Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks has been ranked number one on BBC Music Magazine’s list of the 25 greatest frontwomen in rock history, per parade.com.
The accolade cements the legacy of the artist, previously dubbed the “Queen of Rock and Roll” by Rolling Stone, for her distinctive vocals, mystical stage presence and songwriting.
The publication credited Nicks with transforming the personal and professional turmoil of Fleetwood Mac into timeless music. It noted that the emotional fallout during the recording of the 1977 album Rumours fuelled some of her most enduring work, including the tracks “Dreams” and “Gold Dust Woman.”
Nicks led a top five that featured punk icon Patti Smith at number two, followed by fellow Fleetwood Mac member Christine McVie at number three. American singer Courtney Love and Janis Joplin took the fourth and fifth positions, respectively.
The ranking highlights a strong showing for Fleetwood Mac, with two members occupying the top three positions. Whilst Nicks was recognised for her commanding stage presence, the magazine praised McVie as the band’s “grounding, rhythmic soul” who provided the foundation that held the group together during turbulent periods.
The remainder of the top 10 included Siouxsie Sioux, Debbie Harry, Annie Lennox, Liz Fraser, and Heart lead vocalist Ann Wilson.
The accolade follows Nicks’ historic achievement as the first woman to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice, both as a member of Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist. Speaking to Rolling Stone in 2018, Nicks expressed hope that her double induction would open doors for future generations of female artists in an institution where 22 men had achieved the feat before her.
•Featured image: Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks smiles during a portrait session in New Haven, Connecticut, in October 1975/Fin Costello/Redferns/Getty Images
