Dixie Chicks - about the band

The Dixie Chicks are one of the most popular country music groups around and are one of the only
all female country music trios. The band got its start in 1989 in Dallas, TX but success wouldn't come easy.
The original members of the Dixie Chicks were the sisters, Martie and Emily Erwin, Laura Lynch, and Robin Lynn Macy. The original members of the Dixie Chicks when they formed in 1989 were the sisters Martie Erwin and Emily Erwin, Laura Lynch, and Robin Lynn Macy. (Martie and Emily have married and their names are now Martie Maguire and Emily Robison.)
The Dixie Chicks released their first music in 1990 with a classic bluegrass sound, and came out with their first album "Thank Heavens for Dale Evans" named after the popular female producer/performer Dale Evans. The album was released on the Indy label Crystal Clear Sound. The album did not contain a pop country music feel (more bluegrass) as evident by the 2 instrumentals and reliance on fiddle play. And although the album didn't get any airplay on mainstream radio the band was noticed by country music greats like George Strait and Garth Brooks. In late 1991, The Chicks picked up some steam releasing the Christmas single "Home on the Radar Range"
and their second album, Little Ol' Cowgirl. Lloyd Maines played on both records, a noted steel guitar legend.
The Chicks also updated their sound to feature newer country sounds and not just bluegrass. They were also to achieve local success in Dallas during this period and played concerts throughout Nashville and Texas area.
 

Changes for the better....

In 1992, Robin Lynn Macy left the band because of musical differences. In 1993, the Chicks released their third album, Shouldn't a Told You That, with Lynch acting as the sole lead singer and bluegrass pushed to the background.
Although the band achieved mild success with the album it wasn't until new singer Laura Lynch stepped into the band did the Chicks become a huge success. Laura Lynch was replaced in 1995 by Natalie Maines, who is the daughter of producer, steel guitar player, and former Chicks session player Lloyd Maines. The Chicks also would strike a huge deal with Sony in 1995, which would help promote them as a national country music act. The Dixie Chicks once again would reform a new group consisting of Martie (fiddle, mandolin and vocals), Emily (guitar, dobro, banjo and vocals), and Natalie (lead vocals and in concert, guitar). Maines mixed and matched great with the sisters and in 1997, the Chicks released the huge hit "I Can Love You Better". The song climbed into the Top 10 of the country charts.
Their next album, Wide Open Spaces, was released in January 1998, and over the space of a year the next three singles from it all hit No. 1 on the country chart: with the pop hit "There's Your Trouble", the lyrically serious "Wide Open Spaces", and the radio ballad "You Were Mine". Wide Open Spaces went on to sell more than 12 million copies, becoming one of the 50 best-selling albums in American history.
Dixie Chicks concert tickets were hotter than ever as the band served as an opening act for Tim McGraw on a popular concert tour.
Their next album was no sophomore slump either. Titled Fly, the album produced nine hit singles, including number one hits, with "Cowboy Take Me Away" and "Without You". "Fly" went on to sell over 10 million copies, The Dixie Chicks tour for Fly would be their first headlining tour in arenas and sold out arenas and stadiums throughout the country, proving that the Dixie Chicks were here to stay as a band and live concert act. The Chicks struck a new chord with country music and bluegrass music lovers everywhere. Some of their songs were fiery, sweet and they also had an attitude which won over a lot of fans too. In 2001, The Chicks came out with the song "I Believe in Love" on the America: A Tribute to Heroes telethon following the September 11, 2001 attacks. Their next record, Home was an independent production, produced by Lloyd Maines and released in 2002 after the Chicks and Sony reconciled their differences.
For the tracks that came from outside songwriters, the group solicited personal songs that the writers might think "uncommercial". Unlike the two previous records, Home was recorded without drums and is dominated by very-up-tempo bluegrass and pensive ballads. In addition to this "non-commercial" sound, the lyrics of the opening track and first single, "Long Time Gone", explicitly attacked contemporary country music radio, accusing it of ignoring the heart of the genre as exemplified by former greats like Johnny Cash. Despite all this, the single rose to #2 on the country chart and started the album off to become chart topping success. The new Dixie Chicks record ended up selling over 6 million copies in the U.S., which might have been still more but for the political controversy to come. "Long Time Gone" also became the Chicks' first top ten hit on the U.S. pop singles chart. The group's sense of independent spirit was still alive and well in their cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide", which duplicated the top ten country and pop achievements, but in one example of the album's contrast with the past, a key track from Home was a rendering of Patty Griffin's "Top of the World" (for which the subsequent tour was named), which featured an unusual point of view and sought to portray an almost unbearable sense of regret.
Home dominated the 2003 Grammy Awards held on February 23, winning four of them, including Best Country Album. Concert Tickets for the associated Top of the World Tour often sold out within hours. The Dixie Chicks had done it their way and won; they were on top of the music world.
 

Political Controversy dominates...
In 2003, Natalie Maines made the comment in a London concert, "Just so you know, we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas.", and so the controversy began. The remark sparked criticism from the press and other people in the U.S.
Many thought Maines shouldn't be criticizing the nation's head of state while on foreign soil or on the verge of war and
that Maines shouldn't be making political statements that would offend the Dixie Chicks' fan base, which includes a lot of
political conservatives. Maines responded by saying, "I feel the President is ignoring the opinions of many in the U.S. and alienating the rest of the world." Later when the criticism still didn't stop, Maines apologized, "As a concerned American citizen, I apologize to President Bush because my remark was disrespectful. I feel that whoever holds that office should be treated with the utmost respect. We are currently in Europe and witnessing a huge anti-American sentiment as a result of the perceived rush to war. While war may remain a viable option, as a mother, I just want to see every possible alternative exhausted before children and American soldiers' lives are lost. I love my country. I am a proud American." On April 24, 2003, the Dixie Chicks launched a publicity campaign to explain their position. During a prime-time interview with TV personality Diane Sawyer, Maines said she remained true to her original statement. The band also appeared naked (with private parts strategically covered) on the May 2, 2003, cover of Entertainment Weekly magazine with slogans such as "Traitors," "Saddam's Angels," "Dixie Sluts", "Proud Americans," "Hero," "Free Speech", and "Brave" printed on their bodies.
At the first concert of 2003's Top of the World Tour the Dixie Chicks received a positive reception. The concert was held in Greenville, South Carolina, on May 1, 2003, and was attended by a sell-out crowd of 15,000. The women arrived prepared to face opposition — and Maines invited those who had come to boo to do so — but the crowd erupted in cheers. (Tickets for their concert tour had gone on sale well before the controversy erupted, meaning a cross-section of their fans was at the concert.)

Throughout all the controversy, the Chicks and their music is all that really matters as evident by their new hit single titled,
"Not Ready to Make Nice". The song has been riding high on the Country Music charts. The Chicks also just released a new album titled
"Taking the Long Way Home" which is one of the hardest rocking Dixie Chick albums yet with collaborations from members of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and the Jayhawks. The Chicks will be in concert in an arena near you soon with their new album in tote. The Accidents & Accusations Tour begins in July and ABCtickets is sure to have the Dixie Chicks tickets you are looking for. ABCtickets.com is the place to get tickets for the Dixie Chicks new concert tour with seats in the first 10 rows, premium lower level and upper level seating.  Choose ABCtickets.com for Dixie Chicks concert tickets you won't be disappointed!

Dixie Chicks Accidents and Accusations tour
Thu 06/15/06 London, UK Shepherd's Bush Empire
appearing with Eagles
Sat 06/17/06 Twickenham, UK Twickenham Rugby Ground
Dixie Chicks
Fri 07/21/06 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena
Sat 07/22/06 Pittsburgh, PA Mellon Arena
Sun 07/23/06 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center
Tue 07/25/06 Dixie Chicks Philadelphia tickets, PA Wachovia Center
Fri 07/28/06 Albany, NY Pepsi Arena
Sat 07/29/06 Boston, MA TD Banknorth Garden (Fleet Center)
Tue 08/01/06 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Fri 08/04/06 Washington, DC Verizon Center
Sun 08/13/06 Milwaukee, WI Bradley Center
Tue 08/15/06 Chicago, IL United Center
Fri 08/18/06 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
Sun 08/20/06 Kansas City, MO Kemper Arena
Tue 08/22/06 Saint Louis, MO Savvis Center
Wed 08/23/06 Indianapolis, IN Conseco Fieldhouse
Thu 08/24/06 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena
Sat 08/26/06 Fargo, ND Fargodome
Sun 09/03/06 Glendale, AZ Glendale Arena
Wed 09/06/06 Fresno, CA Save Mart Center
Fri 09/08/06 Sacramento, CA ARCO Arena
Sat 09/09/06 Oakland, CA Oakland Arena
Thu 09/14/06 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
Sat 09/16/06 Las Vegas, NV Mandalay Bay Events Center
Sat 09/23/06 Omaha, NE Qwest Center Omaha
Sun 09/24/06 Denver, CO Pepsi Center
Tue 09/26/06 Oklahoma City, OK The Ford Center
Wed 09/27/06 Memphis, TN FedExForum
Fri 09/29/06 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
Sat 09/30/06 Houston, TX Toyota Center
Sun 10/01/06 Austin, TX Frank Erwin Center
Tue 10/03/06 Nashville, TN Gaylord Entertainment Center
Thu 10/05/06 Tampa, FL St. Pete Times Forum
Fri 10/06/06 Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Veterans Mem. Arena
Sat 10/07/06 Sunrise, FL BankAtlantic Center
Tue 10/17/06 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena
Fri 10/20/06 Knoxville, TN Thompson-Boling Arena
Sun 10/22/06 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
Fri 10/27/06 Ottawa, ON Scotiabank Place
Sat 10/28/06 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
Sat 11/04/06 Edmonton, AB Rexall Place
Sun 11/05/06 Calgary, AB Pengrowth Saddledome
Wed 11/08/06 Vancouver, BC General Motors Place
Thu 11/09/06 Portland, OR Rose Garden Arena
Sat 11/11/06 Tacoma, WA Tacoma Dome