Thoughts on Christine's return

[dontlookdown]

The time seems right for Chris's return to Fleetwood Mac.
And after hearing how great the band was playing on last year's tour, it would only make sense that a new album also becomes part of the plan.

I'm curious how people think Chris will change things musically. Although I love all of her music through Behind The Mask, most of her contributions since then have been spotty.
I found In The Meantime to be forgettable and mostly un-listenable. Same for her tracks on Time. And although I loved The Dance, I felt like her performances were the weakest in the bunch.

I'm excited for what's next and I think her addition can only add to Fleetwood Mac's momentum -- but I'm hoping she also finds a way to re-work her music and make it interesting again. It's been a long time...

[BLY]

This is why I think we need a new studio album. Lindsey will work his magic as he always has done with her music 1975 -1987. The live performances is a completely other question. I have seen them live since the Rumours tour and I will say that live, Christine was the one that would go off tune at times. However, their live concerts have always been "Hearing" a different band IMO.

[sleepless child]

I am very excited by this and I think the next step is definitely a new album. We need new songs. LOL

[MoonSister75]

I'm curious how people think Chris will change things musically. Although I love all of her music through Behind The Mask, most of her contributions since then have been spotty.


This is why I think we need a new studio album. Lindsey will work his magic as he always has done with her music 1975 -1987.

I am very excited by this and I think the next step is definitely a new album. We need new songs. LOL

I thought there was a general confidence and optimism in Christine's voice in her radio interviews. The fact that she seems so enthusiastic and happy about these new songs, has left me feeling confident that the songs are good. I'm really excited to see how they turn out. I also think Christine will inspire Lindsey, and give him a much needed creative boost. :blob1:

[Macfanforever]

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Its about time.

[jbrownsjr]

^^^ I love that tune!! :thumbsup:

[Macfanforever]

^^^ I love that tune!! :thumbsup:

Maybe they could sing a couple bars of Welcome Back theme onstage when Mick introduce Christine onstage.

[TrueFaith77]

Controversial, but I think "don't Stop" should now be the opening song.

[SteveMacD]

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Its about time.
Ironically, it was written by a guy who once sang "Do You BELIEVE IN MAGIC?"

[FM77]

Bring back The Chain as opener.

[michelej1]

Bring back The Chain as opener.

I think that's a natural. It would stand as a proclamation.

Michele

[WatchChain]

Controversial, but I think "don't Stop" should now be the opening song.

I don't think it's controversial at all. In fact, it's a great idea. For the first tour with Christine back in the band, THE OPENING SONG must be a Christine McVie tune. It would only make sense. I do, however, think it will be "Say You Love Me". They've opened with that tune a number of times, most recently on the second leg of the "Shake The Cage/Tango In The Night" Tour in 1987.

"Don't Stop" would be a GREAT OPENING SONG for the new tour. I don't think they've ever opened with that, so it would definitely give the set a fresh start. Here's my suggested set list:

Don't Stop
The Chain
Dreams
Blue Letter
Everywhere
Angel
What Makes You Think You're The One
ACOUSTIC SET Tusk
Say You Love Me
Big Love
Landslide
Rhiannon
Little Lies
Don't Let Me Down Again
Gold Dust Woman
Hold Me
You Make Loving Fun
I'm So Afraid
Sara
Come A Little Bit Closer
World Turning
Go Your Own Way
Songbird

[dontlookdown]

This is sacreligious, but I've never liked
Don't Stop. Not in 1977 and not now.
It's always been the only Fleetwood Mac
song I hate.

[michelej1]

Don't Stop doesn't seem like an opener to me.

It doesn't say "Hi. We're here!" It just feels like it belongs at the end to me. The message seems like a goodbye message, though I realize Clinton used it for his intro.

Michele

[louielouie2000]

This is sacreligious, but I've never liked
Don't Stop. Not in 1977 and not now.
It's always been the only Fleetwood Mac
song I hate.

You're not alone... it may just be my least favorite Fleetwood Mac song as well. So corny. And it's completely lacking in that Fleetwood Mac element of the mystical, which is present through all incarnations of the band since 1977. The sentiment of the song is incredibly sweet, but it'll just never be a song I'll care for.

[SteveMacD]

And it's completely lacking in that Fleetwood Mac element of the mystical, which is present through all incarnations of the band since 1977.
I've never associated the mystical thing with Christine. Her stuff was always straight forward.

[louielouie2000]

I've never associated the mystical thing with Christine. Her stuff was always straight forward.

Songs like Prove Your Love & Why definitely have a tinge of the mystical. Christine even wore shawls pre 1975. Her songs may not be as overtly mystical as say Stevie Nicks or even Peter Green's or Bob Welch's, but she definitely was a part of that aura, even if it was in a far more subtle way. Not just her songs, but her smokey backing vocals definitely added to the ethereal sound Fleetwood Mac has always exhibited.

If we're looking at post 1975 & solo work, don't forget songs like Behind The Mask and Friend, just to name a couple. Chris definitely dabbles in the mystical in her own way.

[dontlookdown]

and don't forget that the nice little acoustic guitar solo in the middle of Behind the Mask (the title track) is Lindsey Buckingham.

[michelej1]

Re Post-Rumours, I wouldn't say that Heart of Stone is mystical, but it's got a nice contrast of light (verses) and dark (chorus). The "heart of stone" lines have a definite umber edge.

Michele

[ChickenStu]

I think Everywhere has a nice dreamy mystical vibe to it.

[Jondalar]

Well I'm thinking she is going to knock it out of the park. Listening to the acoustic version of Friend, she hasn't lost it. That is an excellent song. I'm thinking that is Stevie is finally going to have break out Three Birds of Rhiannon, as well as come up with some tunes with Dave Stewart to keep up with her. God only knows how many songs Christine McVie hasn't used.

Lindsey is as artistic today as he was in the 70s. His songs have gotten better in some respects.

[David]

I think Everywhere has a nice dreamy mystical vibe to it.
And "Hollywood" is haunting and ethereal. Totally mystical, totally out there. Chris is a space cadet.

[jbrownsjr]

I've always felt a mystical vibe in Christine's tunes. Bob's too. Stevie recognized this when she was about to join FMac. I believe Stevie liked most of Chris' material pre white album.

[bluefox4000]

Hope they make a kick ass album. Finally i can get back into the Mac.

Mick

[aleuzzi]

I've always felt a mystical vibe in Christine's tunes. Bob's too. Stevie recognized this when she was about to join FMac. I believe Stevie liked most of Chris' material pre white album.

And there is the matter of her voice, which is lovely, unusual, and eerie....like a lonely voice in wilderness. It's her voice that lends Hypnotized that extra edge of the mystical. It's her voice that makes Keep on Going and Bad Loser sound so damn eerie and wonderful.

[michelej1]

And there is the matter of her voice, which is lovely, unusual, and eerie....like a lonely voice in wilderness. It's her voice that lends Hypnotized that extra edge of the mystical. It's her voice that makes Keep on Going and Bad Loser sound so damn eerie and wonderful.

Her voice made the later version of Sentimental Lady, in my book.

Michele

[jbrownsjr]

Her voice made the later version of Sentimental Lady, in my book.

Michele

Her "who who who who who" in the Tango in the Night Bridge are extremely haunting..

[michelej1]

411mania.com, Fact or Fiction?

http://www.411mania.com/music/columns/310179/411-Music-Fact-or-Fiction-01.17.14:-Lethal-Eggcecution.htm

5) You're glad that Christine McVie has rejoined Fleetwood Mac.

Jeff Modzelewski: FACT. Absolutely. Hopefully I'll be able to see them without being destroyed by ticket prices. Christine McVie added a more traditional female voice to the group, and I'd be very excited to see the best lineup of this band back together. Frankly I've always thought they were an underrated band anyways. Buckingham is an excellent guitarist, and Fleetwood/McVie are a top-notch rhythm section. Add Stevie Nicks and her amazing voice along with Christine and her pretty voice, and you have a hell of a group. Can't wait for a chance to see them.

Mark Radulich: FACT. Sure, it's always good to have original members back in a band and I look forward to see what comes from Fleetwood Mac over the next year.

Score: 3 for 5
Read more at http://www.411mania.com/music/columns/310179/411-Music-Fact-or-Fiction-01.17.14:-Lethal-Eggcecution.htm#LslqJE7rhS8qfxX0.99

[sanders8323]

Her "who who who who who" in the Tango in the Night Bridge are extremely haunting..

I'm going to assume that's Lindsey altering his voice in the studio.

[jbrownsjr]

I'm going to assume that's Lindsey altering his voice in the studio.

Some of them are LB, but I can hear her in there as well.

[Tango]

Her voice made the later version of Sentimental Lady, in my book.

Michele

I agree. Absolutely haunting.

[jbrownsjr]

She has backing vocals everywhere on Mirage that are bone chilling.

[SteveMacD]

"Don't Stop" is no less not mystical than, say, any of her "Penguin" songs, the song HAHTF, OMH, SYLM, "Sugar Daddy," "You Make Loving Fun," "Think About Me," "Love Will Show Us How," "Got A Hold On Me," "Everywhere," or even "I Do." Her voice can be deep and haunting when needed, but she's like the Paul McCartney of Fleetwood Mac. For the most part, she's the one who writes the lighter poppier songs. And, for me, that does not equate to mystical.

[jbrownsjr]

"Don't Stop" is no less not mystical than, say, any of her "Penguin" songs, the song HAHTF, OMH, SYLM, "Sugar Daddy," "You Make Loving Fun," "Think About Me," "Love Will Show Us How," "Got A Hold On Me," "Everywhere," or even "I Do." Her voice can be deep and haunting when needed, but she's like the Paul McCartney of Fleetwood Mac. For the most part, she's the one who writes the lighter poppier songs. And, for me, that does not equate to mystical.

"Oh Daddy", has the mystic I speak of. So does "Mystified". lol

[aleuzzi]

I would still love for her to record an album of standards. Just her at the piano.

[jbrownsjr]

I would still love for her to record an album of standards. Just her at the piano.

I want a blues album.

[Jondalar]

Her voice made the later version of Sentimental Lady, in my book.

Michele

I love her voice on Sentimental Lady. She enhanced the song the same way that Stevie enhanced Midnight Wind.

[SteveMacD]

"Oh Daddy", has the mystic I speak of. So does "Mystified". lol
I guess that's not what I'd consider "mystic," per se. "Mystified" sounds like a '50's jazz number.

I want a blues album.
The Fleetwood-McVie BluesBand: Mick, John, Christine, and Rick Vito.

[StevieNicksfann]

I don't think it's controversial at all. In fact, it's a great idea. For the first tour with Christine back in the band, THE OPENING SONG must be a Christine McVie tune. It would only make sense. I do, however, think it will be "Say You Love Me". They've opened with that tune a number of times, most recently on the second leg of the "Shake The Cage/Tango In The Night" Tour in 1987.

They opened with Say You Love Me on the first leg of the Shake The Cage Tour as well. I saw the 3rd and 4th shows and that's what they opened with. I think it's a great opener and we should all say we love her.

But I do think Think About Me would be a great surprising opener or Love In Store or even Hold Me

[BaronVonBielski]

This maybe just the opportunity that Reprise has been needing in order nudge them into remastering the rest of FM's catalogue. Rumours has been done to death.

[Ulpian]

"Don't Stop" is no less not mystical than, say, any of her "Penguin" songs, the song HAHTF, OMH, SYLM, "Sugar Daddy," "You Make Loving Fun," "Think About Me," "Love Will Show Us How," "Got A Hold On Me," "Everywhere," or even "I Do." Her voice can be deep and haunting when needed, but she's like the Paul McCartney of Fleetwood Mac. For the most part, she's the one who writes the lighter poppier songs. And, for me, that does not equate to mystical.

For the most part, true. However, that's what makes songs like "Sooner or Later" and "Oh Daddy" special, because they don't fall into the same category as most of her other contributions.

[michelej1]

But I do think Think About Me would be a great surprising opener

I'd be surprised out of my mind. EMS would have to escort me out of the concert. But what a way to go.

I say the same thing about Hold Me. Um, not Love in Store, but I don't think that has a chance of getting itself in the door anyway.

Michele

[jbrownsjr]

I'd be surprised out of my mind. EMS would have to escort me out of the concert. But what a way to go.

I say the same thing about Hold Me. Um, not Love in Store, but I don't think that has a chance of getting itself in the door anyway.

Michele

If they opened up with TAM. I too would have a heart attack.

[secondhandchain]

I think "Behind the Mask" is one of the best post 87 songs by FM period.

[jmn3]

I think "Behind the Mask" is one of the best post 87 songs by FM period.

Agreed, I love that song.

[jools]

My thoughts on Christine's return

THANK GOD

Im sorry to say , i was tiring of the current line up of the Mac.
To be honest, if Christine did not return, i would not be buying the new album or forking out for concert tickets

Now i am very much interested in whatever they do

[Nicks Fan]

I have a mixed reaction on her return. On one hand I am very excited that she is back but I wonder for how long. Is this a one off tour or will there be a tour then an album and another tour. She is going to be 71 so time is of the essence here and they should strike while the iron is hot. The main drawback for me is if the setlist is mainly going to consist of what they have been doing for 11 years without her. Sure they will do some of her songs but they really should revamp the show and pull out more then just some of her hits. How about doing 2-3 songs from B/N era that they have never done live along with some of her stuff?

[MikeVielhaber]

I have a mixed reaction on her return. On one hand I am very excited that she is back but I wonder for how long. Is this a one off tour or will there be a tour then an album and another tour. She is going to be 71 so time is of the essence here and they should strike while the iron is hot. The main drawback for me is if the setlist is mainly going to consist of what they have been doing for 11 years without her. Sure they will do some of her songs but they really should revamp the show and pull out more then just some of her hits. How about doing 2-3 songs from B/N era that they have never done live along with some of her stuff?

My guess is that it'll be a greatest hits tour with fewer deep cuts than they're currently doing to accommodate Christine's hits. But having never seen FM with Christine I would be fine with that. Would love if it if that weren't the case though. But who knows. Maybe they can finish an album before going on tour and they can add some new songs.

[gssmith]

They had the past 15 years to do bucking ham nicks songs. They will never ever do them. But my thoughts on Chris's return: I'm so excited! I remember in 03 when her retirement was announced that I was looking forward to just stevie and Lindsey. This last tour was amazing, but 03/04 and 09 was just ok. By 09 I wanted her back. Since then I have learned to appreciate her more. 2 years ago I started getting the pre 75 albums just to hear her. I got in the mean time a few months ago.

[SteveMacD]

They had the past 15 years to do bucking ham nicks songs. They will never ever do them
Exactly. Plus, if they go to a 26 song set, there will still be room for some of the deeper cuts and/or new songs.

[michelej1]

Exactly. Plus, if they go to a 26 song set, there will still be room for some of the deeper cuts and/or new songs.

Yeah, since Stevie was telling Christine they put on a 3 hour show, they might as well live up to it.

Michele

[iamnotafraid]

Yeah, since Stevie was telling Christine they put on a 3 hour show...

Michele

She's counting the putting on makeup time.
Eyeliner like that takes time, lots of time.

[David]

She's counting the putting on makeup time.
Eyeliner like that takes time, lots of time.Stevie's sense of time (she toured Wild Heart in 1984, etc.) and space ("We just flew in from Tampa, wherever in the world THAT is") is childlike.

I'm happy Chris is returning to the Mac, I guess. It may not help, but it certainly couldn't hurt.

[SteveMacD]

Stevie's sense of time (she toured Wild Heart in 1984, etc.) and space ("We just flew in from Tampa, wherever in the world THAT is") is childlike.
That's what touring does. Ever since I've gone on tour, my sense of time is nowhere near what it used to be.

[michelej1]

That's what touring does. Ever since I've gone on tour, my sense of time is nowhere near what it used to be.

It's very easy to do. Just look at this Christmas holiday we had. When you don't have to work in the middle of the week, Wednesday begins to feel like Sunday.

If you do a lot of traveling, you forget which hotel is where. In and out of anonymous cities.

I was talking to a woman who had a stroke about five years ago and she had sharp memory of all time frames before the stroke -- she even told me exactly when I moved out to California. But she has lost all sense of time since her stroke, because she has been in a nursing home ever since and one day, one year seems so much like the other.

Michele

[SteveMacD]

It's very easy to do. Just look at this Christmas holiday we had. When you don't have to work in the middle of the week, Wednesday begins to feel like Sunday.

If you do a lot of traveling, you forget which hotel is where. In and out of anonymous cities.
And throw alcohol and drugs into the mix, and it can get really bad.

I've often had to look at tour itineraries to jog the memory. I remember the shows, but the timeline is a complete blur. And GbV doesn't do a quarter of the tour Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks solo do.

[Nicks Fan]

It did bother me that in the 15 years since she left when they did tour it was more or less the same show as half of the show was songs they have done for years anyway. They could have revamped the show but they chose to play it safe and I think that is what they will do this time as well.

[aleuzzi]

It did bother me that in the 15 years since she left when they did tour it was more or less the same show as half of the show was songs they have done for years anyway. They could have revamped the show but they chose to play it safe and I think that is what they will do this time as well.

I agree. This will most likely be a Dance Redux...but with a handful of new and different songs.

I do hope, for example, they do either Isn't it Midnight or Little Lies--and ditch Everywhere.

I don't think there is a chance in hell that they will will ditch Dreams, Don't Stop, Landslide, Monday Morning, or Say You Love me, despite having heard all of them so many times. But maybe there will be three new songs in the set list?

[SteveMacD]

I don't think there is a chance in hell that they will will ditch Dreams, Don't Stop, Landslide, Monday Morning, or Say You Love me, despite having heard all of them so many times. But maybe there will be three new songs in the set list?
I think "Monday Morning" could be ditched. ISA, probably not.

[Ulpian]

I think "Monday Morning" could be ditched. ISA, probably not.

They didn't play Monday Morning on this tour, so it's not an essential.

ISA I am pretty tired of in its current form. I completely spaced out during the song this time around and felt it just went on too long; it felt longer than the version I saw in '09, which I really enjoyed.

[elle]

I don't think there is a chance in hell that they will will ditch Dreams, Don't Stop, Landslide, Monday Morning, or Say You Love me, despite having heard all of them so many times. But maybe there will be three new songs in the set list?

Monday Morning is not a mainstay of the setlist by any means. it was not played at every single tour. it was already ditched in 2013, too.

[aleuzzi]

Monday Morning is not a mainstay of the setlist by any means. it was not played at every single tour. it was already ditched in 2013, too.

I stand corrected. I have just heard it so many times...

[elle]

That's what touring does. Ever since I've gone on tour, my sense of time is nowhere near what it used to be.

or traveling. or not having a structured life in some other way.

even if one doesn't have a job with regular workweek structure, if you have kids, they go to school and there's structure imposed with that.

[michelej1]

I do hope, for example, they do either Isn't it Midnight or Little Lies--and ditch Everywhere.



I don't need to hear Everywhere myself, but I think it would be folly not to do it in the UK. It would just remind me of how dumb they are with marketing.

Michele

[elle]

I don't need to hear Everywhere myself, but I think it would be folly not to do it in the UK. It would just remind me of how dumb they are with marketing.

yup.

i would actually like to hear Everywhere. and Hold Me. and Think About Me. and Say You Love Me.

[secondhandchain]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdwgKAAKdXI

maybe she can bring up Chris Cross and do this gem. Never heard it. Kinda cheesy but Chris's harmonies are great.

[SteveMacD]

I'd love to see a chronology of what happened to change her mind. The first inkling that Christine could un-retire was in the March, 2012 when Ken Caillat was talking about his book and said "Christine said that I brought passion back into the music for her and brought back so many memories." Still, I wonder what happened to get her to that point.

[Ulpian]

I'd love to see a chronology of what happened to change her mind. The first inkling that Christine could un-retire was in the March, 2012 when Ken Caillat was talking about his book and said "Christine said that I brought passion back into the music for her and brought back so many memories." Still, I wonder what happened to get her to that point.

She said on Radio 2 that she "got in a bit of trouble" living on her own in Kent, or something along those lines. I'm wondering if something happened to make her seek therapy for her attitude towards the outside world (she had become pretty reclusive), or maybe family intervened?

[SteveMacD]

She said on Radio 2 that she "got in a bit of trouble" living on her own in Kent, or something along those lines. I'm wondering if something happened to make her seek therapy for her attitude towards the outside world (she had become pretty reclusive), or maybe family intervened?
I wonder how much of that had to do with issues she was having related to her village, when the consortium she was a part of fenced off some fields that blocked water access for the locals?

[vivfox]

I'd love to see a chronology of what happened to change her mind.

As someone once mentioned here already, I want to give Steven Tyler all the credit for convincing her to play keyboards onstage in Hawaii with him singing.

[SteveMacD]

As someone once mentioned here already, I want to give Steven Tyler all the credit for convincing her to play keyboards onstage in Hawaii with him singing.
That was me, but I want to know what made her agree to get on the plane and come out of the reclusive life she had been living. I think 10 years earlier she would've said absolutely no to Mick. Obviously she had been practicing. One doesn't just get up on stage and play piano after a decade from not having played in public.

I think Christine has been wanting to come back but didn't know how to do it. I just want to know when that was. Because the pictures of Christine walking her dogs in 2010 and the pictures of her in Amsterdam in 2013 show two very different women.

[michelej1]

I wonder how much of that had to do with issues she was having related to her village, when the consortium she was a part of fenced off some fields that blocked water access for the locals?

I can't imagine that that caused her any "trouble" that effected her life or thought patterns at all, though I'm sure it was a bother. I imagine that she started to realize that retiring is one thing, but leaving society is another and maybe she realized, or friends and family let her know, that things had gotten to an unhealthy point. Maybe there was some agoraphobia seeping in.

I give Steven Tyler no credit. He just did what Mick told him too and Mick got her softened up. I give Mick all the credit.

Michele

[SteveMacD]

I can't imagine that that caused her any "trouble" that effected her life or thought patterns at all, though I'm sure it was a bother.
I think it was a total bother. It put her in the public eye -without makeup- and didn't necessarily paint her in the brightest light. It became a hassle.

I give Steven Tyler no credit. He just did what Mick told him too and Mick got her softened up. I give Mick all the credit.
Probably true, although I suspect we have to give Ken a lot of credit, too. The timing is my biggest thing. There were two years between the time she was candidly walking her dogs to Ken saying that his book brought her passion back for music, and two years after that, she's back in Fleetwood Mac ready to tour.

There was more than Mick or Ken or whoever that made her go from looking like she wanted to die on "The Dance" to publicly saying she wanted back in the band, if they'd ask.

1997
http://assets-s3.rollingstone.com/assets/images/video/flashback-fleetwood-mac-reunite-in-1997-20140114/fleetwood-306-1389715210.jpg

2004
http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/MgGVE_0jGok/hqdefault.jpg

2010
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AGPrjH5BwHY/TSvFeuV-VJI/AAAAAAAAIwU/eyFeXuMVnjA/s1600/Christine+McVie+March+2010+at+home.jpg

2013
http://i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s379/ironman_01701/Christine%20McVie%20London%202013/ChristineEnteringtheAmsterdamHotel_zps05bf899e.jpg

(And, yes, I realize makeup does a lot. It's the eyes, posture, and attitude that I notice, and she looks ready to go in the 2013 pictures.)

[bombaysaffires]

Everyone seems to gloss over the fact that she did do an album during this time away, and clearly she'd been writing and playing to some extent. And she did a decent amount of press to promote it. (I don't recall hearing that she did any performances in support of it, however).

I hate when the media doesn't do their homework and reports she's done nothing since leaving.:mad:

[SteveMacD]

Everyone seems to gloss over the fact that she did do an album during this time away, and clearly she'd been writing and playing to some extent. And she did a decent amount of press to promote it. (I don't recall hearing that she did any performances in support of it, however).
Well, I DID post a picture from her 2004 VH-1 interview promoting "In The Meantime." When asked if there were shows in store, Christine looked like she wanted to puke.

I hate when the media doesn't do their homework and reports she's done nothing since leaving.:mad:
Or glosses over Bob Welch...Or Billy Burnette. I mean, Fleetwood Mac was hardly a blues band in 1974 that was magically transformed by Stevie and Lindsey, which is also part of their narrative, NOR was the Clinton inauguration something that lead to "The Dance." In fact, between 1993 and 1996, Lindsey did a solo tour, Stevie did a solo album and tour, and Fleetwood Mac did two tours and an album, all of which bombed.

[Ulpian]

I can't imagine that that caused her any "trouble" that effected her life or thought patterns at all, though I'm sure it was a bother. I imagine that she started to realize that retiring is one thing, but leaving society is another and maybe she realized, or friends and family let her know, that things had gotten to an unhealthy point. Maybe there was some agoraphobia seeping in.

I give Steven Tyler no credit. He just did what Mick told him too and Mick got her softened up. I give Mick all the credit.

Michele

I think agoraphobia was maybe on the cards. There was a story in the early 2000s saying she no longer answered the phone unless she knew someone was scheduled to call, and that later in around 2010 she wouldn't let the water company guys through her gates as she didn't want to see anyone. I think it went too far and someone staged an intervention maybe.

May I say, and we haven't covered this, that her second marriage really seems to have set this behaviour off. Ken touched on it in a radio interview after Sept last year. The breakup with Quintela really seems to have been bad. I don't know what happened exactly, and it isn't my business, but it think it sapped her of a lot of confidence, and that - combined with exhaustion and boredom - probably made her quit and retreat in 1998.

[chiliD]

I'd gander to say that the deaths of the "three Bobs" (& especially Welch) had quite a bit to do with Christine's desire to return. Before, when every member of the band was still alive & kicking, I think she had a sense of immortality ("oh, I'll play again with them, just not right now") Once people she was close with started dropping, it probably was like a pitcher of ice water in the face & her mortality was brought to the fore.

That similar thing is what got Cream together for the 2005 tour. Jack Bruce nearly died after his liver transplant...Clapton had been complacent about a reunion, but when it was made all too real that one member may not be around for long, Clapton made it priority that Cream have their "closure" moment, reunion, retribution & goodbye.

That's probably what Christine was shocked into with the passing of 2 of her former bandmates & another who was always on the periphery.

[aleuzzi]

I think agoraphobia was maybe on the cards. There was a story in the early 2000s saying she no longer answered the phone unless she knew someone was scheduled to call, and that later in around 2010 she wouldn't let the water company guys through her gates as she didn't want to see anyone. I think it went too far and someone staged an intervention maybe.

May I say, and we haven't covered this, that her second marriage really seems to have set this behaviour off. Ken touched on it in a radio interview after Sept last year. The breakup with Quintela really seems to have been bad. I don't know what happened exactly, and it isn't my business, but it think it sapped her of a lot of confidence, and that - combined with exhaustion and boredom - probably made her quit and retreat in 1998.

Definitely. Ken did mention that the breakup was bad and she seems to have gone reeling from that into self-imposed exile, becoming a recluse with two dogs.

That she made ITM shows she never stopped loving music, but just needed to write and play it on her own terms for a while. Her brother's liner notes to ITM do suggest a personal struggle that was difficult to overcome.

[aleuzzi]

I think Christine has been wanting to come back but didn't know how to do it. I just want to know when that was. Because the pictures of Christine walking her dogs in 2010 and the pictures of her in Amsterdam in 2013 show two very different women.

They certainly do, don't they! In the 2010 photo, she looks resigned to a life of aging quietly--indeed of already having aged beyond the pale. Then, to see her vibrant and mugging for the camera in Amsterdam....well, it's a different woman. Unless you knew her, you probably wouldn't guess the woman in the two pictures was the same person.