This is the life-changing advice that Tom Petty once told Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks – Far Out Magazine

Tom Petty was a man of wisdom who had an unmeasurable impact on artists he would inspire with a level of supreme musicianship. However, his long-time friend Stevie Nicks would be influenced by Petty in an entirely different way back in 1994, a moment which would re-evaluate how the Fleetwood Mac singer views herself as a person as well as an artist.

Their friendship between the two began in 1981 when Nicks decided she wanted to be in Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers which, Im sure we can all agree, would have been an incredible meeting of minds. However, the potential collaboration broke Pettys golden rule of no girls allowed.

During Nicks show at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown on September 15 2017, shediscussedthe making of her 1981 solo album,Bella Donna. Nicks detailed her visit to Atlantic Records then-president Doug Morris and made her pitch for the record: So, listen, what Id really like to do is be in Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers band. He says, No. Thats not going to happen.' Nicks smiled, and relayed Morris next comment: You obviously havent heard Tom Pettys mantra: No girls allowed.'

On not being able to become one of The Heartbreakers, Nicks then decided to settle for the next best thing which was to work with Pettys producer Jimmy Iovine. The pair then started dating and living together, which gave Nicks further chance to live out her dream and get a close-up look inside the world of Tom Petty.

The songwriter would often come around to listen to mixes of the record, the Petty super-fan described hiding in the basement trying undercover which she jokingly likened to being a secret reporter at the White House! Iovine didnt think Bella Donna had a stand out single so recruited Petty to write and performStop Draggin My Heart Around with Nicks which would become one of her biggest solo hits and cement her long friendship with Tom.

Following Pettys tragic death aged just 66 in 2017, Nicks sat down with Rolling Stone and revealed the life-changing stern advice that he handed her back in 1994. The Fleetwood Mac member was going through a turbulent period both personally and professionally following a stint in rehab, she had run into an old flame which had left her shaken to her core and asked Petty to help her create art out of this less than pleasant experience.

Nicks recalled: I asked Tom if he would help me write a song. And he said, No. You are one of the premier songwriters of all time. You dont need me to write a song for you. He said, Just go to your piano and write a good song. You can do that.

The advice that Nicks was given would result in her 2014 song Hard Advice which is a thank-you note to Toms method of tough love which gave her the confidence boost she didnt want to hear at the time but instead needed. She also revealed: The chorus goes,Sometimes hes my best friend.It was reallySometimes Toms my best friend.

I changed it because I knew Tom would not want me to say his name, Nicks said. Thats how well I know him.

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This is the life-changing advice that Tom Petty once told Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks - Far Out Magazine