Nicks brings surprise to benefit's post-party

What's it like to party with Stevie Nicks? Well, some of us found out after Monday night's Fleetwood Mac concert, a benefit for the Arizona Heart Foundation. The VIP concert tickets on the floor of America West Arena included a pre-concert cocktail party and then a post-party with the rock goddess. The price? A mere $1,000 per person. They sold out within three weeks.

Many of the 264 people who forked out the bucks headed for the late-night after party at Kincaid's Steak Chop and Fish House. Security was very tight, and only those with special armbands were allowed in.

The eclectic crowd of Nicks' hard-core followers (some were dressed like her) and supporters of the Arizona Heart Foundation waited for an hour with few complaints. Nicks finally arrived at about midnight with a surprise: She brought along Mick Fleetwood, Lindsey Buckingham and John McVie.

The crowd of about 270 learned people could have their photos taken with the band. Some people waited in line for an hour. They each had only a few seconds to pose, and then were whisked away by the bodyguards.

Stevie Nicks (center) greets Linda Anderson and Scott Williams before having pictures taken with them Monday night during a VIP party at Kincaid's in downtown Phoenix.

Nigel Atkinson didn't mind. He and his wife came all the way from England for the concert.

Lessing Stern, owner of Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, and Gay Palmer, both of Carefree, and Art and Nancy Schwalm of Scottsdale were among those mingling at the party. The Schwalms invited 10 of their family members to the concert and party - VIP style.

Meredeth Rohner of Tiffany & Co. and her fiancé, Jim Moss, said they waited past their bedtime for the rock goddess. On behalf of Tiffany's, Meredeth presented each band member a Tiffany crystal-etched sculpture.

The Phoenix stop on the band's reunion tour (they left that same night for San Francisco) was a homecoming performance for Nicks, who was born at Good Samaritan Hospital. These days the diva commutes between Los Angeles and her home in Paradise Valley, which she shares with her brother, Chris, his wife, Lori, and her 11-year-old niece, Jessie.

Her parents, Jess and Barbara, of Paradise Valley, were also part of her entourage at the party. "It's such a thrill to see this little kid of mine up on stage in front of all those people," Barbara said.

For the family, this was more than a concert. "Raising money for the Arizona Heart Hospital is so important to Stevie," said Jess. It's where both he and Barbara had lifesaving surgery. The cause also has a place in Buckingham's heart. Barbara noted that he lost his father at 50 and his brother at 45, who both died from heart attacks.

During the concert, Nicks dedicated the song Landslide to her father and Silver Springs to her mother. (Barbara named her antique and vintage store in Payson after the song). Stevie donates all the royalties from the song Beautiful Child in honor of her parents to the Heart Foundation.

"written by Kathy Shayna Shocket Arizona Republic"

*photo by Michael Chow/Scottsdale Republic