Stevie's social media tribute to Christine... (RIP)

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by reebokandlace

I agree…the fact is, Stevie has not “needed” Fleetwood Mac since 1982.

Yes, though being in FM helped her from 2003 till American Horror Story in 2014/Harry Styles publicly becoming friends with her in 2015.

But I believe had she not done the drug abuse in 85, she could have said goodbye to Fleetwood Mac forever and had consistent mega success for entire career.

[vivfox]

Originally Posted by UnwindedDreams

She doesn't need Fleetwood Mac now.

That's true but I feel she likes to tour with them every few years.

Originally Posted by reebokandlace

I agree…the fact is, Stevie has not “needed” Fleetwood Mac since 1982.

Well actually she has. In the mid 1990's her career was over as a solo artist. She played on a pier in a Florida marina for about 300 people. Getting back together with FM in 1997 revitalized her career.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by reebokandlace

I agree…the fact is, Stevie has not “needed” Fleetwood Mac since 1982.

Oh, I disagree.

Stevie needs Fleetwood Mac. Fleetwood Mac can play to a scale that Stevie on her own just can’t. Stevie as a solo artist has to partner with other artists or has to play casinos and venues like House of Blues. Fleetwood Mac is an arena band all by themselves. Stevie’s solo career benefits from her being a member of Fleetwood Mac.

I mean, McCartney is massive on his own, but if it had been an option, he absolutely would have gone back to The Beatles. It’s just a completely different beast.

[BombaySapphire3]

Originally Posted by vivfox

Well actually she has. In the mid 1990's her career was over as a solo artist. She played on a pier in a Florida marina for about 300 people. Getting back together with FM in 1997 revitalized her career.

To be fair all things Fleetwood Mac were in the crapper by the mid `1990s . The Time album did not even make the Billboard 200 and this for a band that had once ruled atop the same for more than half a year. Lindsey had released a wildly critically acclaimed solo album that also flopped. They all desperately needed each other and had no problem copying their old rivals the Eagles to get out of their respective holes.

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

Oh, I disagree.

Stevie needs Fleetwood Mac. Fleetwood Mac can play to a scale that Stevie on her own just can’t. Stevie as a solo artist has to partner with other artists or has to play casinos and venues like House of Blues. Fleetwood Mac is an arena band all by themselves. Stevie’s solo career benefits from her being a member of Fleetwood Mac.

I would say you're correct if it's Stevie solo pre-2016. After On With the Show, Stevie did not need Fleetwood Mac. She was booked in arenas for her 24 Karat Gold Tour because of the momentum from the On With the Show Tour, 2 major appearances on American Horror Story, two 2014 Tonight Show appearances, 2 major tv appearances with Lady Antebellum, Adele and Florence Welch sharing backstage Instagram photos with her, and her friendship with Harry Styles becoming public. The Pretenders brought in ticketbuyers too for the 24 Karat Gold Tour, like Neil Finn did for FM, but mostly Stevie filled the seats.

Stevie just sold out 27 dates of 10,000 - 23,000 capacity amphitheaters. Played for festivals that may've had 100,000 attending (Jazzfest and Bonnaroo)

I'm wondering now if the name Stevie Nicks is bigger than Fleetwood Mac.
She'll be playing football stadiums next year. Sales may be better with Stevie playing the stadiums than if it were FM.

If Lindsey came back would it actually sell more tickets than if it were FM with Mike and Neil? Maybe if they marketed it like a once in a lifetime event. But Lindsey now is playing venues that are 1,000-2,000 tops and they're not all sell outs or multiple nights at a venue.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by UnwindedDreams

I would say you're correct if it's Stevie solo pre-2016. After On With the Show, Stevie did not need Fleetwood Mac. She was booked in arenas for her 24 Karat Gold Tour because of the momentum from the On With the Show Tour, 2 major appearances on American Horror Story, two 2014 Tonight Show appearances, 2 major tv appearances with Lady Antebellum, Adele and Florence Welch sharing backstage Instagram photos with her, and her friendship with Harry Styles becoming public. The Pretenders brought in ticketbuyers too for the 24 Karat Gold Tour, like Neil Finn did for FM, but mostly Stevie filled the seats.

Stevie just sold out 27 dates of 10,000 - 23,000 capacity amphitheaters. Played for festivals that may've had 100,000 attending (Jazzfest and Bonnaroo)

I'm wondering now if the name Stevie Nicks is bigger than Fleetwood Mac.
She'll be playing football stadiums next year. Sales may be better with Stevie playing the stadiums than if it were FM.

Again, though, she partners with other artists. In 2016-17, she toured with The Pretenders. When they weren’t on the bill, Stevie played much smaller venues. The stadium tour is with Billy Joel, who appears to be getting top billing. Fleetwood Mac since 1997 plays arenas and large amphitheaters without another artist on the bill. Stevie doesn’t have that on her own.

If Lindsey came back would it actually sell more tickets than if it were FM with Mike and Neil? Maybe if they marketed it like a once in a lifetime event. But Lindsey now is playing venues that are 1,000-2,000 tops and they're not all sell outs or multiple nights at a venue.

I honestly don’t know. Crowded House plays larger venues and Mike will forever be Tom Petty’s musical partner. They’d move tickets. However, Lindsey returning now would be more profound in light of Christine’s passing.

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

Again, though, she partners with other artists. In 2016-17, she toured with The Pretenders. When they werenÂ’t on the bill, Stevie played much smaller venues. The stadium tour is with Billy Joel, who appears to be getting top billing. Fleetwood Mac since 1997 plays arenas and large amphitheaters without another artist on the bill. Stevie doesnÂ’t have that on her own.

True.

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

I honestly donÂ’t know. Crowded House plays larger venues and Mike will forever be Tom PettyÂ’s musical partner. TheyÂ’d move tickets. However, Lindsey returning now would be more profound in light of ChristineÂ’s passing.

Lindsey returning would be profound but I think like you said the narrative from Irving and Stevie, and I'll add the media, is that Lindsey was so bad that they couldn't bear being on stage with him again.

Vanessa Carlton would probably be considered. But that would not allow Lindsey to return since she tweeted that Lindsey beat Stevie.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by UnwindedDreams

Vanessa Carlton would probably be considered.

I really don’t hear how her voice would be a good fit for Christine’s songs, though. It was pretty easy to imagine Neil Finn singing something like “Second Hand News.” I can’t imagine Vanessa doing “You Make Loving Fun” or “Say You Love Me.”

[cbBen]

Originally Posted by UnwindedDreams

I'm wondering now if the name Stevie Nicks is bigger than Fleetwood Mac.

She doesn't even have to be bigger, just big enough that splitting the dough four or five ways* makes no sense relative to playing on her own.

That's why she had the power to give them the ultimatum. In retrospect she may even wonder whether she should have agreed to the 2018-19 tour.

*even if they were to give her a bigger cut

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by cbBen

She doesn't even have to be bigger, just big enough that splitting the dough four or five ways* makes no sense relative to playing on her own.

That's why she had the power to give them the ultimatum. In retrospect she may even wonder whether she should have agreed to the 2018-19 tour.

*even if they were to give her a bigger cut

Not necessarily. Fleetwood Mac tickets are about twice the price and they don’t have to share with another act. And, because Fleetwood Mac is a bigger and more international draw, they can do larger extended tours than she can on her own. That’s why she needs Fleetwood Mac.

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

I really don’t hear how her voice would be a good fit for Christine’s songs, though. I can’t imagine Vanessa doing “You Make Loving Fun” or “Say You Love Me.”

I hear it and she has range too. I could hear Colbie too. Her voice is lower than Vanessa's.

[Karlie]

The discussion of who would sing Christine’s songs is so depressing. It’s the same reason why I hated the RRHOF tribute to Linda Ronstadt - when someone had such a unique and incredible voice, hearing others sing their songs doesn’t really add anything, just reminds you of what you’re missing.

Never in my life have I heard another singer who made me think, “This voice reminds me of Christine’s,” and part of her uniqueness was a mysterious quality that made even the most saccharine lyrics sound not-cheesy. I just don’t know who else could do that. Threw up in my mouth a little at Sheryl Crow. (Stevie would also probably try to get the Haim sisters in there. They did a cover of Hold Me and it was very boring.)

The only two people who come to mind as maybe being able to pull it off would be Bonnie Raitt (very different sounding voice but similar energy and blues background) and Florence Welch (the most similar voice I can think of).

Right now, the only person I’d actually want to hear singing her songs is Lindsey, if he were to transpose them into his range.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by Karlie

The discussion of who would sing Christine’s songs is so depressing.

Christine passing is depressing. The debate over who sings her songs means we all want to hear her songs live. That’s an incredible legacy.

[The Highwayman]

To me, Fleetwood Mac is finished now that Christine has passed. 55 years is a good long run but now it's over. It has to be. It's monumentally sad, but I just don't see how you continue on without her. I doubt John and Stevie would want to. It's done. I'm wasn't too keen on a future of Fleetwood Mac without Lindsey, and now it's just not acceptable without Christine in the world.

[Karlie]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

Christine passing is depressing. The debate over who sings her songs means we all want to hear her songs live. That’s an incredible legacy.

Absolutely. My ideal scenario would be a one-off tribute event where a bunch of different artists who were influenced by Christine each choose one of her songs to perform onstage with Mick, John, Stevie, and Lindsey. They’d interpret her songs in their own styles, like what Keith Urban did, rather than try to sound like her original versions. But if the idea of who sings her songs happens in the context of Stevie/Mick/Irving hiring someone for a full tour as Fleetwood Mac, it’s a hard no from me.