Mick's book- the "Time" Band
 

Just read the couple of pages devoted to this line-up in Mick's book. Entertainingly grim is how I would put it. Dave and Bekka didn't hit it off to say the least (what, quarrels in this band? Plus ça change!). Mick was hoping against hope that Chris would rescind her decision not to tour, but was left with what he had and had to make the best of it until he had to collapse it realising his mistake. He's kinder about the music they produced and just says they were a good band with the wrong name.. Behind the Mask barely gets a mention at all...

I always wondered if there were issues between them, considering he has a history with the family.

Either way, THE only reason Dave Mason ever ended up in Fleetwood Mac was because Billy quit.

Yeah, Mick says he'd been hoping that's a reason they WOULD get on, have good chemistry, etc, because they'd known each other via family for so long. But as Mr Scarrot said, not so much. Quite the opposite.

Oddly enough, though, that WAS the case for her with Billy.

So, Christine didn't like Dave, Bekka didn't like Dave, Richard Dashut didn't like Dave...Why exactly did they keep him around after Billy Burnette came back?

Billy didn't feel comfortable playing lead guitar so as was the reason with Rick being there, they needed another guitarist for that if nothing else.

John

If that was the case they could've just gotten somebody who didn't sing, such as Gregg Wright from the Zoo, to handle the leads. The weird thing is Billy actually played many of the leads on the old Fleetwood Mac songs.

I saw Billy at the Country Music Hall of Fame, with Pete Anderson(Dwight Yoakam's long time guitar player and producer, for those who don't know). Billy played a few solos, and did fine. Yeah, he's not gonna knock your socks off, but he can hold his own.

True, but as we know Mick never thinks there's too many singer/songwriters in the band so it may have been insurance in case Christine didn't come back and he must've known she wouldn't run back once she knew Mason was now in the band. I'd be very surprised if he claims to have no knowledge of her misgivings on him.

Yeah I think Billy's solos are fine as well but I guess he doesn't so...

Not saying Mason was the right thing to do, just trying to put myself in Mick's shoes as to why he may have come to the decisions he did but I know, hindsight is 20/20. :)

John

I think adding Dave made sense after Billy quit, but he became unnecessary after Billy came back, especially since the other two singers and the producer weren't digging him. Too much unnecessary drama.

Yeah knowing this now makes one wonder why the penny didn't drop with Mick.

John

There was an interview with Christine in 1995 where she did an online chat interview (the internet was coming of age then) where she openly criticized the guitarists in Fleetwood Mac and questioned Mick's judgment. I remember reading that and was like WOW she really did not like them or their talent.

The only one she was negative about was Dave. She made a joke about Billy, but it was clearly a joke. Billy was on her 2004 solo album, so I think she had warm feelings for him.

Why did rick leave