Bob Weston on Christine

[aleuzzi]

In his Q&A Bob Weston spoke about his thoughts on working with Christine in FM where she was "homey and quite content to be a musician" and then later, when she called him in the latter half of the seventies to work, I think, on a Robbi Patton record. At that stage he said something that surprised me. Something to the effect that she now wielded her fame and power like a weapon...

This sttrikes me as very un-Christine. Anybody know anything about what he is referring to? And if so, any thoughts?

[ThePenguin]

In his Q&A Bob Weston spoke about his thoughts on working with Christine in FM where she was "homey and quite content to be a musician" and then later, when she called him in the latter half of the seventies to work, I think, on a Robbi Patton record. At that stage he said something that surprised me. Something to the effect that she now wielded her fame and power like a weapon...

This sttrikes me as very un-Christine. Anybody know anything about what he is referring to? And if so, any thoughts?

I'd imagine that the Chris Bob knew in the early seventies was a bit different than the Chris he saw after the Mac's huge Rumours success. Tons of $ and massive worldwide success had to have some impact on some aspects of her personality when working in the studio--.... and perhaps he noticed a new forwardness, and more confidence, and maybe a bit of ego as well. :eek: :) That's my take on it....

--Lis

[macfan 57]

I remember that Q & A. I thought he seemed just a bit taken aback that she had changed from when he had been in Fleetwood Mac. I think back in 1973, Chris was more in the background, letting others take the lead. After the band's enormous success, she made her presence felt, so to speak. I remember someone here on the Ledge remarked that quite a few of the people who had been in Fleetwood Mac before their big success & who had done Q & A's seemed to feel that they had gotten left behind.

[chiliD]

I remember that Q & A. I thought he seemed just a bit taken aback that she had changed from when he had been in Fleetwood Mac. I think back in 1973, Chris was more in the background, letting others take the lead. After the band's enormous success, she made her presence felt, so to speak. I remember someone here on the Ledge remarked that quite a few of the people who had been in Fleetwood Mac before their big success & who had done Q & A's seemed to feel that they had gotten left behind.

Which is in direct contrast to what Mick was none-too-shy about saying to the press at the time...that Fleetwood Mac would take care of those who came before. Granted he did broker a record deal with WB for Peter Green's comeback, which Peter backed out on at the 11th hour, and he did engineer Bob Welch's mass success there for a while. But, where was Jeremy? Where was Danny? Obviously Weston was "persona-non-grata", and Dave Walker was probably totally forgotten about.

Well, the perennial nose candy that was around in those days probably didn't help her personality either. :eek:

[jbrownsjr]

Could have been a little awkward for everyone. Could have been many factors too. Didn't he have an affair with Mick's wife? Could be he was insecure and she had changed from being a well to do musician to a very very wealthy musician. Maybe she felt bad about things that went down. Christine can be tough to read as well. Maybe she is a snooty bitch. Who knows!!??!!??

[HomerMcvie]

Could have been a little awkward for everyone. Could have been many factors too. Didn't he have an affair with Mick's wife? Could be he was insecure and she had changed from being a well to do musician to a very very wealthy musician. Maybe she felt bad about things that went down. Christine can be tough to read as well. Maybe she is a snooty bitch. Who knows!!??!!??
I've feared this for a long time. I prefer not to think about it.

Homie walks away, fingers in ears......."la, la, la,"......


Me being in the production side of the business, it's a total buzzkill, when an artist turns out to be an asshole, especially when you're also a fan.
Some that come to mind:
Steve Earle- complete ass, or 100% ass by-product.
Michelle Branch-very nice.
John Mayer- also very nice.
Michelle Shocked- she was okay, her manager/husband is 100% psycho, and should be locked away.
Billy Currington- spoiled brat.
Dierks Bentley- very nice.
Junior Brown- nice, but extremely weird.

Okay, I'm done strolling down mammary lane. Most artists are aloof, at the worst(but a rare few turn out to be super nice, even outgoing towards you). I prefer to think of our dear Christine as being as friendly as apple pie!

[HomerMcvie]

And by the way, Bob Weston was ON Jenny Fleetwood, NOT Christine.:lol:

[SteveMacD]

But, where was Jeremy? Where was Danny?
Jeremy seems like the type who was happy doing what he was doing, and really wasn't in the least bit interested in being a popular musician. Jeremy has always stayed in contact with Mick. If Jeremy had asked Mick for help, I wouldn't doubt for a second that Mick would've gone out of his way to help Jeremy out.

And poor Danny. Mick and Jenny, at least according to the book, did try and reach out to Danny, but he freaked out. Remember, Peter and Danny both have (yes, HAVE) serious mental illness. There are pressures in the music industry that I don't think either have the ability to deal with. Peter obviously is not as mentally ill, and is able to cope, but it took nearly twenty years for him to get to that point. I'm not convinced Danny will ever get to that point. I just hope Danny will ultimately find a little peace in his life.

Of the lot, I think Bob Welch was really the only major former member who was capable of dealing with the pressures of the industry. And, even then, he only lasted for five or six years as a solo artist before going into semi-retirement.

As far as Weston goes, I was under the impression that by the time he was "forgiven," Mick was no longer managing Fleetwood Mac or Bob Welch. I could be wrong on that, though.

[SteveMacD]

Junior Brown- nice, but extremely weird.
And that surprises you because???

[HomerMcvie]

And that surprises you because???
I won't even tell you some of the stories that I've heard.:shocked:
He's a germ-a-phobe, too. His band, and bus driver, sleep in hotels. Junior won't leave the bus. He sleeps in there alone. He thinks hotels are dirty.

[SteveMacD]

I won't even tell you some of the stories that I've heard.:shocked:
He's a germ-a-phobe, too. His band, and bus driver, sleep in hotels. Junior won't leave the bus. He sleeps in there alone. He thinks hotels are dirty.
I'm just saying that if you asked me who one of the weirdest guitarists out there was, Junior Brown might not be at the top of the list, but he'd be in my top five!

[HomerMcvie]

Of the lot, I think Bob Welch was really the only major former member who was capable of dealing with the pressures of the industry. And, even then, he only lasted for five or six years as a solo artist before going into semi-retirement.

As far as Weston goes, I was under the impression that by the time he was "forgiven," Mick was no longer managing Fleetwood Mac or Bob Welch. I could be wrong on that, though.
I just read that part of Mick's book last night. Yeah, I think about the time he was ousted as FM manager, that he stopped managing Bob.

And, I can only guess that Bob only semi-retired when the marketplace stopped ringing his phone.
Bob's a GREAT guy. One of these days, I'm gonna offer to take him and his wife out to dinner, when I'm in town. He'll probably say no, but who knows?
I was there last weekend, but...........

[Gailh]

In his Q&A Bob Weston spoke about his thoughts on working with Christine in FM where she was "homey and quite content to be a musician" and then later, when she called him in the latter half of the seventies to work, I think, on a Robbi Patton record. At that stage he said something that surprised me. Something to the effect that she now wielded her fame and power like a weapon...

This sttrikes me as very un-Christine. Anybody know anything about what he is referring to? And if so, any thoughts?

I think for a long time Christine didn't realise how talented she is. Bob Weston probably remembered the lady who wanted to be in the background but after the huge success starting with the White Album she probably thought "hang on a minute I good at this!"

And why not? She is good at it

He was probably pissed off because she didn't defer to him (like she might have done before? Lost of men can't handle confident, talented women. (Mr Buckingham springs to mind (ducks))

Just a thought

Gail

[macfan 57]

Lost of men can't handle confident, talented women. (Mr Buckingham springs to mind (ducks))
Gail

Gail, you don't have to duck for that comment, not in this forum.:laugh:

By the way, if you check out the Q & A's, you'll notice that there is a difference between those people who were in Fleetwood Mac before 1975 & those people who only knew Chris & the rest of Fleetwood Mac after 1975. It's totally different. It must have seemed strange for Bob W. to be working with Chris during the Robbie Patton album. Everything had changed. She wasn't just a member of a band. She was the producer of that album, totally different. As Gail said, she was alot more confident in what she could do. And, more than a few people have said that Chris was not afraid to give her opinion.

[macfan 57]

Christine can be tough to read as well. Maybe she is a snooty bitch. Who knows!!??!!??

She would be if everything Bob Welch said in his first Q & A was true.;) On the other hand, check out the George Hawkins & Todd Sharp Q & A's. Both of those guys obviously adore her. By the way, Bob Welch's second Q & A was like night & day to his first one. That first Q & A was Bob's book that he'll probably never actually write.

[DavidMn]

Which is in direct contrast to what Mick was none-too-shy about saying to the press at the time...that Fleetwood Mac would take care of those who came before. Granted he did broker a record deal with WB for Peter Green's comeback, which Peter backed out on at the 11th hour, and he did engineer Bob Welch's mass success there for a while. But, where was Jeremy? Where was Danny? Obviously Weston was "persona-non-grata", and Dave Walker was probably totally forgotten about.

Well, the perennial nose candy that was around in those days probably didn't help her personality either. :eek:Yeah, but I always thought she never did as much as Mick and Stevie.

[Gailh]

Yeah, but I always thought she never did as much as Mick and Stevie.

From what I've read she didn't. Although didn't Stevie once say that Christine has a hole in her nose just like Stevie does?

Gail

[Gailh]

And, more than a few people have said that Chris was not afraid to give her opinion.

Yes that's true. Didn't Bob Welch say something to the effect that it was like working with a "sarcastic aunt"?

But as she was producing the album she was bound to have to take responsibility to get the job done.

Gail

[David]

One of these days, I'm gonna offer to take him and his wife out to dinner, when I'm in town.Could I go too? I would like to have dinner with Bob ... anything: Japanese, Italian, Greek, Vietnamese, French, German/Bavarian, American, Brazilian/Argentinian, Russian, Roumanian/Hungarian, British, etc.

I think Christine was in love with Bob Weston. But she never let on out of fear of reprisal. Hence the name "Reprise" on their label.

[HomerMcvie]

Could I go too? I would like to have dinner with Bob ... anything: Japanese, Italian, Greek, Vietnamese, French, German/Bavarian, American, Brazilian/Argentinian, Russian, Roumanian/Hungarian, British, etc.
Sure you can go, David. I'd feel much more at ease, with you there(you're not going to talk about going #2 though, are you?).
Seriously, I'm not sure Bob would turn us down. "Hey Bob, pick a place that you and your wife like, nearby for you, and we'll meet you there".
Bob seems that approachable.....maybe I'm wrong though.:confused:

[David]

Sure you can go, David. I'd feel much more at ease, with you there(you're not going to talk about going #2 though, are you?).
Seriously, I'm not sure Bob would turn us down.I won't talk about #2, unless one of you guys broaches the subject. But it sounds like very enjoyable, really. However, I sent Bob an MP3 of my band doing Hypnotized, & Bob never wrote back, so I hope he doesn't think "Oh here's that ****tard again." I don't want to spoil the dinner. :(

[HomerMcvie]

I won't talk about #2, unless one of you guys broaches the subject. But it sounds like very enjoyable, really. However, I sent Bob an MP3 of my band doing Hypnotized, & Bob never wrote back, so I hope he doesn't think "Oh here's that ****tard again." I don't want to spoil the dinner. :(
I will never broach that subject.
Bob probably just forgot about your mp3. Why would he be upset about it? Imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, and all.
I think Bob's probably the most normal (errrr- American:o ) person that ever played in FM.

[macfan 57]

Although didn't Stevie once say that Christine has a hole in her nose just like Stevie does?

Gail

I never heard that. There's no way that Chris could sing as well as she does with a hole in her nose.;) :laugh:

[jbrownsjr]

She would be if everything Bob Welch said in his first Q & A was true.;) On the other hand, check out the George Hawkins & Todd Sharp Q & A's. Both of those guys obviously adore her. By the way, Bob Welch's second Q & A was like night & day to his first one. That first Q & A was probably Bob's book that he'll probably never actually write.

You know on any given day, i can be a snooty bitch.. I mean look at homer. :]

[GypsySongbird]

She would be if everything Bob Welch said in his first Q & A was true.;) On the other hand, check out the George Hawkins & Todd Sharp Q & A's. Both of those guys obviously adore her. By the way, Bob Welch's second Q & A was like night & day to his first one. That first Q & A was probably Bob's book that he'll probably never actually write.

aww! i just read george hawkins' & he really did just love her!! hes so sweet!

[SteveMacD]

aww! i just read george hawkins' & he really did just love her!! hes so sweet!
Yeah, but he (and Billy, for that matter) have to work with the likes of John Fogerty. I'm bettin' Chris comes of like a sweet angel by comparison.

[fmfanatic]

In his Q&A Bob Weston spoke about his thoughts on working with Christine in FM where she was "homey and quite content to be a musician" and then later, when she called him in the latter half of the seventies to work, I think, on a Robbi Patton record. At that stage he said something that surprised me. Something to the effect that she now wielded her fame and power like a weapon...

This sttrikes me as very un-Christine. Anybody know anything about what he is referring to? And if so, any thoughts?

I haven't read the Q&A yet, but I was thinking that maybe Christine might have been sarcastic or joking when she said that, and he took it the wrong way?? Of course, Christine strikes me as the type of person who comes off as serious, so when she does make a joke, people don't always see it as such.

Also, is Bob Weston British or American?? (I can't remember offhand right now!) :confused: If he's American, then there's another factor -- British people and American people have a *very* different sense of humor.....

Just my 2 cents, anyhow.... :D

Andrea :)

[HomerMcvie]

You know on any given day, i can be a snooty bitch.. I mean look at homer. :]
Did you just call me a snooty bitch?:mad: :mad: :mad:
I mean, I'm a little bit of a snob, and quite opinionated, and can kind of be an ass, but to call me a snooty bitch, is just over the line!!!










:lol: :lol: :lol:

[HomerMcvie]

Also, is Bob Weston British or American?? (I can't remember offhand right now!) :confused: If he's American, then there's another factor -- British people and American people have a *very* different sense of humor.....
Andrea :)
I do agree about the British sense of humor thing.

Bob was British, born in Liverpool.

[Gailh]

I haven't read the Q&A yet, but I was thinking that maybe Christine might have been sarcastic or joking when she said that, and he took it the wrong way?? Of course, Christine strikes me as the type of person who comes off as serious, so when she does make a joke, people don't always see it as such.

Also, is Bob Weston British or American?? (I can't remember offhand right now!) :confused: If he's American, then there's another factor -- British people and American people have a *very* different sense of humor.....

Just my 2 cents, anyhow.... :D

Andrea :)

Yes I think there is a difference. Didn't Oscar Wilde describe us as "two nations divided by a common language"?

Sometimes we Brits have what we like to think of as a very dry sense of humour (John McVie) but it can come across as sarcastic/rude.

Gail

[DavidMn]

Did you just call me a snooty bitch?:mad: :mad: :mad:
I mean, I'm a little bit of a snob, and quite opinionated, and can kind of be an ass, but to call me a snooty bitch, is just over the line!!!










:lol: :lol: :lol:Ahhh youre allright in my book.:thumbsup:

[jbrownsjr]

Did you just call me a snooty bitch?:mad: :mad: :mad:
I mean, I'm a little bit of a snob, and quite opinionated, and can kind of be an ass, but to call me a snooty bitch, is just over the line!!!









:lol: :lol: :lol:
i'm always over the line, i move it then cross it again!! :lol:

[HomerMcvie]

Ahhh youre allright in my book.:thumbsup:
Eh, we're just funnin' each other.

That jbrownsjr, he's.........mentally challenged.:wavey:

[David]

The title of this thread is a real eye-opener!!!!!!

[aleuzzi]

The title of this thread is a real eye-opener!!!!!!

Oh my god. Ouch. I posted the thread and was pleased to see so many responses to it. I was happy to remain a fly on the wall and simply read what people wrote. But I am now duty bound to say the unfortunate sexual connotation was entirely unintentional.

[David]

Oh my god. Ouch. I posted the thread and was pleased to see so many responses to it. I was happy to remain a fly on the wall and simply read what people wrote. But I am now duty bound to say the unfortunate sexual connotation was entirely unintentional.Well, it is Fleetwood Mac, so nothing should surprise us.

[jbrownsjr]

Eh, we're just funnin' each other.

That jbrownsjr, he's.........mentally challenged.:wavey:

i'll be the 1st 2 admit it! :woohoo:

[HomerMcvie]

i'll be the 1st 2 admit it! :woohoo:
Hey! It takes one to know one!:D

[macfan 57]

The title of this thread is a real eye-opener!!!!!!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

The Chris forum is getting a bit smutty.:laugh: Actually, it would be more accurate if you substituted Bob Weston's name with Martin Birch.;)

[GypsySongbird]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

The Chris forum is getting a bit smutty.:laugh: Actually, it would be more accurate if you substituted Bob Weston's name with Martin Birch.;)

:lol: :lol: :lol:

yes indeed! i wish we knew more about mr birch......he is very mysterious it seems..........

[jbrownsjr]

The title of this thread is a real eye-opener!!!!!!

i've always seen Christine as a top, so Bob would be the bottom! :eek:

[aleuzzi]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

The Chris forum is getting a bit smutty.:laugh: Actually, it would be more accurate if you substituted Bob Weston's name with Martin Birch.;)


Yeah. LOL! Does anyone have a picture of martin Birch? All I know of him is his association with FM as engineer and then as producer of those awful Iron Maiden records.

[ThePenguin]

Yeah. LOL! Does anyone have a picture of martin Birch? All I know of him is his association with FM as engineer and then as producer of those awful Iron Maiden records.

try this--
http://www.thehighwaystar.com/rosas/fireball/images/birch.jpg

personally i don't see the appeal..perhaps he had a charming wit. :confused:

-Lis

[SteveMacD]

personally i don't see the appeal..perhaps he had a charming wit. :confused:
No less appealing than most of the men Christine has been "associated" with.

[HomerMcvie]

No less appealing than most of the men Christine has been "associated" with.
Yep. She always liked those hairy guys. And they were just average looking Joes.

[GypsySongbird]

Yep. She always liked those hairy guys. And they were just average looking Joes.

is it really just me that thinks johns gorgeous?? :confused: lis!!!!

i kind of think dennis is quite good looking too :rolleyes: and curry, he looks kind of like lindsey with the afro!

anyway, mr birch, maybe hes just very very nice, i just wish we new more! im waaay too nosy

[aleuzzi]

try this--
http://www.thehighwaystar.com/rosas/fireball/images/birch.jpg

personally i don't see the appeal..perhaps he had a charming wit. :confused:

-Lis


Yikes. She has "unusual" tastes?

[aleuzzi]

is it really just me that thinks johns gorgeous?? :confused: lis!!!!

i kind of think dennis is quite good looking too :rolleyes: and curry, he looks kind of like lindsey with the afro!

anyway, mr birch, maybe hes just very very nice, i just wish we new more! im waaay too nosy


Yeah, John and dennis were both good looking guys--and both of them had a dangerous sexiness...I guess.

[ThePenguin]

is it really just me that thinks johns gorgeous?? :confused: lis!!!!

i kind of think dennis is quite good looking too :rolleyes: and curry, he looks kind of like lindsey with the afro!

anyway, mr birch, maybe hes just very very nice, i just wish we new more! im waaay too nosy


yes, of course you know I think John was/is gorgeous!! Those sleepy eyes, that smile so warm it could melt butter, the dimple in his left cheek, that chin....the way he blushes and looks down and scratches his neck when he's embarrassed, that adorable chuckle....come on, people, the man oozes 'endearing.'. How do you not love him? :wavey:

I also see dennis's appeal, the shaggy/scruffy/bad boy ruggedness. and Curry also had a charm about him.....

But Martin Birch....Ed Quintela.....no, the physical appeal there eludes me.

-Lis

[goldustsongbird]

is it really just me that thinks johns gorgeous?? :confused: lis!!!!

i kind of think dennis is quite good looking too :rolleyes: and curry, he looks kind of like lindsey with the afro!

anyway, mr birch, maybe hes just very very nice, i just wish we new more! im waaay too nosy

No, I love John. :D

[macfan 57]

I also see dennis's appeal, the shaggy/scruffy/bad boy ruggedness. and Curry also had a charm about him.....

But Martin Birch....Ed Quintela.....no, the physical appeal there eludes me.

-Lis

I've always thought that Dennis Wilson was VERY attractive. I LOVE him in that boat picture that was posted in the picture thread. He was also very charismatic, which I think was a great appeal for Chris at the time. I think he was the best looking Beach Boy, by far.

I think Curry Grant looked fantastic in that Japan documentary video too. It seemed she tended to go for the rugged kind of guys.

Martin Birch, I don't know. Every time I look at his picture, I see Danny Kirwan, only a little better looking. He didn't seem to be the rugged type though.

There is nothing in Eddy Quintela that in any way at all appeals to me.

[ThePenguin]

I've always thought that Dennis Wilson was VERY attractive. I LOVE him in that boat picture that was posted in the picture thread. He was also very charismatic, which I think was a great appeal for Chris at the time. I think he was the best looking Beach Boy, by far.


Yeah, I think he was too, although Brian was also a cutie back in the early days, w/ that handsome innocent freckled face, before he got so sick/bloated. I think dennis actually looked better once he grew the beard than when he was young and cleanshaven.

One thing that always annoyed me about dennis was that he didn't like the way Chris dressed. ?? She actually went shopping w/ his soon-to-be-ex-wife to buy some clothes that dennis would like. I know I read that somewhere. Isn't that crazy?

The things we do for love....:shocked:
-Lis

[macfan 57]

One thing that always annoyed me about dennis was that he didn't like the way Chris dressed. ?? She actually went shopping w/ his soon-to-be-ex-wife to buy some clothes that dennis would like. I know I read that somewhere. Isn't that crazy?
-Lis

I read that too. It was in that Beach Boys book, "Heroes And Villians". There is an excerpt pertaining to Chris in the Blue Letter Archives.;) I think the entire 2 or 3 years they were together were a very crazy & bizarre time for Chris.

[Gailh]

One thing that always annoyed me about dennis was that he didn't like the way Chris dressed. ?? She actually went shopping w/ his soon-to-be-ex-wife to buy some clothes that dennis would like. I know I read that somewhere. Isn't that crazy?

The things we do for love....:shocked:
-Lis

Yes I read that too! Sometimes I think she makes some bizzare decisions when it comes to men!

Gail

[GypsySongbird]

I read that too. It was in that Beach Boys book, "Heroes And Villians". There is an excerpt pertaining to Chris in the Blue Letter Archives.;) I think the entire 2 or 3 years they were together were a very crazy & bizarre time for Chris.

i dont like thay book :distress: i dont think it liked chris very much. stupid book!

[GypsySongbird]

I think Curry Grant looked fantastic in that Japan documentary video too. It seemed she tended to go for the rugged kind of guys.


thats what i thought, that type works with chris i think, kind of 'goes togehter' in a wierd way

[David]

So what sort of influence do you think all these types of men had on Christine's songwriting or musicianship?

Or was there no discernible influence at all?

Christine always seemed to treat her personal life & her professional work as two distinct aspects of experience, with only occasional overlap of ideation.

[SteveMacD]

So what sort of influence do you think all these types of men had on Christine's songwriting or musicianship?

Or was there no discernible influence at all?

Christine always seemed to treat her personal life & her professional work as two distinct aspects of experience, with only occasional overlap of ideation.
Sometimes I think I hear a difference. But then I wonder if it's more of me WANTING to hear a difference, or if the difference I hear has more to do with other factors (i.e. age, life situation at the time). I think it's only reasonable to expect Christine's songs at 60 to be somewhat different than her songs at 25.

[macfan 57]

So what sort of influence do you think all these types of men had on Christine's songwriting or musicianship?


In my opinion, none whatsover.:)

[aleuzzi]

In my opinion, none whatsover.:)

Yeah, I don't think many of Christine's songs are all that autobiographical. I know "You Make Lovin' Fun," "Don't Stop" and "Only Over You" have obvious connections with her life and her relationships. And I'm assuming the rather negative lyrics to "Remember Me," "Dissatisfied," "Believe" and "Why" are related to problems she'd had with John at that time. Still, I think she knows her limitations as a lyricist, stays with a theme she can handle, and works around that.