The Lasting Impact of tom Petty on Stevie Nicks’ Solo Journey
While Stevie Nicks’ collaboration with Lindsey Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac is frequently enough highlighted, her bond with Tom Petty substantially shaped her solo career. Their friendship provided a unique source of inspiration and support.
Reflecting on their connection, Nicks shared in a 2004 Rolling stone tribute, “In 1976, after a year with Fleetwood Mac, I discovered Tom Petty’s debut album. I was instantly captivated.”
“I adored the raw, swampy quality of Tom’s voice, perfectly complemented by Mike Campbell’s guitar and Benmont Tench’s keyboards. We shared similar influences-The Byrds,Neil Young,crosby,Stills & Nash-but Tom infused his music with deep blues roots. I was such a fan that if I weren’t already in a band, I would have joined his.”
A Fan’s Dream: Meeting Tom Petty
Nicks’ admiration for Petty was evident when they first met in 1978. Petty recalled, “She was a huge fan, completely starstruck. It was her mission for me to wriet her a song.”
That opportunity came sooner than expected. In 1980, as Nicks was gearing up to record her debut solo album, bella Donna, she enlisted Jimmy Iovine as her producer. Iovine,known for his work on Petty’s successful album Damn the Torpedoes,was also producing Petty’s follow-up,Hard Promises,at the time.
this overlap allowed Petty to hear Nicks’ album as it developed. However,both he and Iovine where unable to identify a standout single. “They told me bluntly, ‘You don’t have a single on this record,’” Nicks recalled. “Tom is a loyal friend,but he’s also brutally honest.”
The Birth of “Insider”
In response to Iovine’s request, Petty crafted “Insider,” a song he felt would resonate with Nicks. “I wrote it quickly-maybe in 10 to 15 minutes,” he explained to Melody Maker in 1981. “I jotted it down and then picked up my guitar to sing it through. The whole process took about an hour.”
When Petty presented the song to Iovine, he was met with unexpected praise. “He said, ‘God, when I asked for a song, I didn’t expect this!’” Petty admitted that this compliment made him question whether he should have kept the song for himself, as he had grown attached to it.
During the recording session for “Insider,” Petty’s unease was palpable.Nicks noticed his hesitation and asked, “How was it?” He replied, “It’s amazing.” Sensing his reluctance, she offered, “I can tell you don’t want to give me this song.I’m giving it back to you right now.” Petty appreciated her integrity.
A New Collaboration: “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”
Feeling guilty about the situation, Petty proposed a new song he and Campbell had just written: “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.” Campbell explained that the song’s chord progression was inspired by the Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Women.”
“I adapted that feel with different chords and shared it with Tom, who then crafted the lyrics,” Campbell recounted in a video demonstration using his Fender Broadcaster, the same guitar he played on the original recording.
With Iovine’s encouragement, the song evolved into a duet featuring both Nicks and Petty, which proved to be a brilliant decision. Nicks was ecstatic about the new track, exclaiming, “Wow! That’s why I wanted you to write me a song-it’s rock ‘n’ roll, which is what you do!”
“Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” became the lead single from Bella donna, quickly climbing to number three on the Billboard Hot 100, marking a important milestone for both Nicks and the Heartbreakers.
Reflections on “Insider”
Despite its release, “Insider” did not achieve the same success.It featured backing vocals from Nicks and her sister, Lori, but failed to resonate with audiences or critics. Drummer Stan Lynch expressed his disappointment, stating, “I didn’t think it was a good trade at all.”
![Stevie Nicks - Stop Draggin' My Heart Around (official Video) [HD Remaster] - YouTube](https://img.youtube.com/vi/H5i7j0VhEHw/maxresdefault.jpg "Tom Petty and Mike Campbell: The Surprising Song They Couldn't Gift Stevie Nicks-and the Unexpected Hit That Followed! 2")
A Friendship That Lasted
The friendship between Nicks and petty remained strong until his untimely passing in 2017. he provided her with tough love when she needed it most. After her rehabilitation in the early 1990s,Nicks sought his guidance in songwriting.
“I didn’t expect his response, which was a firm ‘No, I won’t,’” she recounted in Rolling Stone. “He told me, ‘You are one of the premier songwriters in this business. Just write some great songs-that’s what you do.’”
During their 2006 tour, Petty gifted Nicks a stunning platinum sheriff’s badge adorned with 24-karat gold and diamonds, inscribed with “To Our Honorary Heartbreaker.” Nicks described it as “the most stunning piece of jewelry a man has ever given me.”
Following Petty’s tragic death from an accidental overdose, Nicks expressed her heartbreak, stating, “The loss of Tom Petty has just about broken my heart.” At the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year Award ceremony, she honored him, saying, “He was a great father, a great friend, and one of my best friends. My heart will never recover from this loss.”
