks felt sadness knowing that he died from an accidental drug overdose. The loss reinforced the importance of Prince’s warnings about drug use.
Sadly, Nicks herself ended up in rehab twice. She checked into the Betty Ford clinic in 1986 for her cocaine addiction and sought treatment at another hospital in 1993 for her addiction to prescribed medication.
Nicks recalls a significant conversation she had with a plastic surgeon about her nose. The surgeon warned her about the potential consequences of her cocaine abuse, stating, “The next time you do a hit of cocaine, you could drop dead.” This conversation motivated Nicks to seek help, ultimately turning her life around and saving her career and life.
It is a tragedy that Prince was unable to overcome his addiction to harmful opioids. Nicks’ story confirms the musical genius he truly was and highlights his generosity with his talent. Prince will always be remembered as a musical legend, sorely missed by millions.
