Posted on 03/21/2021 5:44:54 PM PDT by DoodleBob
Ann Wilson has detailed the “cruel and nasty” body shaming that gave her anxiety during the height of Heart’s career.
“Anxiety about that really peaked for me in the 1980s when Heart was having its biggest commercial success,” the singer recalled on Mind Wide Open, the IGTV series and podcast hosted by Chris Cornell's daughter, Lily Cornell Silver. “When that happens, you get into this really intense cross section of spotlights. And, on top of that, it was MTV days when you had to not only be in a band, you had to look like a model, you had to be able to sing and dance and act, and look just fantastic all the time from every angle.”
For Wilson, the harshest body shaming came from critics assigned to cover Heart’s concerts.
“I kept getting criticized for not looking like a model. For being real,” the rocker recalled. “There were a couple of reviews I remember that were just so cruel. So personal and just cruel and nasty.”
One review in particular left Wilson speechless.
"We were in an airport and I read this review from the night before that really just landed on me for everything that was ‘wrong’ with me. And didn't even mention that I sang,” the singer noted. “I had to go find a restroom and get into a stall and just chill because I felt I was going to go crazy. I felt it was just all too much. I couldn't take all that kind of personal criticism on such a huge public scale. When I chilled out and finally came out, I was okay, but that kind of thing started happening. That led to me having stage fright. Like, 'I don't even want to go out there.’ That kind of critique, all heaped upon one person in the band, it’s all my fault, that was too much of a cross to bear for me. I couldn’t handle it.”
Wilson developed unhealthy habits in an effort to cope with her anxiety.
“I partied to relax. To escape those feelings of anxiety. Pretty classic reasoning,” the Heart rocker admitted. “If something is really terrifying and off-putting and you can’t face it, you might retreat into drugs and alcohol, which is what I did at the time.”
Stevie Nicks is a great vocal stylist — not a great singer, IMO. There’s a difference. Her partner in “Fleetwood Mac”, Christine McVie had the voice. But together they made a great combination.
Body shaming by the press is what started the ball rolling for Karen Carpenter’s death.
^This. I was thinking the same thing, the difference between a singer and a vocalist. Jagger will never be accused of being another Paul McCartny, but both make their band’s sound unmistakable, and both are icons.
Back at ya lol
I like Stevie, and I like her singing with Christine and Lindsey. My main point was that even though she put on some weight, I still want to listen to her sing. She still sells records and tickets.
No dispute there. Stevie is unique. And I didn’t mean to seem critical of the point you made, sorry for that.
I had a relative on Medicare who had to lose weight to a certain level to obtain a knee replacement.
I remember the story going around that she had some medical condition that was making her gain weight but the condition was never named. Probably the same condition as Stevie Nicks; If I don’t do cocaine, I gain weight.
I was a big fan of theirs in the 70s and 80s. Ann had a pretty face but was always a little plump. Didn’t bother me because she was a great singer and Nancy was on hand as eye candy (particularly during the glam period of the “Heart” album in the mid-80s - see the video for “Never”). As I got older, I stopped listening to rock and now I find Ann’s sound to be too loud and uncontrolled. I don’t recall anyone being upset by Ann’s plumpness at the time.
To most normal folks, fat is unattractive. But that’s no reason to harass the obese. Let ‘em be.
Bruce Springsteen is a great entertainer, but can't sing worth a lick.*
*Your opinion may vary.
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