European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 25, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Stevie Nicks but she Sill daddy Little girl by Linda Romine Cox news service Jess Nicks always knew his daughter would succeed. But he had no idea she would become one of the leading female Rock singers of her generation or that he would one Day have to help her fight for her life. Today at 42, Stevie Nicks is a Bona fide Star who juggles a dual career As a Solo artist and a 15-year Veteran of super group Fleetwood Mac. Meanwhile her father a crusty 65-year-old, runs complot Terrace an Amphitheater he built Southwest of Phoenix. Recently a few Days after his daughter and Fleetwood Mac had performed there he reflected on the love he and Stevie share. Quot most fathers and daughters have a special relationship a he said. Quot fathers tend to spoil their Little  As a Little girl Stevie lived an affluent life. Jess Nicks worked As a corporate executive who travelled the world. Throughout their childhood Stevie and her younger brother Christopher moved with their parents from Phoenix to Elpaso Salt Lake City los Angeles san Francisco and Chicago. But Arizona has been Home to the Nickles for the past 20 years and Stevie s Home is six blocks away from her parents. Spend time talking with Jess and Stevie Nicks and their deep affection for one another is overwhelmingly apparent. Each recalls humorous experiences that have bonded them through the years and each becomes sentimental to the Point of tears. Quot Stevie s been spoiled All her life a Jess Nicks explained unapologetic ally Quot poor Little thing a he began As a smile crossed his face. A once she wanted a special Little pair of shoes and her Mother told her no that they were too expensive. So Stevie did t Tell me about that but she came to me and asked me if i would buy her the shoes. Of course i bought them for  he puffed on his cigarette and grinned. Quot burned her Mother  Jess savors another memory from Stevie a High school years. The occasion was a father daughter night in which he and Stevie performed to a recording of King of the Road. A a Quot i was singing away and Stevie was singing away he said Between howls of laughter. Well she gets to laughing and i get to laughing and Iii be damned of she did t wet her pants a right there on stage. Quot i got the giggles during the first line trailer for Sale or rent a and 1 was just hysterical Quot Stevie remembered with amusement. Quot and we had actually practice this. We practice for a week but he kept on singing a he s got a really Good voice a and he would give me this look like How could you do this to me a Quot another indication of the closeness Stevie shares with her dad is reflected in the steady Stream of affectionate notes they Send to one another. A Sample of Jess most recent card to Stevie Quot a son is a son until he takes a wife a he said As tears filled his eyes. He paused to gather his composure and continued. Quot but my daughter is my daughter every Day of her life Quot career pressures have been hard on Jess Nicks daughter who four years ago was addicted to prescription drugs he said. At the time Jess and Barbara Nicks feared their superstar daughter would either die from her chemical dependency or commit suicide. After repeated attempts to help her they flew to los Angeles one night and convinced her to enter the Betty Ford Center in California. Quot she resisted it when we confronted her with it a he said. Quot she was concerned. That it would be publicized and be detrimental to her career. We spent most of the night with her and convinced her though that it was for her health. Finally she said a of daddy i la do it Quot it s Tough. Its really Tough Quot he said shaking his head. Quot Christ the career Means nothing to the parents when it comes to the health of your  Stevie Nicks remembered her parents lifesaving intervention from a different perspective. Quot he basically said to me a How could you possibly even consider putting me through not having you for the rest of my life a Quot she recalled quietly he said do you have any idea what it would do to me if you weren to around you May be a Rock a no Roll Star to the rest of the world but you re still my daughter and if you were to  overcome with emotion she could not continue the Travis Tritt s Blue Collar country club la. Time Fleetwood Mac Singer Stevie Nicks has a close relationship with her father. Sentence. After 28 Days at the Betty Ford Center Stevie was determined to turn her life around. And she has. A it is scary. It is frightening Quot she explained. Quot but i walked out of those doors saying to myself i m Gonna win this. In a not Gonna disappoint my dad. I m not going to break his  Quot today father and daughter Are proud of her hard won sobriety. As life a challenges continue Jess continues to inspire his beloved daughter. Quot i can always go Home Quot Stevie explained As if reassuring herself. Quot everybody who knows me knows when it comes to me there is nothing first in my dad s mind. He could give two cents about everybody else. I am the Only one that matters. Quot its wonderful to have a father like  newcomer Travis Tritt plays hard Core country. By Joe Edwards associated press Travis Tritt figures living off canned Vienna sausages for a few years was Worth it while he tried to get his country music career going. Today he a one of several fresh faces on the country Western scene who Are supplanting the old guard like Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash at the top of the popularity charts. Tritt s help me hold on was a no. 1 country music single in May. His debut album country club could be a Gold up sales of one half million by fall. The album has reached higher on the country music charts than the highly promoted highwayman 2 up by country Kings Willie Nelson Kris Kristofferson Jennings and Cash these Are Guys in be idolized Quot Tritt 27, said in an interview during a frenzied 16-hour work Day in Nashville Tenn. A a it a almost mind boggling. Its like you be cheated nature. Quot six years ago Tritt quit his $400-a-week Job As an assistant manager for a Marietta ga., company that distributes heating and air conditioning equipment. He yearned to sing professionally a a beckoning that began at age 8 when he taught himself to play guitar. So he gave up Job Security to sing at night in american legion Halls for pay that would hardly cover necessities. Quot i would go to the grocery store once a week and buy canned Vienna sausage a head of lettuce a Jar of Mayonnaise a loaf of bread and two or three cans of soup Quot he recalled. Quot this was breakfast lunch and dinner for the entire week. Its All i could  several times he nearly gave up singing in order to return to a More Normal Job with better benefits and pay. A you almost have to have As much patience As you do Talent Quot Tritt recalled. He finally hooked up with Warner Bros. Records and gained recognition this year As one of country music s rising stars. His album contains mainly Blue Collar anthems celebrating a Carefree Southern lifestyle charade sized by relentless drinking the Joy of driving pickup trucks and the relaxation of shooting Pool. His lyrical themes Are much like those of another Dixie firebrand Hank Williams or. But his no. 1 record had a tender touch a a plea to his Lover not to leave him. His next single release i m Gonna be somebody documents the struggle of a Singer who becomes successful after 10 years and the subsequent envy of someone just like him. His style is hard Core country music with fiddles steel guitars and a Harmonica. Quot i do music that turns me on Quot said the bearded mustachioed Tritt. Quot i figure if it does it will turn others on too. I think we be struck a nerve with a part of Maraie America that really is looking for honesty in music we struck a chord with a younger audience As Well. Quot the music deals with real situations real people everyday Ordinary life. You Don t have to be a Poe by j or literature student to understand country music. Tritt has bought a touring bus owned previous y y succession of country stars including Randy i rav Merle Haggard and Conway Twitty. He has been the opening act for several conc headlined by the Charlie Daniels band. Daniels Nas it become a Friend and adviser. Rte a Rhand trittes help me hold on was his first no. 1 Reco his second single record released. Its the song ignited his career. A pm Hince. Quot that song has tripled or quadrupled our a its wonderful to have that kind of response Quot it makes you want to Stop and Pinch yours i. Ass Page 16 a a a the stars and stripes monday june 25,1990