the Stevie of old...

[bombaysaffires]

more random FM-related stuff that has popped up in my YouTube feed.

Shocking to see the pretty coherent Stevie who still had some humility and a sense of the real world and was passionate about writing and not all in love with herself and being a LEGEND.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzd2-IF5Cg4

[SteveMacD]

I don’t think Stevie had any clue what was about to happen. It’s one thing to have been in a massive band, but something entirely different to then go do it on your own. When the one who was only invited into the band because they wanted her musical partner to be their guitarist and then found herself suddenly surrounded by people who’ve met everyone, the shift in power dynamic entirely into her favor had to be profound.

To put it a different way, John McVie was the bassist of record on the album that gave the world the Gibson Les Paul through a cranked Marshall amp sound guitarists still go after. How does a waitress at Big Boy suddenly hold her own in that lot? Well…

[blinker12]

^ Great post and perspective, SteveMacD. I’d never thought of the dramatic trajectory in quite that way before.

[bombaysaffires]

But I also think, after that initial period, you start to realize the power that you do have, and that you CAN expect other people to cater to you, and you just begin to believe you deserve whatever you want whenever you want it, and you become surrounded by enablers who don't dispute those beliefs. And that starts to shift your sense of what is "normal"... further fueled by drugs.

When no one tells you no anymore, you become a bit imperious, and delusional. You believe your own hype.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

When no one tells you no anymore, you become a bit imperious, and delusional. You believe your own hype.

To a point. The same could also be said about Lindsey starting with Tusk, but especially after he got a Fairlight.

In Stevie’s case, she went from being a waitress at Big Boy and cleaning lady to being a rock legend in less than five years. I’m not sure too many psyches could handle that. Mick is also a bit guilty. He went from being a small beer drummer to suddenly being a drummer in a band that was named after him that had a massively successful British blues album (which was the first album he ever recorded). Incidentally, all three came from affluent families and were always operating under the assumption that they’d be hugely successful.

The McVies came from middle class backgrounds. John had a rough early life. His little sister died and his parents divorced at a time where that was uncommon. Both McVies had gradual success and were much less affected by it. Music was their trade. The success was nice, but they’d be playing regardless.

[bombaysaffires]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

To a point. The same could also be said about Lindsey starting with Tusk, but especially after he got a Fairlight.

In Stevie’s case, she went from being a waitress at Big Boy and cleaning lady to being a rock legend in less than five years. I’m not sure too many psyches could handle that. Mick is also a bit guilty. He went from being a small beer drummer to suddenly being a drummer in a band that was named after him that had a massively successful British blues album (which was the first album he ever recorded). Incidentally, all three came from affluent families and were always operating under the assumption that they’d be hugely successful.

The McVies came from middle class backgrounds. John had a rough early life. His little sister died and his parents divorced at a time where that was uncommon. Both McVies had gradual success and were much less affected by it. Music was their trade. The success was nice, but they’d be playing regardless.

How was Mick's experience of fame less gradual than John's?

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

How was Mick's experience of fame less gradual than John's?

John started with the Bluesbreakers in 1963 and had recorded a live album with them before Clapton joined. Clapton’s joining obviously elevated that band, but John was part of building the foundation that made what was about to come happen.

Mick mostly bounced around from band to band, maybe recording a couple of singles here or there, and was mostly a scenester.

PGFM was John’s fourth studio album and Mick’s first. John was considerably more established and had experienced much more success going into that album.

[Penguin Emeritus]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

To a point. The same could also be said about Lindsey starting with Tusk, but especially after he got a Fairlight.

In StevieÂ’s case, she went from being a waitress at Big Boy and cleaning lady to being a rock legend in less than five years. IÂ’m not sure too many psyches could handle that. Mick is also a bit guilty. He went from being a small beer drummer to suddenly being a drummer in a band that was named after him that had a massively successful British blues album (which was the first album he ever recorded). Incidentally, all three came from affluent families and were always operating under the assumption that theyÂ’d be hugely successful.

The McVies came from middle class backgrounds. John had a rough early life. His little sister died and his parents divorced at a time where that was uncommon. Both McVies had gradual success and were much less affected by it. Music was their trade. The success was nice, but theyÂ’d be playing regardless.

That's an interesting point about the backgrounds...how mick, stevie and LB came from very affluent families...while john and chris did not grow up in that type of environment. John said he had to get a paper route and 2 milk routes to try and save up for his 1st bass, and that his dad eventually 'went out on a limb for it' and put the rest on credit.

chris was from birmingham, which had a bit of 'industrial/working class' reputation in those days, although her house looked adorable. Her mother worked, as a secretary in a girls' school. and i think her dad had 2 jobs...one teaching music at a boys' school, and another as a music lecturer at a college.

I think john's background was even a bit lower middle class than chris--- his granddad was a laborer who helped build wembley stadium, his dad was a sheet metal worker before he became a wheetabix rep. and they lived in a council flat...which i believe is government subsidized housing? possibly like 'a project' here, for people of low income. they were not living large. perhaps explains why he was always so frugal with his $. mick has said he still has the 1st penny he earned lol. Good for him.

I would bet my bippy that john and chris both helped out their parents financially once they hit the big time...where mick, lindsey and stevie may not have had parents who *needed* to be helped out. stevie has said her mother would never take a penny from her.

--Lis