Why Stevie Nicks Loved Being Yelled At By Janis Joplin

Every career has a rite of passage. For some, it’s landing a big deal. For others, it’s making a real difference in someone’s life. But in the music world, those “welcome to the club” moments can be a little… unconventional. Just ask Stevie Nicks, who considers one of her biggest honors to be getting screamed off stage by Janis Joplin.

A Wild Welcome to the Music Industry

The entertainment world isn’t exactly known for its warm and fuzzy traditions. It’s loud, unpredictable, and nothing like your average office job. For Stevie Nicks, one unforgettable moment came early in her career when she opened for Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix in San Francisco.

“It was a big huge show in San Francisco,” Nicks recalled during an interview with Ultimate Classic Rock Nights.

“There was like twenty bands on; there was you, there was 15 more bands, and then there was Jimi Hendrix.”

When Janis Joplin Lost Her Patience

Still a rising star at the time, Nicks’ set went a little longer than expected. Maybe it was the excitement. Maybe she was trying to make the most of her shot. Either way, Janis Joplin wasn’t thrilled. She shouted at Nicks to get off the stage so the night’s lineup could move forward.

But instead of feeling embarrassed or discouraged, Nicks took it in stride. “Being yelled off the stage by Janis Joplin was one of the greatest honors of my life,” she later told AP News. For her, it wasn’t a moment of shame—it was proof she was sharing the stage with legends.

A Rock ‘n’ Roll Rite of Passage

Stevie Nicks wouldn’t become a household name until she joined Fleetwood Mac in 1974, but that night in San Francisco proved she had what it took to play in the big leagues. And even though Joplin’s outburst was intense, Nicks knew it was just part of the business. No hard feelings—just another wild chapter in rock history.

Sometimes, getting shouted at by a rock legend is the best compliment you can get.