Stevie Nicks before she was famous
She cleaned houses. Then she wrote Landslide.
1948: Born Stephanie Lynn Nicks
In 1948, in Phoenix, Arizona, a girl named Stephanie Lynn Nicks is born. The name on the birth certificate is Stephanie. The world will come to know her as Stevie.
Was born Stephanie Lynn Nicks in Phoenix, Arizona. Source
1967: Singer in the band Fritz
By 1967 she's in the San Francisco Bay Area, singing with a band called Fritz. They'll later be billed as the Fritz Rabyne Memorial Band, playing to Bay Area crowds long before anyone knows her name.
Joined the San Francisco Bay Area band Fritz, later known as Fritz Rabyne Memorial Band. Source
1972: New duo with Lindsey Buckingham
Fritz falls apart in 1972, and Stevie starts over as half of a duo with guitarist Lindsey Buckingham. Two voices, one guitar, and no safety net.
Started her career as a duo with Lindsey Buckingham after Fritz disbanded. Source
1972-1973: Recording demos in a coffee plant
For the next two years, they record demos at night in Daly City. The four-track machine lives at Buckingham's father's coffee-roasting plant, so that's where the songs get made, surrounded by the smell of roasted beans.
Recorded demo tapes with Lindsey Buckingham at night in Daly City on a four-track machine kept at Buckingham's father's coffee-roasting plant. Source
1973: Debut album on Polydor Records
In 1973 the work becomes a record: Buckingham Nicks, released on Polydor. Their names are finally on an album cover in stores.
Released the album Buckingham Nicks with Lindsey Buckingham on Polydor Records. Source
1973-1974: Dropped by the label
The album doesn't sell, and Polydor drops them. The record is out in the world, and the deal that made it is gone.
1974: Waitress and house cleaner
By 1974 the album money is gone, so Stevie works whatever she can find. She waits tables, and she cleans producer Keith Olsen's house to keep the two of them afloat.
Worked multiple jobs, including waiting tables and cleaning producer Keith Olsen's house, when money from the album ran out. Source
1973-1974: Writes Landslide
Somewhere in those lean months before Fleetwood Mac, she writes a song called Landslide. It's written by a woman with no record deal, working other people's jobs.
1973-1974
Was dropped by Polydor after Buckingham Nicks failed commercially. Source
1973-1974
Wrote Landslide during the period before she and Buckingham joined Fleetwood Mac. Source