New Reader Q&A with Christine in Guardian UK - post your questions now...

[tango87]

Christine will be doing a reader Q&A for the UK's Guardian newspaper. Post your questions now, Ledgies!

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jun/01/post-your-questions-for-fleetwood-mac-christine-mcvie

[DownOnRodeo]

Darn it, such a great opportunity, but every comment I start to compose up ends up being snarky.

"How is your waltz form of late?"

"Did you somehow manage the repayments on your new house?"

[Macfan4life]

We would never get the truth about the Lindsey firing. But in a lapse of truth, she let the cat out of the bag that the Mac was over and was forced to back track.

If I could I would love to dive into the Bob Welch era but I know she would never answer questions about Bob's complaints and litigation and about the RRHOF. But maybe a simple question like.......is it true you gave side eye and hated Bob's talking mid songs like in the Bermuda Triangle and why?
Why do you hate your solo career so much?

[HomerMcvie]

We would never get the truth about the Lindsey firing. But in a lapse of truth, she let the cat out of the bag that the Mac was over and was forced to back track.

If I could I would love to dive into the Bob Welch era but I know she would never answer questions about Bob's complaints and litigation and about the RRHOF. But maybe a simple question like.......is it true you gave side eye and hated Bob's talking mid songs like in the Bermuda Triangle and why?
Why do you hate your solo career so much?
Exactly. There will be no new info to read. She was scolded for saying they're done. This will just be more crap, that Old I'm Not The Boss allows her to say.

[sue]

Exactly. There will be no new info to read. She was scolded for saying they're done. This will just be more crap, that Old I'm Not The Boss allows her to say.

Unless, Christine already knows they’re done, finished.

Then she might let a few bits slip, (prior to her Autobiography)
This is The Guardian, a well respected rag in UK….maybe she’ll tell a few truths..
Hope so.

[aleuzzi]

Darn it, such a great opportunity, but every comment I start to compose up ends up being snarky.

"How is your waltz form of late?"

"Did you somehow manage the repayments on your new house?"

Omg—I’m laughing. Alternately:

“Any new pacts lately?”

“How’s the freedom in your mouth?”

……….

I honestly have one question (not snarky at all) but I suppose someone else will also ask it: “Will you give us one more studio album of new material?”

[vivfox]

“How’s the freedom in your mouth?”

:lol::lol::lol:
Well it's a thing that is fleeting.

[HomerMcvie]

“How’s the freedom in your mouth?”

As Long As You Swallow... The Skies The Limit.

[aleuzzi]

As Long As You Swallow... The Skies The Limit.

Ouch! That “freedom in my mouth” line resonates in all the wrong ways:laugh:

[HomerMcvie]

Ouch! That “freedom in my mouth” line resonates in all the wrong ways:laugh:

It's really her worst lyric ever.

[bombaysaffires]

It's really her worst lyric ever.

hmmm...not sure which is worse, that, or ... "youuuuu made me a woman tonightttttt":eek:

[aleuzzi]

hmmm...not sure which is worse, that, or ... "youuuuu made me a woman tonightttttt":eek:

Omg—I love that line and the way she sings it. I mean, I know the sentiment is a cringeworthy cliche but she sells it as genuine, not least of all because of the shape of the notes as she croons them.

[HomerMcvie]

hmmm...not sure which is worse, that, or ... "youuuuu made me a woman tonightttttt":eek:

That's her second worst lyric.

But thanks for playing...:lol::wavey:

[aleuzzi]

That's her second worst lyric.

But thanks for playing...:lol::wavey:

Oh, I thought her second worst lyric was: “Your jam it tastes sweetest to me”

Or: “The touch of your hand / is like blind man who now can see.”

Or: “We should be sister and brother.”

Or: “You won’t see me for dust.”

I mean, there’s a bit of a choice….

[jbrownsjr]

Oh, I thought her second worst lyric was: “Your jam it tastes sweetest to me”

Or: “The touch of your hand / is like blind man who now can see.”

Or: “We should be sister and brother.”

Or: “You won’t see me for dust.”

I mean, there’s a bit of a choice….

I love the way she sings, "The touch of your hand..."
I hate "sister and brother.. uhhhh such a cool riff but.. those lyrics..
I'm indifferent to "you won't see me for dust." (maybe it was a tribute to Danny). :lol:

[bombaysaffires]

That's her second worst lyric.

But thanks for playing...:lol::wavey:

nah, it's her worst.

But thanks for mansplaining!:laugh::laugh::wavey:

[HomerMcvie]

nah, it's her worst.

But thanks for mansplaining!:laugh::laugh::wavey:

It's tough being a man these days. But somebody has to do it.

Now go make me a sammich! :p

[Macfan4life]

It's tough being a man these days. But somebody has to do it.

Now go make me a sammich! :p
Sometimes you're a strong man
Sometimes, cold and scared
And sometimes you cry
(at least you did when you had your bailing hay accident)


BTW, there is nothing wrong with Chris's lyrics in Warm Ways writing about her unconditional devotional love for her man. Making her feel like a woman and making her a woman definitely can be sexual but it also has more meaning than that. A woman can make a man be a man and that is not considered sexual. Warm Ways is beautiful.

Every boy must learn to be a man, maybe I can help you yes I can.
Now Would you say THAT to Bob Dylan?

[HomerMcvie]

Sometimes you're a strong man
Sometimes, cold and scared
And sometimes you cry
(at least you did when you had your bailing hay accident)


BTW, there is nothing wrong with Chris's lyrics in Warm Ways writing about her unconditional devotional love for her man. Making her feel like a woman and making her a woman definitely can be sexual but it also has more meaning than that. A woman can make a man be a man and that is not considered sexual. Warm Ways is beautiful.

Every boy must learn to be a man, maybe I can help you yes I can.
Now Would you say THAT to Bob Dylan?

The above is some real word salad...

Is that you, Mick? :D

[jbrownsjr]

Gentle slobber you can't hide. :laugh::wavey:

I want to play too!!

[aleuzzi]

Gentle slobber you can't hide. :laugh::wavey:

I want to play too!!

I’m waiting for the pun to come up....

[jbrownsjr]

I’m waiting for the pun to come up....

Your Worn ways.

[aleuzzi]

Your Worn ways.

Well, I guess you won’t peep easy by my side

[jbrownsjr]

Well, I guess you won’t peep easy by my side

I'm waiting for your son, to come up. I can't sleep with your dorm gays.

[aleuzzi]

I'm waiting for your son, to come up. I can't sleep with your dorm gays.

Okay, we have officially entered mad-lib territory—and I’m here for it!

[jbrownsjr]

Okay, we have officially entered mad-lib territory—and I’m here for it!

And many of those creams, pass us by.

[aleuzzi]

And many of those creams, pass us by.

Two kinds of Nightbirds in this world, winners and Excaliburs.

[dougl]

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jun/09/fleetwood-macs-christine-mcvie-cocaine-and-champagne-made-me-perform-better

[Macfan4life]

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jun/09/fleetwood-macs-christine-mcvie-cocaine-and-champagne-made-me-perform-better
Thanks for posting. I enjoyed it very much. I did chuckle out loud. Chris's sense of humor really comes out even in print. I love it when she said cocaine and champagne made her play better but then added "maybe somebody can tell me different."
Classic!
Its just makes me want more. Again, I don't find it a coincidence that no questions about the Bob Welch era. She mentions about her love of coming to the states and play. Hello Chris! It was Bob that made it happen. This is why I did not waste my time with submitting a question. I find the Bob Welch era the most interesting because it was the building blocks for her favorite era (Stevie and Lindsey).

[aleuzzi]

A “Sugar Daddy” question (thanks GeekLove)!

What hits me most when I read this is how her modesty and earthiness are genuine yet also effective defense maneuvers. When she really doesn’t want to dredge up the pains of the past, she redirects by calling attention to her no-nonsense, mild-mannered bearing. She’s still funny as hell and would be a total hoot to share a few drinks with. Love this woman.

I can tell she was really into the 1968/69 question about the small venue. That was cool.

[jbrownsjr]

Thanks for posting. I enjoyed it very much. I did chuckle out loud. Chris's sense of humor really comes out even in print. I love it when she said cocaine and champagne made her play better but then added "maybe somebody can tell me different."
Classic!
Its just makes me want more. Again, I don't find it a coincidence that no questions about the Bob Welch era. She mentions about her love of coming to the states and play. Hello Chris! It was Bob that made it happen. This is why I did not waste my time with submitting a question. I find the Bob Welch era the most interesting because it was the building blocks for her favorite era (Stevie and Lindsey).

i also think she shined during that era. Her songwriting was fantastic.

[Macfan4life]

Thu 9 Jun 2022 09.30 EDT
129
The UK blues and rock scene of the late 1960s was a very male-focused, testosterone-heavy environment. Did you ever consider yourself a groundbreaker for moving into that world? GeoffWhit

In those days, there were very few women, especially playing the blues, but I never felt singled out. It just all came very naturally to me when I was with Chicken Shack and things started happening for them. Shortly after that I met Fleetwood Mac. It just all fell into place and was really fantastic. Not too many women have said, “Thanks for groundbreaking”, to be honest. I’m sure I was appreciated, but it wasn’t hero worship or anything like that. Can you tell them to start [laughs]?

I first saw you with Chicken Shack at the Toby Jug at Tolworth in ’68/’69. Some astonishingly big names from rock and blues [among them Led Zeppelin, and David Bowie launching the Ziggy Stardust tour] appeared in the pub. Do you have any special memories from that small circuit? IDNumNoLongerWorks

I remember that place! We played there a few times and it was a pretty great gig. The atmosphere was phenomenal. In a small club, the sweat is palpable. It was such a great, friendly vibe and we thoroughly enjoyed playing in them. I wonder if we enjoyed it slightly less playing in much bigger places. Playing to thousands of people is more daunting, but you get used to it in the end. After the first 20 rows they all disappear anyway.


Your Wikipedia entry says you and John [McVie, Fleetwood Mac bassist] honeymooned in Birmingham. Really? Ray_Hatton


It wasn’t really a honeymoon. We just got married locally because my mother was sick. Oddly enough, there was that famously husky-voiced singer … Joe Cocker! He was staying at the same hotel and he got plastered with us, on our wedding night! Until we kicked him out [laughs].

What are your memories about joining Fleetwood Mac, after the departure of Peter Green? Skysaxon

Chicken Shack used to open for them. I got to know John, fell in love with him and it was just sensational and exciting. Fleetwood Mac were fantastic and really funny. The biggest joker was probably Peter Green, but they all had a very copacetic sense of humour with each other. It was heartbreaking for them when Peter left. They were rehearsing at Kiln House [Hampshire], and I was down there with all the wives. They came out of the rehearsal room and said: “Hey Chris, do you want to join?” I couldn’t believe my luck. I said: “Are you serious?! I’m just a girl who plays piano.” The style had to change because I was a keyboard player, and it developed a more commercial bent. It was thrilling, and I have to say to this day it still kind of is, knowing that I did that. Then it just got better.


What is your favourite period in Fleetwood Mac’s history and why? JohnB11

I would be silly not to say the Stevie [Nicks] and Lindsey era, because that was pretty sensational. We had our fights here and there, but there was nothing like the music or the intensity onstage. We weren’t doing anything in Britain, so just decamped to America and fell into this huge musical odyssey. Stevie and Lindsey had been playing as a duo, made a great record [Buckingham Nicks], which to this day I really love, but hadn’t got very far. I think it was Mick [Fleetwood] who invited them to meet us. We all met in this Mexican restaurant, drank a few margaritas and decided to give it a go. We all got into this little rehearsal room and it just shot off like firecrackers.

[B]What was it like being at the centre of the Rumours hurricane, with all the drug and relationship issues and stunning creativity? jimd

It’s hard to say because we were looking at it from the inside, but we were having a blast and it felt incredible to us that we were writing those songs. That’s all I can say about it, really.

Fleetwood Mac had a legendary alcohol and drug intake. In Keith Richards’ autobiography, he acknowledges some “blanks” in his memory. Is this the same for you? Mattyjj


No. I have to say I’m not guilt-free in that department but Stevie and I were very careful. The boys used to get provided with cocaine in Heineken bottle tops onstage, but Stevie and I only did the tiny little spoons. I suppose sometimes we got a bit out-there, but we were quite restrained, really. I always took fairly good care of myself. My drug of choice was cocaine and champagne. I didn’t use any other drugs at all. It’s easy for me to say, but I think it made me perform better. Maybe somebody could tell me different [laughs].

Which of the band’s glorious rock-star excesses (grand pianos in hotel suites, demands that hotel rooms be repainted) makes you smile or cringe the most? Mattyjj

I don’t think I ever had a piano in my room. Stevie always did, but she couldn’t play it [laughs]. So she’d have me come down and play. Nothing made me cringe. We all had definite images in the band. Stevie was the Welsh witch. I was mother nature. Mick was the raving lunatic. Everyone was very different, but we all got on, for the most part. In those days it was just all good clean fun. Well, fairly clean fun!

What are your memories of [late Fleetwood Mac guitarist] Danny Kirwan, and did you stay in touch with him over his many lost years? cymbula

No, not really. Danny and I didn’t really gel that well. Without wishing to offend anybody, we just didn’t click, but he was a knockout guitar player and he wrote some fantastic songs. So I do have a lot of respect for him.

Who or what was Sugar Daddy about? GeekLove

I don’t recall it being about anybody. I just dreamed it up. Most of my songs are based on truth, and real people, but a lot of them are just fantasies, really.

Do you regret your [16-year] hiatus [from Fleetwood Mac]? Or was it necessary for your mind and body? Did you think you would come back? Malaprop

I just wanted to embrace being in the English countryside and not have to troop around on the road. I moved to Kent, and I loved being able to walk around the streets, nobody knowing who I was. Then of course I started to miss it. I called Mick and asked: “How would you feel about me coming back to the band?” He got in touch with everybody and we had a band meeting over the phone and they all went: “Come baaaack!!” I felt regenerated and I felt like writing again.

How did you get over your fear of flying? Kmpmilano


One day I just decided not to be afraid of it any more, and that was it! I felt liberated. Then I thought: “I’m actually enjoying this.” Life’s too short to be afraid of things like flying. You’d never go anywhere. I love flying now.

It wasn’t until my 30s that I knew you grew up in the same village as me. Do you still consider yourself Cumbrian or is that a distant memory? GreenNick79

I was born in Greenodd and we lived there for three or four years before moving to Birmingham, where my father was a music teacher. Cumbria is a beautiful part of the world and we had a good time, but my distinct memory is of nearly drowning. I slipped in the mud and fell in the river, and they had to get me out using a fishing net.

Which of the songs that you have written are you most proud of? georgialh


I’ve got to say Songbird. I couldn’t sleep, started to get a song rolling around in my head and I wrote it in half an hour. “For you there’d be no more crying …” It’s sort of like a little prayer for everybody. We went into Zellerbach Hall studios [In Berkeley, California], they got me a bunch of red roses and I sang it alone on the stage.

What interests do you have outside music? appfree

Sailing. I have friends who have a yacht in Portofino, Italy, so sometimes go over there. I’m also a telly freak and like these long sagas. Narcos on Netflix is brilliant. It’s about Pablo Escobar and has a great plot.

Any thoughts on the Mac following in Abba’s footsteps and staging a virtual concert with your own avatars? Gauchiomurphio

I don’t think we’re doing it. It’s a novelty. People would rather see the real people, I’m sure.

Christine McVie’s Songbird (A Solo Collection), featuring two previously unreleased recordings, is released on 24 June and can be preordered now.

[vivfox]

Great interview. I felt like I was sitting across the table from a genuine woman who was sharing her life experiences with me in a most positive way.

[Macfan4life]

i also think she shined during that era. Her songwriting was fantastic.
She sure did but she spoke as if she came to the States and instantly worked with Stevie and Lindsey

"We weren’t doing anything in Britain, so just decamped to America and fell into this huge musical odyssey. Stevie and Lindsey had been playing as a duo, made a great record [Buckingham Nicks], which to this day I really love, but hadn’t got very far. I think it was Mick [Fleetwood] who invited them to meet us. We all met in this Mexican restaurant, drank a few margaritas and decided to give it a go. We all got into this little rehearsal room and it just shot off like firecrackers."

That musical odyssey included Bob for many years for incredible music. I hate it when the era gets ignored like on Behind The Music and we go from England to Buckingham/Nicks.

[jbrownsjr]

She sure did but she spoke as if she came to the States and instantly worked with Stevie and Lindsey

"We weren’t doing anything in Britain, so just decamped to America and fell into this huge musical odyssey. Stevie and Lindsey had been playing as a duo, made a great record [Buckingham Nicks], which to this day I really love, but hadn’t got very far. I think it was Mick [Fleetwood] who invited them to meet us. We all met in this Mexican restaurant, drank a few margaritas and decided to give it a go. We all got into this little rehearsal room and it just shot off like firecrackers."

That musical odyssey included Bob for many years for incredible music. I hate it when the era gets ignored like on Behind The Music and we go from England to Buckingham/Nicks.

She came here and fell into a river. And then they got her out with a fishnet... :xoxo::laugh:

[Macfan4life]

She came here and fell into a river. And then they got her out with a fishnet... :xoxo::laugh:
She hitchhiked across the pond searching for something in an Orange Grove before she fell into a river in the new world. As much as she avoids talking about it, legend has it was in the Bermuda Triangle. At least that is what Stevie said. Meanwhile Stevie was making hamburger helper in an electric skillet and learning all the Fleetwood Mac records back to front from 1967-1970 when the band made albums.

[jbrownsjr]

Two kinds of Nightbirds in this world, winners and Excaliburs.

Two kinds of creams, one for the way you walk, one for the way you love me.

[HomerMcvie]

Two kinds of creams, one for the way you walk, one for the way you love me.

We get it, you've got freedom in your mouth...

[aleuzzi]

So Christine’s comments about cocaine and champagne are making headlines. However, on rereading the interview, there’s a chance she may be getting misquoted. Here’s what she said:

“I always took fairly good care of myself. My drug of choice was cocaine and champagne. I didn’t use any other drugs at all. It’s easy for me to say, but I think it made me perform better.”

She might be saying because she didn’t use any other drugs, she played better. Or, who knows, maybe the old gal can give two f…s and decided to go against trend and celebrate her moderate cocaine and champagne use…

Thoughts?

[HomerMcvie]

So Christine’s comments about cocaine and champagne are making headlines. However, on rereading the interview, there’s a chance she may be getting misquoted. Here’s what she said:

“I always took fairly good care of myself. My drug of choice was cocaine and champagne. I didn’t use any other drugs at all. It’s easy for me to say, but I think it made me perform better.”

She might be saying because she didn’t use any other drugs, she played better. Or, who knows, maybe the old gal can give two f…s and decided to go against trend and celebrate her moderate cocaine and champagne use…

Thoughts?

I agree with her. It's been a couple decades since I've PLAYED while doing coke(I still play, but no longer with the coke guy!), but I always thought it made me better. Especially when you're doing it with a band mate(and in our case, keeping it from the other two band mates - giving each other that knowing wink during a song). god I miss those days! ;)

AND....I definitely play better with a couple stiff drinks inside me. I used to play with a non drinking drummer, and he'd always say, "Man, I gotta tell you, most people only THINK they play better with a few drinks, but you really do play better!"

Don't judge......:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

[aleuzzi]

I agree with her. It's been a couple decades since I've PLAYED while doing coke(I still play, but no longer with the coke guy!), but I always thought it made me better. Especially when you're doing it with a band mate(and in our case, keeping it from the other two band mates - giving each other that knowing wink during a song). god I miss those days! ;)

AND....I definitely play better with a couple stiff drinks inside me. I used to play with a non drinking drummer, and he'd always say, "Man, I gotta tell you, most people only THINK they play better with a few drinks, but you really do play better!"

Don't judge......:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

No judgment here. Just surprised she’d say this in 2022, knowing (or maybe not knowing?) the press will reframe the comment...

[UnwindedDreams]

She didn't say anything bad about Lindsey. Hmmm.

[HomerMcvie]

She didn't say anything bad about Lindsey. Hmmm.
Only the bo$$ hates him.

[HomerMcvie]

No judgment here. Just surprised she’d say this in 2022, knowing (or maybe not knowing?) the press will reframe the comment...

In this day and age, absolutely. Everything gets blown out of proportion.

I still have a friend who gives me a surprise every couple of months!;)

[UnwindedDreams]

Only the bo$$ hates him.
And Chris thought it safe to say Stevie couldn't play piano. Chris may get replaced by Sheryl Crow!

[jbrownsjr]

Thoughts?

Haha! I love when you guys do, "thoughts?"!!

[jbrownsjr]

And Chris thought it safe to say Stevie couldn't play piano.

I think everyone knows that but $tevie.

[aleuzzi]

And Chris thought it safe to say Stevie couldn't play piano. Chris may get replaced by Sheryl Crow!

Or worse—Stevie and Neil will play a little duet on the piano on the next FM tour (minus John and Chris) called “Don’t Dream It’s Songbird.”

[HomerMcvie]

I think everyone knows that but $tevie.

I wish someone could take her back in time, to...say 1974, and show her what $he's become. $he's lost all touch with reality. Crazy as a loon.

[Macfan4life]

I agree with her. It's been a couple decades since I've PLAYED while doing coke(I still play, but no longer with the coke guy!), but I always thought it made me better. Especially when you're doing it with a band mate(and in our case, keeping it from the other two band mates - giving each other that knowing wink during a song). god I miss those days! ;)

AND....I definitely play better with a couple stiff drinks inside me. I used to play with a non drinking drummer, and he'd always say, "Man, I gotta tell you, most people only THINK they play better with a few drinks, but you really do play better!"

Don't judge......:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:
Cocaine is a stimulant and releases tons of dopamine in the brain. It makes the body more alert and sensitive to its senses. Multiple studies have shown cocaine makes people perform better and even drive better. Playing keyboards would be no different. Even Don Henley said during the peak of the Eagles success they believed cocaine was one of the reasons for their success because it extended their creativity.
Having said that cocaine is the devils drug. Its never satisfying and as soon as you take a bump you are already planning your next bump and its an endless cycle. When abused it takes over completely. Studies have shown that when given to monkeys, the monkey will eventually choose cocaine over food when given the choice. Then when all you think about is getting high destroys everything in your life.
Alcohol on the other hand gives the body fake or false impressions. People think they do things better like driving, etc and every study shows alcohol impacts all bodily functions. But when used with cocaine, it brings the body down from being too high. Long story short, its not surprising Chris would say cocaine and champagne made her play better. There is some truth to that.
What I got a kick out of was how she rationalized her and Stevie's intake compared to the guys. Everyone knows Stevie and Mick were the biggest partiers. Chris made me laugh when she said her and Stevie "only" did spoons while the guys had their stuff in Heineken beer caps on stage. The spoon may contain a little less coke but how often are you using the spoon? The guys may have used the beer cap the entire show yet Stevie ran back stage and did 10 spoons :eek:

In my party days I loved coke and white wine. The coke made you too wired and a nice glass of wine calmed you while making it more intense. In those days I could spin on the dance floor better than any Stevie. And just like Stevie, I left the dance floor after every song to head to the bathroom :lol:

[jbrownsjr]

In my party days I loved coke and white wine. The coke made you too wired and a nice glass of wine calmed you while making it more intense. In those days I could spin on the dance floor better than any Stevie. And just like Stevie, I left the dance floor after every song to head to the bathroom :lol:

This explains a lot about you, now. :) :xoxo::laugh:

[HomerMcvie]

Cocaine is a stimulant and releases tons of dopamine in the brain. It makes the body more alert and sensitive to its senses. Multiple studies have shown cocaine makes people perform better and even drive better. Playing keyboards would be no different. Even Don Henley said during the peak of the Eagles success they believed cocaine was one of the reasons for their success because it extended their creativity.
Having said that cocaine is the devils drug. Its never satisfying and as soon as you take a bump you are already planning your next bump and its an endless cycle. When abused it takes over completely. Studies have shown that when given to monkeys, the monkey will eventually choose cocaine over food when given the choice. Then when all you think about is getting high destroys everything in your life.
Alcohol on the other hand gives the body fake or false impressions. People think they do things better like driving, etc and every study shows alcohol impacts all bodily functions. But when used with cocaine, it brings the body down from being too high. Long story short, its not surprising Chris would say cocaine and champagne made her play better. There is some truth to that.
What I got a kick out of was how she rationalized her and Stevie's intake compared to the guys. Everyone knows Stevie and Mick were the biggest partiers. Chris made me laugh when she said her and Stevie "only" did spoons while the guys had their stuff in Heineken beer caps on stage. The spoon may contain a little less coke but how often are you using the spoon? The guys may have used the beer cap the entire show yet Stevie ran back stage and did 10 spoons :eek:

In my party days I loved coke and white wine. The coke made you too wired and a nice glass of wine calmed you while making it more intense. In those days I could spin on the dance floor better than any Stevie. And just like Stevie, I left the dance floor after every song to head to the bathroom :lol:

Fascinating. You just explained my favorite two things.:p For me, I've never had a coke problem, because I'm CHEAP. I'm glad it costs as much as it does. Having a friend with a coke problem would be my only problem. Fortunately I only bump(pun) into that friend about once a month(if that).

Coke and red wine here. Actually, any booze, but red wine is my favorite. The drier the better. So dry, it's like a punch in the face.

[Macfan4life]

Fascinating. You just explained my favorite two things.:p For me, I've never had a coke problem, because I'm CHEAP. I'm glad it costs as much as it does. Having a friend with a coke problem would be my only problem. Fortunately I only bump(pun) into that friend about once a month(if that).

Coke and red wine here. Actually, any booze, but red wine is my favorite. The drier the better. So dry, it's like a punch in the face.
Me, You, and Chris should hang out sometime. I don't do it anymore but we each loved the feel of fermented grapes and other stuff.
I love the story of Chris telling when she owned a house in the Hollywood Hills in 1978 and her backyard and a pool over looking the valley. They had parties and blasted the new Steely Dan album. I think this is the one with "Colombian Gold" in it. She said her music would echo through the canyon. OMG, I want to be at this party!!!!!

Never had a problem with it but there was a time in my life when it was fun. But soon that turns into staying up all night and ruining the day. I never wanted to become "My third day up....his second nighter" kind of person. I was young and dumb but had fun ;)
High in my life
obsessive was my love
worth it was my time
you are fading out

Have fun, tell the world!

[HomerMcvie]

Me, You, and Chris should hang out sometime. I don't do it anymore but we each loved the feel of fermented grapes and other stuff.
I love the story of Chris telling when she owned a house in the Hollywood Hills in 1978 and her backyard and a pool over looking the valley. They had parties and blasted the new Steely Dan album. I think this is the one with "Colombian Gold" in it. She said her music would echo through the canyon. OMG, I want to be at this party!!!!!

Never had a problem with it but there was a time in my life when it was fun. But soon that turns into staying up all night and ruining the day. I never wanted to become "My third day up....his second nighter" kind of person. I was young and dumb but had fun ;)
High in my life
obsessive was my love
worth it was my time
you are fading out

Have fun, tell the world!
I'd give anything to be at that party in the HH.

I never wanted to be that guy, either. Worst one ever....I was 22 or so, playing with my band, with "the other guy", and he invited me to a party after our show. There were probably 20 people there, with a dozen trays of blow making the rounds. I mean, you could literally do a line every 5 minutes, all night long, if you wanted to. Well, it had become around 10AM, and I literally felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest. I was shaking. It was time to go home!:D I had about an hour drive home, and halfway there, I look in the mirror, and I had these huge coke rings around both of my nostrils!:p But that was the hardest I ever hit it. And realized that that was too much!

Know what I really have zero desire to ever do again? Trip. I've been offered several times in the past few years, and I just have no desire to do that stuff anymore. Because it lasts TOO LONG. It's the SYW of drugs. If they could invent a 2 hour experience, I might be down with it. But there are too many Silver Girls in that 8 hour experience.

[jbrownsjr]

Me, You, and Chris should hang out sometime. I don't do it anymore but we each loved the feel of fermented grapes and other stuff.
I love the story of Chris telling when she owned a house in the Hollywood Hills in 1978 and her backyard and a pool over looking the valley. They had parties and blasted the new Steely Dan album. I think this is the one with "Colombian Gold" in it. She said her music would echo through the canyon. OMG, I want to be at this party!!!!!



Have fun, tell the world!

It was Steely Dan's Gaucho, and I believe it was actor Tony Newly's house before she purchased the home. It had horned speakers out by the pool and the set up in the Den.

And I want to come to the party, too.

[Macfan4life]

It was Steely Dan's Gaucho, and I believe it was actor Tony Newly's house before she purchased the home. It had horned speakers out by the pool and the set up in the Den.

And I want to come to the party, too.
You are invited. Just bring your top hat and scarf ;)

[jbrownsjr]

You are invited. Just bring your top hat and scarf ;)

I'll bring a cup of sugar from Beach Boy's mother Audrey. Oh wait, that was her other house.

[sarafield]

In the end, didn’t Mick, Stevie and Chris all end up with holes in their noses of various size? You may only do a tiny spoon but it adds up.

[HomerMcvie]

In the end, didn’t Mick, Stevie and Chris all end up with holes in their noses of various size? You may only do a tiny spoon but it adds up.

I believe $tevie was the only one who was ever told, "stop this or you're going to die".

[Macfan4life]

I believe $tevie was the only one who was ever told, "stop this or you're going to die".
Not only that but it took over her life. She was a big star but did not care about the quality of the product she was putting out. Besides spending a million on coke (that was her quote from People 1998), she also wasted so much money renting recording studios that she never showed up in, paying people to wait all day when she would show up late at night, could not show up for recording a video, ditched her own tour rehearsals to party with Tom in Australia, etc. It controlled her life in a way that the only thing that mattered was getting high. Everything else including her career did not matter.
When she released that video package many years ago she commented on her videos and it was painful for her to watch because she saw herself high. She said something like "why could I not lay off the coke and tequila for a few days before shooting this video" IMHO the only video she looks high in is I Cant Wait but she knows the story behind each video. But the worst part of all this is during the 1980s when concert videos sold and her 1981 solo concert was a HBO smash and sold in stores, her Wild Heart show professionally shot was scrapped. She looked too high. Her RAL show she looked so bad she had to reshoot close ups. Most rock stars who had drug addictions did not let it affect their stage performances but Stevie could not. Didn't Tom Petty who eventually died of a drug overdose say that he was just waiting for the call that she was going to die on the road and it would not surprise him. In late 1985 when RAL was released, Stevie was hanging out with the Wilson sisters on Heart's tour in AZ and CA. One of the Wilson sisters wrote in a book that they too indulged in lots of coke in the mid 80s. Stevie took them to her AZ house and they partied. They were seasoned rockers and partiers but were in shock how much Stevie could partake.

[bombaysaffires]

Not only that but it took over her life. She was a big star but did not care about the quality of the product she was putting out. Besides spending a million on coke (that was her quote from People 1998), she also wasted so much money renting recording studios that she never showed up in, paying people to wait all day when she would show up late at night, could not show up for recording a video, ditched her own tour rehearsals to party with Tom in Australia, etc. It controlled her life in a way that the only thing that mattered was getting high. Everything else including her career did not matter.
When she released that video package many years ago she commented on her videos and it was painful for her to watch because she saw herself high. She said something like "why could I not lay off the coke and tequila for a few days before shooting this video" IMHO the only video she looks high in is I Cant Wait but she knows the story behind each video. But the worst part of all this is during the 1980s when concert videos sold and her 1981 solo concert was a HBO smash and sold in stores, her Wild Heart show professionally shot was scrapped. She looked too high. Her RAL show she looked so bad she had to reshoot close ups. Most rock stars who had drug addictions did not let it affect their stage performances but Stevie could not. Didn't Tom Petty who eventually died of a drug overdose say that he was just waiting for the call that she was going to die on the road and it would not surprise him. In late 1985 when RAL was released, Stevie was hanging out with the Wilson sisters on Heart's tour in AZ and CA. One of the Wilson sisters wrote in a book that they too indulged in lots of coke in the mid 80s. Stevie took them to her AZ house and they partied. They were seasoned rockers and partiers but were in shock how much Stevie could partake.

Benmont Tench said something very similar... he said with the Hearbreakers he saw a lot of coke, but when he worked/toured with Stevie he was totally gobsmacked at just how much more coke was around than he'd ever seen before.

What has always irritated the crap out of me has been how much she didn't take care of her talent-- her voice, her writing skill, her creativity. You are so right that she didn't make quality a priority at all.

[David]

Benmont Tench said something very similar... he said with the Hearbreakers he saw a lot of coke, but when he worked/toured with Stevie he was totally gobsmacked at just how much more coke was around than he'd ever seen before.I’ve always had the feeling — certainly with Fleetwood Mac and probably in her own solo career — that she just did not have enough to do. Other than the first year of her solo career and despite what she always said, I thought she was mostly idle. She was busiest on solo tours because she had to sing the entire show. But her solo albums didn’t require as much time from her as some people think. There’s a lot of down time for a vocalist in the studio. The time spent on instrumental tracks and mixing far outpaces the time spent on recording vocals. Whereas Ann and Nancy Wilson and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were more like the instrumentalists in Fleetwood Mac, needing to stay sober enough to play in the studio and onstage, Stevie could toot to her heart’s content and the album would be completed by the crew around her. Just a hypothesis of mine.

What has always irritated the crap out of me has been how much she didn't take care of her talent--her voice, her writing skill, her creativity. You are so right that she didn't make quality a priority at all.She got quite careless with her talent. Who knows why? May have been her personality, pinpointed long ago by Mick Fleetwood when he said her strength was to emote in the moment, rather than to pace and measure out and plan long term. Stevie’s a free spirit. If anything, once she finally started being more careful with her singing to conserve it, her shows got a little boring to me. I used to go to her concerts and desperately wish for even a few moments of dangerous abandon.

[aleuzzi]

I’ve always had the feeling — certainly with Fleetwood Mac and probably in her own solo career — that she just did not have enough to do. Other than the first year of her solo career and despite what she always said, I thought she was mostly idle. She was busiest on solo tours because she had to sing the entire show. But her solo albums didn’t require as much time from her as some people think. There’s a lot of down time for a vocalist in the studio. The time spent on instrumental tracks and mixing far outpaces the time spent on recording vocals. Whereas Ann and Nancy Wilson and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were more like the instrumentalists in Fleetwood Mac, needing to stay sober enough to play in the studio and onstage, Stevie could toot to her heart’s content and the album would be completed by the crew around her. Just a hypothesis of mine.

She got quite careless with her talent. Who knows why? May have been her personality, pinpointed long ago by Mick Fleetwood when he said her strength was to emote in the moment, rather than to pace and measure out and plan long term. Stevie’s a free spirit. If anything, once she finally started being more careful with her singing to conserve it, her shows got a little boring to me. I used to go to her concerts and desperately wish for even a few moments of dangerous abandon.


Interesting theory about how busy she may or may not have been while making her solo albums. There’s no question she was “mostly idle” during the Mac records, but I suspect she was very present and aware of the importance of the sound for her first two albums. After that, who knows?

You and bombaysaffires make apt comments about her carelessness with her instrument. She WAS really careless, brazenly so. But I agree with you—that was when her shows were, to use a choice descriptor, bewitching. After that, she had heroic moments (“Silver Springs” on The Dance, “At Last”) but there was a sense of balance, and of caution, which, ironically, undermined what made her so special…

[bombaysaffires]

agree, though I think she got more careful with her voice after she blew it out doing stupid sh&t like smoking cigarettes, smoking pot, singing when she should have let it rest (between performances), doing coke, staying up for days on end, drinking too much, etc.

If she'd treated it more carefully THEN, she wouldn't have had to be so overly careful with it NOW.

But you know she said in the past that she sort of expected to burn out and die young... she had (at the time) this sort of romantic vision of people like Hendrix and Janis et al.... Doesn't seem like she *really* expected to be doing this at 70+, even though she'd say so in interviews from time to time over the years.

As for quality, she seemed to really strive for it in the early days (possibly encouraged in that by LB's perfectionism), but once she got famous, and especially once she made it solo (and got mixed in with the likes of Irving et al) she became far, far more concerned with "numbers" ie sales figures, chart positions, ticket sales, etc. and as long as those were good she seemed to care less and less about the quality of the content. Why grow artistically when you can sell out shows doing more of the same old, and partying along the way??

[Macfan4life]

Benmont Tench said something very similar... he said with the Hearbreakers he saw a lot of coke, but when he worked/toured with Stevie he was totally gobsmacked at just how much more coke was around than he'd ever seen before.

What has always irritated the crap out of me has been how much she didn't take care of her talent-- her voice, her writing skill, her creativity. You are so right that she didn't make quality a priority at all.
I have a quote from Christine (1984) in my signature line. Many rock stars had drug problems but they still were able to maintain some sort of normalcy in their career. Stevie developed her own fairy tale world which only enablers were allowed in. This just makes things so much worse because no one says NO. For Jimmy to walk out after about a year of dedication says a lot. I am not a fan of RAL but over the years I have come around to how the record company tried to salvage something after almost of 2 years of insanity. Someone on youtube created the "Mirror Mirror" album on youtube. They put the songs/demos all in order what was supposed to be on the album. Unlike RAL she wrote most or all of the songs. However all you hear is Stevie yelling and sounding incoherent. The songs are not arranged much and if that album was released it would have flopped. Nothing would have been a commercial success. The songs may have been lyrically better than on RAL but nothing memorable. The song Mirror Mirror is actually the best song. But that is what you get when recording music is just an excuse to party your brains out. I can understand the panic in trying to bring some song that actually may get played on the radio. Though he would never admit it, I am sure Jimmy had enough of not taking the process serious, showing up late and just sounding horrible. To quote Stevie herself, why could she not lay off coke and tequila just a few days. If you remember besides the Talk To Me video being delayed, there was no promotion for the album. Stevie phoned in a few interviews but in her state she was kept away from MTV or interviews. Even with re-shot close ups I am surprised Red Rocks was released. You get to see Stevie not wanting to take the stage and running around and Dennis had to grab her arm and almost tell her, you have to go on stage now and stop running around acting crazy.

[David]

Will someone ask Chris why she used — for the first and last time — a Roland EP-10 on the Rosebud film? She won’t remember why and probably won’t have any idea what you’re talking about. That’s why I hesitate to ask her. But if someone would ask her for me, I would much appreciate it!

[bwboy]

I’ve always had the feeling — certainly with Fleetwood Mac and probably in her own solo career — that she just did not have enough to do. Other than the first year of her solo career and despite what she always said, I thought she was mostly idle. She was busiest on solo tours because she had to sing the entire show. But her solo albums didn’t require as much time from her as some people think. There’s a lot of down time for a vocalist in the studio. The time spent on instrumental tracks and mixing far outpaces the time spent on recording vocals. Whereas Ann and Nancy Wilson and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were more like the instrumentalists in Fleetwood Mac, needing to stay sober enough to play in the studio and onstage, Stevie could toot to her heart’s content and the album would be completed by the crew around her. Just a hypothesis of mine.

If you think Stevie was idle back then, despite releasing solo albums, doing solo tours, and recording FM albums and doing FM tours during that period, then Christine and Lindsey must look downright lazy to you during that same time period.

I don’t get the connection to Heart you mention, but I do remember my brother showing me a video many years ago of Ann and Nancy in a recording studio and some guy was yelling at them (I presume the producer) about how worthless they were and they were crying. It was disturbing to me, but my brother said they looked like they were high and that was probably why they were crying and why he was yelling. I didn’t like seeing anyone being yelled at that way, high or not; and it was hard for me to look at Heart the same way after seeing that. Now I see it as a moment in time, and not as their entire career trajectory. They clearly worked hard for their success, but they had a good deal of help as well.

[vivfox]

I do remember my brother showing me a video many years ago of Ann and Nancy in a recording studio and some guy was yelling at them (I presume the producer) about how worthless they were and they were crying. It was disturbing to me, but my brother said they looked like they were high and that was probably why they were crying and why he was yelling.

I would love to see that video. I have never heard of this situation. Like Stevie, Ann will mention one negative thing someone said to her in 1977 and she will talk about it now as if the wound still hurts. I do recall Ann saying they did not like working with Glyn Johns and that he called Nancy a 'hippie." Now I cannot imagine how being called a hippie would ruin anyone's day. Glyn Johns was the first producer for Street Angel and Stevie hated working with him.

[HomerMcvie]

I would love to see that video. I have never heard of this situation. Like Stevie, Ann will mention one negative thing someone said to her in 1977 and she will talk about it now as if the wound still hurts. I do recall Ann saying they did not like working with Glyn Johns and that he called Nancy a 'hippie." Now I cannot imagine how being called a hippie would ruin anyone's day. Glyn Johns was the first producer for Street Angel and Stevie hated working with him.

He produced the Eagle's first two albums, and then they let him go.

It's Glyn's way or the highway, I guess. "No drinking in the studio, no drugs in the studio!"

[UnwindedDreams]

I don’t get the connection to Heart you mention, but I do remember my brother showing me a video many years ago of Ann and Nancy in a recording studio and some guy was yelling at them (I presume the producer) about how worthless they were and they were crying. It was disturbing to me, but my brother said they looked like they were high and that was probably why they were crying and why he was yelling. I didn’t like seeing anyone being yelled at that way, high or not; and it was hard for me to look at Heart the same way after seeing that. Now I see it as a moment in time, and not as their entire career trajectory. They clearly worked hard for their success, but they had a good deal of help as well.
So if you don't get the Heart connection, do you think Ann and Nancy aren't instrumentalists and that Tom Petty is an instrumentalist?

[bwboy]

So if you don't get the Heart connection, do you think Ann and Nancy aren't instrumentalists and that Tom Petty is an instrumentalist?

Well, Stevie does play tambourine, so I guess she’s as much an instrumentalist as Tom or Ann or Nancy. Not LOL. I’ve never heard the word instrumentalist before, but I assume it means someone who plays a musical instrument. I have no idea how sober one needs to be in a recording studio, from my understanding FM was doing cocaine daily while recording Rumours, so I don’t know how much of an impact that sort of thing has, good or bad. I just thought it was funny that the previous poster thought Stevie just came in and sang for a bit on her solo albums and left, while everyone else slaved to make the album for her. I do not believe that was how her albums were recorded, that’s all.

[DownOnRodeo]

Will someone ask Chris why she used — for the first and last time — a Roland EP-10 on the Rosebud film? She won’t remember why and probably won’t have any idea what you’re talking about. That’s why I hesitate to ask her. But if someone would ask her for me, I would much appreciate it!

Alas, David--the Q&A has already closed and Christine's answers (to certain select questions) have been posted in an article.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jun/09/fleetwood-macs-christine-mcvie-cocaine-and-champagne-made-me-perform-better

What a tragedy that the enigma shall remain forever thus.
I foresee you whispering "Rosebud" in your final moments... :(

[bwboy]

Alas, David--the Q&A has already closed and Christine's answers (to certain select questions) have been posted in an article.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jun/09/fleetwood-macs-christine-mcvie-cocaine-and-champagne-made-me-perform-better

What a tragedy that the enigma shall remain forever thus.
I foresee you whispering "Rosebud" in your final moments... :(

Thank you so much for posting this. No real surprises, but it’s always nice hearing Christine’s thoughts on FM and her solo career.