Stevie Nicks’ songs were always infused with elements of her personal life. Whether it was her nightmare relationship with Lindsey Buckingham or the loss of someone close to her, Nicks always seemed to use her pieces as an emotional translator. She believed that getting to the heart of the problem through music would help her understand everything more clearly. Despite her repertoire of love songs, ‘Two Kinds of Love’ explores a unique and distinct type of love.
After leaving Fleetwood Mac, Nicks spent the 1980s alternating between being a band member and a solo artist. Nicks knew she could succeed as a solo artist. However, she had one person in mind who shared her passion for rootsy rock and roll: Tom Petty.
When working in ‘The Mac’, Nicks eventually admitted that she would have gladly left her own band to join Petty on the road, as she owned all of their albums. So, when it came time for Nicks to release her solo album, Bella Donna, she contacted producer Jimmy Iovine specifically because of his work with Petty.
Nicks became a close friend of Petty during a difficult period in his life after collaborating with him on the songs ‘Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around’ and ‘I Run To You‘. Following the recording of the album Southern Accents, Petty’s house burned down, prompting Dylan to ask him to tour. He nearly turned down the offer if it hadn’t been for Nicks.
According to the book Petty: The Biography, Nicks persuaded Petty to return to the road. She told him, “Oh yes, you are going! You can’t cancel on Bob Dylan! I turn around and ask, “So, do you want me to go? Do you want a sidekick, someone to be with you, make you laugh, and be there when you’re lonely?”
Despite tension with Petty’s wife, Nicks stayed a confidante, maintaining their bond. Eventually, Nicks appeared on several songs on his albums in the late 1980s. Although Nicks was more likely to quote her own heart when writing ‘Two Kinds of Love‘ from the album The Other Side of the Mirror, it appears to be inspired by her relationship with Petty.
Nicks may have made a subtle reference to Petty by referring to him as her “famous friend” while recording with rock veteran Bruce Hornsby. Looking at the lyrics, Steve Nicks’ verses about staying up all night with this friend stand out. They seem to capture the essence of many nights spent on Dylan’s tour, opening their hearts to each other.
Despite her own career, Nicks often attended Petty’s shows, showing support for her friend. Occasionally, she would join him onstage for the song ‘Insider‘ or play classic pop songs like ‘Needles and Pins‘. Nicks may have had a variety of romantic partners throughout her career. However, Petty was the closest thing to a musical soulmate that she ever had.
