Bob Welch era
I was reading old interviews and Stevie mentioned it was Bob Welch's mysticism that really drew her to Fleetwood Mac. After Welch left the band, Mick, John, Christine, and Stevie all helped Bob record his 3 Hearts solo album. There were numerous shows including the Bob Welch and friends concert where the band re-united with Bob.
Then something went wrong. In 1999 Bob stated how hard it was that the band refused to honor and invite him to the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Bob sued the band but it was over royalties which is a common civil action among musicians. Bob thought it was more about how dysfunctional the band was in his era and how they did not get along. If that was true then why did the band help Bob after he left? On the flip side, the Mac sold millions of records and why would they care to fight Bob over royalties for records he was a big part of? Both sides just don't make sense.
The Behind the Music segment on the Mac was created right around the time the band was inducted into the Rock N Roll hall of fame. The show completely ignores Bob Welch. When the show says the group came to America looking for a guitarist....it goes right to Lindsey and pretended Bob did not exist. Even worse the segment shows the back of the "Heroes are hard to find" album cover and cuts Bob Welch out of the picture only focusing on Mick, Chris and John. WTF? Did the band have creative control over the show to remove Bob from their history? Bob was such a crucial member of the band and I don't understand how he can be removed from the band's history.
Van Halen has a similar feud with former bassist Michael Anthony. On the band's website, they removed Michael Anthony from everything as if he never existed even though he was so pivotal in the band's success.
In Mick's latest book, he fawns all over Bob Welch and tells how great he was and how his membership transformed the Mac for Lindsey and Stevie joining.
Well Mick, that is a little too late. Does anyone know why Bob was treated so badly during the later years?
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