Clifford Davis' fake Fleetwood Mac

[nicepace]

I'm intrigued by the story of the fake Fleetwood Mac put on the road by their manager in 1974. Did the fake band actually play any concerts? Did they get any reviews? Are there any photos of them in existence, and who was actually in the fake band? Did they have a female piano player/singer (without which nobody would think they were really Fleetwood Mac)? And did anybody go to see them?

Considering that I was hearing Fleetwood Mac music for the first time that very year, it could actually have been possible for me to have seen the fake band. (I didn't -- my first FM concert was in Oct. 1975.) But what a hoot that would have been!

[Mywyldhrt]

Any book I've owned in the last 30 years has never included a picture.... I do remember a picture of Clifford Davis -that's it. alot of people thought Mick had no right to tour with Dave mason and Bekka Bromlett and call themselves Fleetwood Mac-it might have been "different", but Mick and John and Christine were there!!!

[Gailh]

Any book I've owned in the last 30 years has never included a picture.... I do remember a picture of Clifford Davis -that's it. alot of people thought Mick had no right to tour with Dave mason and Bekka Bromlett and call themselves Fleetwood Mac-it might have been "different", but Mick and John and Christine were there!!!

The tour for the Time album did not include Christine.

I've never seen a picture of the "fake" band either but after they stopped being Fleetwood Mac they called themselves (I think) Stretch and had a hit single in the UK with Why did you do it (which I actually quite liked I'm ashamed to say)

Gail

[aleuzzi]

To know more about the fake mac saga, read Mick's book. He presents the standard and official point of view.

Once you've read that, go to Bob Brunning's book. As much as I loathe Brunning and although his book is riddled with careless mistakes and errors of fact, he is the one band biographer who actually talked to the "other" side and got Clifford Davis's perspective. He also interviewed others who claim that Fleetwood's involvement in the whole fake band saga was fairly muddled and far more complicated than official line suggests.

[chiliD]

Peter Green's pal, Nigel Watson, was a member of Stretch for a "stretch" (pun intended), as well, but long after the fake Mac.

Some of the guys in Stretch made up Danny Kirwan's backup band for his Hello There, Big Boy album.

The fake Mac was an all-male band.

I actually had tickets to see "Fleetwood Mac", but, then a DJ announced that it wasn't the REAL Fleetwood Mac and to demand refunds on the tickets. Which is what I did. Would've been really weird to have my first live Mac experience be tainted.

Technically, there wasn't a tour for the Time album. The tour ENDED about a month before the release of the album.

And, for some Fleetwood Mac "purists", ANY incarnation after the departure of Peter Green is just as "bogus" as some view the incarnation with Dave Mason & Bekka Bramlett (that obviously includes the Rumours lineup, too).

[Mywyldhrt]

Peter Green's pal, Nigel Watson, was a member of Stretch for a "stretch" (pun intended), as well, but long after the fake Mac.

Some of the guys in Stretch made up Danny Kirwan's backup band for his Hello There, Big Boy album.

The fake Mac was an all-male band.

I actually had tickets to see "Fleetwood Mac", but, then a DJ announced that it wasn't the REAL Fleetwood Mac and to demand refunds on the tickets. Which is what I did. Would've been really weird to have my first live Mac experience be tainted.

Technically, there wasn't a tour for the Time album. The tour ENDED about a month before the release of the album.

And, for some Fleetwood Mac "purists", ANY incarnation after the departure of Peter Green is just as "bogus" as some view the incarnation with Dave Mason & Bekka Bramlett (that obviously includes the Rumours lineup, too).

I knew you would be the guy with the answer........ '94 was a pretty messed up part of my life. I remember going to the Palace Theater in New Haven and seeing the band-leaving with much respect for Bekka (but wishing she had stayed with her material only and not Stevie's). Now that you mention it, my tee-shirt which I still have, has the penguin album design-nothing to do with "TIME".........

[chiliD]

Now that you mention it, my tee-shirt which I still have, has the penguin album design-nothing to do with "TIME".........


At that "time" (it's pun-city around here today!), Time wasn't even the title of the upcoming album. The album was going to be called Another Link In The Chain. Also, at that point in the process, Christine wasn't even involved in project at all. If you noticed the other T-shirts for sale had drawings of head shots of the band. That, from what I was told, was the original album cover design. But, the album was put on hold, Christine was added to the project, the title was changed and a year later, the album was finally released, but not until AFTER the 18 month long tour had ended.

Yep, I got one of those Penguin cover design T-shirts, too...with the 94-95 tour's itinerary on the back.

[Mywyldhrt]

At that "time" (it's pun-city around here today!), Time wasn't even the title of the upcoming album. The album was going to be called Another Link In The Chain. Also, at that point in the process, Christine wasn't even involved in project at all. If you noticed the other T-shirts for sale had drawings of head shots of the band. That, from what I was told, was the original album cover design. But, the album was put on hold, Christine was added to the project, the title was changed and a year later, the album was finally released, but not until AFTER the 18 month long tour had ended.

Yep, I got one of those Penguin cover design T-shirts, too...with the 94-95 tour's itinerary on the back.



out of curiousity, which venue????

[chiliD]

I saw them at a FREE concert at Woodley Park in Van Nuys, California. October 15, 1994. It was sponsored by KLSX-FM, at the time was a classic rock station (now it's all "Talk").

Roger McGuinn was the opening act...he did a solo acoustic set. He actually spent more time talking/introducing each song than he did playing & singing. He was good, but in between EACH song, he'd start in again, and by about the 4th song of the set, I kept thinking "Shut TF up and PLAY!".

Fleetwood Mac's set:

The Chain
You Make Loving Fun
Dreams
Oh Well
All Along the Watchtower
The Bigger the Love
Blow By Blow
We Just Disagree
Gold Dust Woman
Only You Know and I Know
World Turning
Dear Mr. Fantasy
Say You Love Me
Don't Stop
Go Your Own Way
encores:
Tear It Up
Imagine (yes, the John Lennon song)

[nicepace]

Gosh, Chili, I wish you HAD gone to see the fake Mac. What an interesting story you'd have to tell. Did they even play Fleetwood Mac songs? If they did one could argue they were a Fleetwood Mac tribute band.

As for Mick's book, I've read it, but it was a long time ago and it didn't occur to me to consult it.

As for Roger McGuinn, I saw him about a year ago and he was GREAT -- very entertaining -- and he talked just a good amount. I appreciate a performer who makes the effort to connect with an audience and he did that. I wonder if maybe your comment on his performance is based on different expectations and preferences between you (ChiliD) as a concert goer and me as a concert goer, or is it that McGuinn is better now than he was then?

[bretonbanquet]

I understood the fake Mac to be Elmer Gantry (vocals), Kirby Gregory (guitar), Paul Martinez (bass), Craig Collinge (drums), and John Wilkinson (keys).

Gantry, Gregory and Martinez later formed Stretch with Jim Russell who had played drums with Danny Kirwan. Martinez, Collinge and Wilkinson were soon replaced by Steve Emery, Jeff Rich and John Cook, who were Danny's band for "Midnight in San Juan". Kirby Gregory played on Danny's last album, "Hello There Big Boy!" Gregory also made a solo album, on which Nigel Watson played.. all very incestuous :laugh:

Stretch weren't a bad band, by any means. They made 4 albums before splitting, the first one, "Elastique", is apparently quite good, not that I've heard it :)

[wetcamelfood]

John Wilkinson (keys)

I think it was Dave Wilkinson (he was in the '95 BBC doc o FM in their "Rock Family Trees" series), he had a short stint in Chicken Shack (more tie ins). :)

I can't link to it but at fmlegacy.com if you go to the 1974 tour pages section, you'll see a review of a fake FM show someone posted there, not much, but at least it's something. :)

John

[chiliD]

As for Roger McGuinn, I saw him about a year ago and he was GREAT -- very entertaining -- and he talked just a good amount. I appreciate a performer who makes the effort to connect with an audience and he did that. I wonder if maybe your comment on his performance is based on different expectations and preferences between you (ChiliD) as a concert goer and me as a concert goer, or is it that McGuinn is better now than he was then?

I actually don't mind when artists talk...McGuinn was just over the top. In between EVERY song...and it was a good 4-5 minute story between each song, as well. That's overkill. Maybe a story before a song, then play two or three songs, then another story, but JEEEEEEEEEZ. Somebody MUST've clued him in about the length of his song set-up stories.

I understood the fake Mac to be Elmer Gantry (vocals), Kirby Gregory (guitar), Paul Martinez (bass), Craig Collinge (drums), and John Wilkinson (keys).

Gantry, Gregory and Martinez later formed Stretch with Jim Russell who had played drums with Danny Kirwan. Martinez, Collinge and Wilkinson were soon replaced by Steve Emery, Jeff Rich and John Cook, who were Danny's band for "Midnight in San Juan". Kirby Gregory played on Danny's last album, "Hello There Big Boy!" Gregory also made a solo album, on which Nigel Watson played.. all very incestuous :laugh:

Stretch weren't a bad band, by any means. They made 4 albums before splitting, the first one, "Elastique", is apparently quite good, not that I've heard it :)

I have two Stretch LPs, but it's been probably 30 years since I've listened to them.

Paul Martinez went on to play bass with the early Robert Plant solo bands.

Steve Emery went on to be the bass player for the band Ross which was signed to RSO records and was the opening act for Eric Clapton's 1974 comeback tour. Ross recorded two really good albums before disbanding. Leader Alan Ross passed away a few years ago.

[bretonbanquet]

I think it was Dave Wilkinson (he was in the '95 BBC doc o FM in their "Rock Family Trees" series), he had a short stint in Chicken Shack (more tie ins). :)

I can't link to it but at fmlegacy.com if you go to the 1974 tour pages section, you'll see a review of a fake FM show someone posted there, not much, but at least it's something. :)

John

There was definitely a John Wilkinson who played keyboards around that time, but now you mention it, the Wilkinson who was in the fake Mac could have easily been Dave :laugh: The site I found said it was John, but who's to say? Half of Chicken Shack did wind up in Stretch at various points, so Dave might be the better bet :nod:

[Wouter Vuijk]

There was definitely a John Wilkinson who played keyboards around that time, but now you mention it, the Wilkinson who was in the fake Mac could have easily been Dave :laugh: The site I found said it was John, but who's to say? Half of Chicken Shack did wind up in Stretch at various points, so Dave might be the better bet :nod:

Well......, very confusing.
I've seen both John Wilkinson and Dave Wilkinson mentioned. And yes, Dave Wilkinson was in Chicken Shack. On the other hand, during that period there also was a David Wilkey on keyboards in Chicken Shack.
This reminds me of the fact that Buddy Guy appeared on the Blues Jam at Chess album under the fake name Guitar Buddy. This had to do with label rights.
Perhaps the same with John/David Wilkinson/Wilkey????

I'd have to do some research, but not sure I really want to put time and effort in the matter.

[bretonbanquet]

Well......, very confusing.
I've seen both John Wilkinson and Dave Wilkinson mentioned. And yes, Dave Wilkinson was in Chicken Shack. On the other hand, during that period there also was a David Wilkey on keyboards in Chicken Shack.
This reminds me of the fact that Buddy Guy appeared on the Blues Jam at Chess album under the fake name Guitar Buddy. This had to do with label rights.
Perhaps the same with John/David Wilkinson/Wilkey????

I'd have to do some research, but not sure I really want to put time and effort in the matter.

I've done a little research on it, but there are conflicting details. Dave Wilkinson played with Steve York at one point, and on his website York calls him Dave "Wilkie" Wilkinson, like it was a nickname. Wilkinson's now dead, sadly. He was also in the Viola Wills Band in the mid-70s but I have no idea what else he did.