Does Stevie Nicks dislike Billy Burnette?

[vivfox]

One of the reasons Stevie gave for quitting FM in 1990 was, "Mick keeps trying to recreate FM in its heyday and it's simply not going to work." However she never publicly said anything bad about Billy and she hired Rick to perform as lead guitar player on the SA Tour. So really then, what was her real issue for quitting?

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by vivfox

One of the reasons Stevie gave for quitting FM in 1990 was, "Mick keeps trying to recreate FM in its heyday and it's simply not going to work." However she never publicly said anything bad about Billy and she hired Rick to perform as lead guitar player on the SA Tour. So really then, what was her real issue for quitting?

From everything I've heard, Stevie and Billy are still on good terms.

I don't think her comments represent anything personal. In fact, Billy made a similar comment specifically regarding Bekka Bramlett. The problem with the post-1987 bands is that the band DID try to recreate the Big Mac instead of letting the new people bring their true personalities into the music, like they did with Welch, Nicks, and Buckingham. Behind The Mask could've been a monster album, but the band caved in to label pressure to focus more squarely on the girls. Billy and especially Rick had better material that got ****canned. I think that rubbed Stevie the wrong way. Even the Tango tour set lists could've been a better showcase for the new guys as well as revisiting the classics.

[louielouie2000]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

I don't think her comments represent anything personal. In fact, Billy made a similar comment specifically regarding Bekka Bramlett. The problem with the post-1987 bands is that the band DID try to recreate the Big Mac instead of letting the new people bring their true personalities into the music, like they did with Welch, Nicks, and Buckingham. Behind The Mask could've been a monster album, but the band caved in to label pressure to focus more squarely on the girls. Billy and especially Rick had better material that got ****canned. I think that rubbed Stevie the wrong way. Even the Tango tour set lists could've been a better showcase for the new guys as well as revisiting the classics.

I definitely agree with everything you said. In addition, Stevie said publicly she should have quit when Lindsey did. 1988-1995 Fleetwood Mac was just a caricature of itself. That's not because the members had changed, but because the band was trying to pretend like it hadn't even happened.

While I'm partial to the Rumours lineup, I think given the chance, the band could have really made some cool music with Rick Vito. In my eyes, Billy Burnette was what made the whole thing cheesy. They didn't need another guitarist. I don't think Billy's style complemented the Mac's at that point either. His presence muddled what possibly could have been an interesting transition. I think Rick's solo song "Intuition" is a good example of how his distinct style could have been exploited within the Mac.

[chriskisn]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

In my eyes, Billy Burnette was what made the whole thing cheesy.

It is a good thing that Christmas is over or you'd be off my Christmas card list

[louielouie2000]

Originally Posted by chriskisn

It is a good thing that Christmas is over or you'd be off my Christmas card list

Like Lindsey himself said... the fact Lindsey was replaced with not one, but TWO guitarists speaks volumes about the quality of the incoming stock. The fact 2 guitarists replaced one could have actually been used to the band's advantage... it could have shown how serious the band was about mixing up it's formula, thus signaling a new beginning in the band's history. But both Rick and Billy were relegated as sort of a background sideshow, while the band was trying to pretend a major personnel change had NOT just happened.

Again, my whole problem with the '88-'95 era was simply the way everything was done. Some really interesting, cool music could have been made. I don't know though... Billy Burnette's rockabilly style really just didn't have a place within the band, and that's the way I feel. I do however think a big opportunity was missed with Rick, but that's ancient history now.

[chriskisn]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

Like Lindsey himself said... the fact Lindsey was replaced with not one, but TWO guitarists speaks volumes about the quality of the incoming stock. The fact 2 guitarists replaced one could have actually been used to the band's advantage... it could have shown how serious the band was about mixing up it's formula, thus signaling a new beginning in the band's history. But both Rick and Billy were relegated as sort of a background sideshow, while the band was trying to pretend a major personnel change had NOT just happened.

Again, my whole problem with the '88-'95 era was simply the way everything was done. Some really interesting, cool music could have been made. I don't know though... Billy Burnette's rockabilly style really just didn't have a place within the band, and that's the way I feel. I do however think a big opportunity was missed with Rick, but that's ancient history now.

It could be argued that Lindsey actually replaced two guitarists in Weston and Welch given that Weston had not been replaced previously. The band were looking to bring in another guitarist before Welch left, so when Lindsey left they were merely finally getting around to replacing Weston/Welch.

Rick could have held his own quite nicely as a replacement for Mr Buckingham, and while Billy wasn't in the same league as a guitarist, he certainly brought a fresh new sound and feel to the Mac, something that Rick on his own probably wouldn't have achieved.

I guess it could be argued that Buckingham's style really didn't have a place in the band in 1975 either, but that didn't seem to work out too badly for them.

I think that Rick, Billy and later Bekka Bramlett were under-utilised in the band, were not given the freedom to create their own sound. Nicks and Buckingham had it easy in 1975, they weren't expected to write hits, but Rick, Billy and Bekka had a lot of pressure simply because of the history of the band.

Sure, they should have been allowed to do their own thing, create their own music, and be true to themselves. That they didn't really get that opportunity wasn't really their fault.

Honestly though, give me Rick and Billy over Lindsey any day...

[David]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

Like Lindsey himself said... the fact Lindsey was replaced with not one, but TWO guitarists speaks volumes about the quality of the incoming stock.

Preposterous. Billy was nothing more than a rhythm guitarist -- the instrumental equivalent of Ray Lindsey.

Rick was the lead on guitar. So instead of getting Lindsey & Ray on "Second Hand News," "Gypsy," & "Go Your Own Way," we got Rick & Billy on most of the set. In terms of guitar numbers, it was the same setup*.

The thing the band lacked during those years (before Richard Dashut came aboard again in 1995) was a studio engineer who knew what the hell he was doing. With Buckingham, Dashut, & Caillat gone, the band suffered as a studio band of former crispness & vitality. As evidence, their concerts continued to sell; it was only their albums that nobody (except the British) was interested in.


*I didn't bring up the presence of workstation hardware because that's a whole nuther subject, & a very unfortunate one.

[holidayroad]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

Like Lindsey himself said... the fact Lindsey was replaced with not one, but TWO guitarists speaks volumes about the quality of the incoming stock. The fact 2 guitarists replaced one could have actually been used to the band's advantage... it could have shown how serious the band was about mixing up it's formula, thus signaling a new beginning in the band's history. But both Rick and Billy were relegated as sort of a background sideshow, while the band was trying to pretend a major personnel change had NOT just happened.

Again, my whole problem with the '88-'95 era was simply the way everything was done. Some really interesting, cool music could have been made. I don't know though... Billy Burnette's rockabilly style really just didn't have a place within the band, and that's the way I feel. I do however think a big opportunity was missed with Rick, but that's ancient history now.

Of course, I never wanted Lindsey to leave FMac, but I much more preferred Billy to Rick Vito, especially when it came to vocals. Nothing wrong with Rick though. I like his solo work and work with FM. To me, Billy fit in well, especially since he'd already worked with members of Fleetwood Mac.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

In my eyes, Billy Burnette was what made the whole thing cheesy. They didn't need another guitarist. I don't think Billy's style complemented the Mac's at that point either.

I definitely completely disagree with you on this. I think In The Back Of My Mind, Talkin' To My Heart, and Do You Know rank as highpoints in Fleetwood Mac's history. I even love When The Sun Goes Down. And, while not a Fleetwood Mac song, his song It Ain't Over, which featured Mick and Christine, should've been a concert staple. I wish they would've let him do a few "Psychobilly" songs. Again, it was a matter of what was chosen. He had other great songs. But, they focused more on the "accessible" songss.

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

I definitely agree with everything you said. In addition, Stevie said publicly she should have quit when Lindsey did. 1988-1995 Fleetwood Mac was just a caricature of itself. That's not because the members had changed, but because the band was trying to pretend like it hadn't even happened.

While I'm partial to the Rumours lineup, I think given the chance, the band could have really made some cool music with Rick Vito. In my eyes, Billy Burnette was what made the whole thing cheesy. They didn't need another guitarist. I don't think Billy's style complemented the Mac's at that point either. His presence muddled what possibly could have been an interesting transition. I think Rick's solo song "Intuition" is a good example of how his distinct style could have been exploited within the Mac.

You are spot on with that assessment. Rick was a fantastic addition to the band. Billy is also a talented guy, but his 'Vegas showman' persona didn't fit Fleetwood Mac's style. It sort of reminds when they hired Bob Walker as a front man. It would have been a very different band and album without Billy.

[Street_Dreamer]

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

You are spot on with that assessment. Rick was a fantastic addition to the band. Billy is also a talented guy, but his 'Vegas showman' persona didn't fit Fleetwood Mac's style. It sort of reminds when they hired Bob Walker as a front man. It would have been a very different band and album without Billy.

Boo. *thumbs down*

Matt

[chiliD]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

TOTALL agree. Hell, I would've rather had Richard Dashut back at the helm, but I guess he was too busy with Lindsey. Patrick Leonard, who produced Love Shines and Heart of Stone for the box set would've been better, too.

I disagree somewhat with the last statement. I agree it didn't stand a chance, but it had nothing to do with band personnel. At the time, Dave made perfect sense, considering the ties he, Billy, and obviously Bekka had with Delaney & Bonnie. However, I agree that as time went on, he became increasingly irrelevant to the band. I think had Bekka and Billy been given creative reign over the band (which happened when everybody else joined), it could've worked. I doubt it would've been commercially successful by Fleetwood Mac standards, but I think it could've been more interesting than what we got. Ultimately, though, it didn't stand a shot because Lindsey was back in the picture by that point, trying to get the Big Mac back together (he says otherwise, but c'mon).

And, if Fleetwood Mac had been paying attention, their constant "biggest rivals", the Eagles, took a "modern country" route and look where it got THEM. Had they "let Bekka & Billy BE Bekka & Billy" and gone that route instead of rehashing the Rumours type (soured) formula, things might be a WHOLE LOT DIFFERENT now in 2010 than what "IS".

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

You are spot on with that assessment. Rick was a fantastic addition to the band. Billy is also a talented guy, but his 'Vegas showman' persona didn't fit Fleetwood Mac's style. It sort of reminds when they hired Bob Walker as a front man. It would have been a very different band and album without Billy.

Billy? "Vegas Showman"?? Are we referring to the same Billy Burnette? HUH?

"Bob" Walker???? Don't remember ever seeing HIS name on a Fleetwood Mac album. Now, "DAVE" Walker...that's a different story.

Ok...didn't quote everybody, time constraints, but on the subject of "Billy was already on board before Lindsey quit"....yes, but he was basically going to be in the role that Neale Haywood has now (or the same role he's currently filling with John Fogerty), not a full on member of the band. He had already been part of Lindsey's backup band when he did "Trouble" on Saturday Night Live in 1981 as well as being a member of Mick's Zoo, etc....so when they were adding musicians for the '87 tour, he was the logical choice. When Lindsey quit and Mick "promoted" Billy to "member", Billy knew he couldn't fully handle the guitar requirements, so he suggested Rick, who he had been working with on a couple of projects (Roy Orbison and a solo project) at that juncture.

Oh, and since it's ALMOST that time...HAPPY NEW YEAR to all those in the Central Time Zone....and is there anybody still standing in the Eastern Time Zone?? Time to head out and join a New Year's Eve party in progress...so HAPPY NEW YEAR to the Mountain & Pacific Time Zones a few hours early! I'm outta here...see y'all in 2010!

[Miss Vicky]

chiliD, have I told you lately that I love you?