Chart Article

[dougl]

Ranking the 9 Fleetwood Mac Songs that Were Billboard Hits
Fleetwood Mac toiled for a decade before they achieved massive success by adding Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham to the lineup. The duo provided the spark that helped the band explode in popularity. Twenty-five Fleetwood Mac songs landed on the Billboard singles chart, including nine in the top 10. Continuing without Christine McVie seems unlikely, according to Mick Fleetwood, so those nine tunes, including Fleetwood Mac’s only No. 1 hit, could be their only top-10 songs. Let’s look at how they stack up.

Note: We ranked Fleetwood Mac’s nine top-10 songs based on weeks atop the Billboard singles chart and total weeks on the chart.

9. ‘Go Your Own Way’

Lindsey Buckingham said The Rolling Stones’ song “Street Fighting Man” inspired the drum beat for this song. The lyrics about Buckingham and Nicks’ relationship were so savage that Nicks asked Buckingham to remove the line about “shacking up.” He refused.

“Go Your Own Way” became Rumours’ lead single. It debuted in the chart in early 1977 and peaked at No. 10 in mid-March. The song spent 15 weeks on the Billboard hot 100.

8. ‘You Make Loving Fun’

Like Buckingham and Nicks, McVie’s marriage to Mac bassist John McVie was in a bad spot when Fleetwood Mac worked on Rumours. Christine McVie wrote the exuberant “You Make Loving Fun” about her affair with the band’s lighting director.

McVie’s tune peaked at No. 9 during its 14 weeks on the chart to be one of the most successful Fleetwood Mac songs on the Billboard singles chart.

7. ‘Tusk’

Tusk followed Rumours in 1979. The album itself, which Buckingham considered more of a solo album, was a top-10 hit itself, and the namesake single lasted 15 weeks on Billboard’s singles chart, peaking at #8.

‘Sara’
Nicks fought a legal battle over “Sara,” which was one of her most personal songs. Whether it was about her friend’s relationship with Mick Fleetwood or an ode to a daughter she never had isn’t quite clear.

What’s indisputable is that “Sara” was one of the highest-charting Fleetwood Mac songs from the band’s peak era. The Tusk tune reached No. 7 in February 1980 and spent 14 weeks on the chart.



5. ‘Big Love’

If Buckingham believed Tusk was more like his first solo record, then Tango in the Night might have been the second. He produced the album at his house. Drugs were as rampant as ever among the other Fleetwood Mac members. Nicks barely contributed to the album, and Buckingham called out her singing on the album.

The troubled recording process didn’t impact the album’s success. Two of the highest-charting Fleetwood Mac songs came from Tango in the Night. “Big Love” reached No. 5 on Billboard’s singles chart.



4. ‘Hold Me’

Another of Christine McVie’s successful songs (co-written by Robbie Patton), “Hold Me” found itself buried on Side 2 of Mirage, but that didn’t impact its success as a single. Like the next song on our list, it reached No. 4 and spent 17 weeks on the charts.



3. ‘Little Lies’



Christine McVie strikes again. Her collaboration with Eddy Quintela, who became her second husband, is a jaunty, synth-driven tune that shines a spotlight on McVie’s strong vocal talents.

Its No. 4 peak chart position ranks it third among Fleetwood Mac’s hit songs, but the 21 weeks it spent on the chart are second among the band’s singles.



2. ‘Don’t Stop’

Rumours provided the top two Fleetwood Mac songs on our list. It’s another McVie song. It dealt with her feelings about the end of her marriage to John McVie. A complicated subject, to be sure, but she wrapped it up in saccharine melody and somehow put a positive spin on it with lyrics like, “Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow” and “It’ll be better than before.”

Fleetwood Mac’s producer didn’t like the song, but the band’s fans loved it. They kept it on the charts for 18 weeks and it peaked at No. 3 in September 1977.

1. ‘Dreams’



The only Fleetwood Mac song to reach No. 1 spent 23 weeks on the Billboard hot 100 in 1977. More than 40 years later, it found new life because of a viral TikTok video that used the song as the soundtrack.

“Dreams” isn’t a complicated tune. Its backbone consists of two chords with some additional guitar flourishes from Buckingham. Perhaps it’s too simple. Christine McVie thought the song was boring, but the song that Nicks wrote in just a few minutes became Fleetwood Mac’s biggest hit.

Four Fleetwood Mac albums found the No. 1 spot

Before we look at Fleetwood Mac’s hit songs, it’s worth noting that they saw four albums reach the top spot on Billboard’s album charts.

Their 1975 self-titled record, their first after adding Nicks and Buckingham, hit No. 1 in September 1976 and spent 168 weeks on the charts. The Dance debuted at No. 1 in 1997 and held the top spot for a week.

Mirage held No. 1 for five weeks in 1982, but none of those Fleetwood Mac albums stack up to the smash hit Rumours. The band’s defining album sold millions of copies, but its performance on the Billboard album chart adds to its impressive legacy. Only six other albums ever spent more consecutive weeks at No. 1, per Billboard, and the album spawned four of Fleetwood Mac’s most successful songs.

[aleuzzi]

And Christine wrote/sang four of these nine songs. God, I miss our hook queen.

[jbrownsjr]

And Christine wrote/sang four of these nine songs. God, I miss our hook queen.

She had 4 hits after Rumors.

[aleuzzi]

She had 4 hits after Rumors.

Yes—this list is only the ten tunes for Mac.

SYLM, OVM, TAB, LIS, Everywhere, ALASYF were all top 20 or 25 hits.

[aleuzzi]

And then think of the songs that DESERVED to be hits—Love Shines, for one. Temporary One another. And Save Me and Friend deserved much better.

[jbrownsjr]

And then think of the songs that DESERVED to be hits—Love Shines, for one. Temporary One another. And Save Me and Friend deserved much better.

Just Crazy Love would have been a great hit.

[Villavic]

5. ‘Big Love’

If Buckingham believed Tusk was more like his first solo record, then Tango in the Night might have been the second. He produced the album at his house. Drugs were as rampant as ever among the other Fleetwood Mac members. .

I don't think drugs were rampant as ever among them during Tango. Ok Stevie was on klonopin and probably Mick was still addict to coke (though in his book he implied that he wasn't anymore). But John and Chris? I don't think so. Probably John still had a drinking problem, but that doesn't mean drugs were there as in Rumours days.
Tango took 18 months, working under completely different conditions from what they were used to, working regular hours, far more organised, etc.. or so I read.

[aleuzzi]

Just Crazy Love would have been a great hit.

It was about seven years ahead of its time. The arrangement on MYSTERY sounds like early-80s pop, like Rick Springfield’s Jessie’ Girl.

She knew what she was doing. And Weston’s guitar is on point.

[aleuzzi]

I don't think drugs were rampant as ever among them during Tango. Ok Stevie was on klonopin and probably Mick was still addict to coke (though in his book he implied that he wasn't anymore). But John and Chris? I don't think so. Probably John still had a drinking problem, but that doesn't mean drugs were there as in Rumours days.
Tango took 18 months, working under completely different conditions from what they were used to, working regular hours, far more organised, etc.. or so I read.

I’m often baffled when Lindsey complains about the other band members being in bad shape during those sessions. He never—I mean NEVER—acknowledges that Christine was in very fine form as a writer/singer/player at that time. It’s so obnoxious: he’d rather paint himself as the primary (if not sole) engineer behind the album’s success then admit that Christine was his big collaborator on that project. What they achieved together was substantial, but he never recognizes her—even when the results are readily obvious to everyone else.

[HomerMcvie]

I’m often baffled when Lindsey complains about the other band members being in bad shape during those sessions. He never—I mean NEVER—acknowledges that Christine was in very fine form as a writer/singer/player at that time. It’s so obnoxious: he’d rather paint himself as the primary (if not sole) engineer behind the album’s success then admit that Christine was his big collaborator on that project. What they achieved together was substantial, but he never recognizes her—even when the results are readily obvious to everyone else.

He's always been about himself. I'm sure that Christine was his favorite person in FM, but a zebra can't change it's stripes.

[vermicious knid]

Little Lies should have been the second number one song for them. The fact that it and Dreams were the only two songs to spend 20+ weeks on the chart just reinforces the idea. I think it might have happened if it had been the first single.

It's worth mentioning that Rhiannon was also a top ten hit based on the Cashbox (#9) and Record World (#10) rankings. And Don't Stop was number one for a single week like Dreams per Cashbox. It seems like Billboard has become the ultimate authority on rankings simply because it stills exists unlike the other two publications.

[Penguin Emeritus]

I don't think drugs were rampant as ever among them during Tango. Ok Stevie was on klonopin and probably Mick was still addict to coke (though in his book he implied that he wasn't anymore). But John and Chris? I don't think so. Probably John still had a drinking problem, but that doesn't mean drugs were there as in Rumours days.
Tango took 18 months, working under completely different conditions from what they were used to, working regular hours, far more organised, etc.. or so I read.

Yes John's drinking was pretty awful during Tango. I've also heard Chris drank far more in those days than what's been reported lol. Have heard cocaine was still present during Tango but not as much as in earlier years. So I believe Lindsey was the straightest one of the 5 at that time. He just loved his weed !

--Lis

[jbrownsjr]

I’m often baffled when Lindsey complains about the other band members being in bad shape during those sessions. He never—I mean NEVER—acknowledges that Christine was in very fine form as a writer/singer/player at that time. It’s so obnoxious: he’d rather paint himself as the primary (if not sole) engineer behind the album’s success then admit that Christine was his big collaborator on that project. What they achieved together was substantial, but he never recognizes her—even when the results are readily obvious to everyone else.

And the comments about him having to always serve their songs. Um, you're the producer, that's your job. All those collaborations with BuckVie on Tango were because they both had stuff laying around. They put them together to make great tunes. She rarely needed the credit, and quite often didn't get it from the others.

[jbrownsjr]

Yes John's drinking was pretty awful during Tango. I've also heard Chris drank far more in those days than what's been reported lol. Have heard cocaine was still present during Tango but not as much as in earlier years. So I believe Lindsey was the straightest one of the 5 at that time. He just loved his weed !

--Lis

They also all acted like they didn't party during THE DANCE. Boy, that was a big lie.

[Macfan4life]

Little Lies should have been the second number one song for them. The fact that it and Dreams were the only two songs to spend 20+ weeks on the chart just reinforces the idea. I think it might have happened if it had been the first single.

It's worth mentioning that Rhiannon was also a top ten hit based on the Cashbox (#9) and Record World (#10) rankings. And Don't Stop was number one for a single week like Dreams per Cashbox. It seems like Billboard has become the ultimate authority on rankings simply because it stills exists unlike the other two publications.
I agree with you that Little Lies would have been a #1 song if it was the lead single off Tango. Driving home from the mall listening to the newly released Tango, it screamed BIG HIT. It also featured all 3 singers. It also was placed first song side 2 which back in those days was reserved for the lead single on albums. I debate this with Steve all the time on this board. Seven Wonders killed the Tango momentum but Little Lies brought some of it back.
I think Hold Me would have or should have been their second #1. Something very odd and very unique happened to all the Mirage singles. They all got stuck on the charts and stayed at their peak position for weeks. Hold Me got stranded at #4 for 7 weeks. Gypsy got stuck at #12 for 3 weeks. Love In Store got stuck at #22 for 3 weeks. Hold Me was in the top 10 for 10 weeks. No other Mac single stayed in the top 10 that long. Dreams sped up to #1 and then fell like a rock. I think the next week at #1 it fell to #7 and was only in the top 10 for a few weeks.
Hold Me also finished the year (1982) as a bigger hit than Dreams did in 1977. Just think how long 10 weeks is. Olivia Newton John had the biggest hit of the 1980s where Physical stayed #1 for 9 weeks. Hold Me was in the top 10 for that long spending 7 of those weeks at #4.
Tusk is the oddest album where Chris always had the catchy pop tunes and the most conventional song off Tusk could not break above #20. Yet odd songs like Tusk and Sara made the top 10. What IF Think About Me was the lead single off Tusk? I think it would have been a smash.

[jbrownsjr]

I agree with you that Little Lies would have been a #1 song if it was the lead single off Tango. Driving home from the mall listening to the newly released Tango, it screamed BIG HIT. It also featured all 3 singers. It also was placed first song side 2 which back in those days was reserved for the lead single on albums. I debate this with Steve all the time on this board. Seven Wonders killed the Tango momentum but Little Lies brought some of it back.
I think Hold Me would have or should have been their second #1. Something very odd and very unique happened to all the Mirage singles. They all got stuck on the charts and stayed at their peak position for weeks. Hold Me got stranded at #4 for 7 weeks. Gypsy got stuck at #12 for 3 weeks. Love In Store got stuck at #22 for 3 weeks. Hold Me was in the top 10 for 10 weeks. No other Mac single stayed in the top 10 that long. Dreams sped up to #1 and then fell like a rock. I think the next week at #1 it fell to #7 and was only in the top 10 for a few weeks.
Hold Me also finished the year (1982) as a bigger hit than Dreams did in 1977. Just think how long 10 weeks is. Olivia Newton John had the biggest hit of the 1980s where Physical stayed #1 for 9 weeks. Hold Me was in the top 10 for nearly that long spending 7 of those weeks at #4.
Tusk is the oddest album where Chris always had the catchy pop tunes and the most conventional song off Tusk could not break above #20. Yet odd songs like Tusk and Sara made the top 10. What IF Think About Me was the lead single off Tusk? I think it would have been a smash.


I remember you couldn't get away from Hold Me. It was played on the hour for weeks.

I think Everywhere might have been a #1 too had it been first.

[Macfan4life]

I remember you couldn't get away from Hold Me. It was played on the hour for weeks.

I think Everywhere might have been a #1 too had it been first.
Everywhere was huge in Europe. It hit #1 in Belgium and some other country. It also was top 5 in several other European countries.

[jbrownsjr]

Everywhere was huge in Europe. It hit #1 in Belgium and some other country. It also was top 5 in several other European countries.

I never thought about it, but Seven Wonders may have put a damper in the momentum of Tango.

Imagine

Little Lies
Everywhere
Seven Wonders
Big Love

In that order.

[Macfan4life]

Another oddity is that Dreams only went to #11 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Today Dreams is a staple of very adult contemporary radio station and they play it daily.

[Macfan4life]

I never thought about it, but Seven Wonders may have put a damper in the momentum of Tango.

Imagine

Little Lies
Everywhere
Seven Wonders
Big Love

In that order.
"May have"?

:lol:

It nearly killed the album. Tango fell like a rock on the album charts. I wish the record company had guts and released Isn't It Midnight as the lead single. The world was waiting 5 years for another Mac song. I think it would have been played to death especially with a cool video. They had all the bubble gum stuff in the wings. So go forth with the best song first.

[jbrownsjr]

"May have"?

:lol:

It nearly killed the album. Tango fell like a rock on the album charts. I wish the record company had guts and released Isn't It Midnight as the lead single. The world was waiting 5 years for another Mac song. I think it would have been played to death especially with a cool video. They had all the bubble gum stuff in the wings. So go forth with the best song first.

Isn't It Midnight
LIttle Lies
Everywhere
Big Love
Seven Wonders

[Macfan4life]

Isn't It Midnight
LIttle Lies
Everywhere
Big Love
Seven Wonders
Bingo!

Seven Wonders would have hit #74 on the charts :lol:

[jbrownsjr]

Bingo!

Seven Wonders would have hit #74 on the charts :lol:

Way down by Emmiine!

[jbrownsjr]

Bingo!

Seven Wonders would have hit #74 on the charts :lol:

Imagine:

Family Man
Caroline
Welcome To The Room Sara
When I See You Again

[Macfan4life]

Imagine:

Family Man
Caroline
Welcome To The Room Sara
When I See You Again
For Scarlett

[jbrownsjr]

For Scarlett

This is a dream, right?

[aleuzzi]

I never thought about it, but Seven Wonders may have put a damper in the momentum of Tango.

Imagine

Little Lies
Everywhere
Seven Wonders
Big Love

In that order.

Warners (and possibly the band) appears to have wanted to duplicate the release pattern of RUMOURS, with Lindsey then Stevie getting there first, followed up by two Christine singles. The resemblance stops there. Big Love—as good as it is—is no GYOW, and if LB released it on his own it would probably reached 25-30 on the charts. Seven Wonders sounds like Mac. But the second single? Little Lies and Everywhere made Tango explode in the US and UK respectively.

Like MacFan4Life I always thought “Isn’t it Midnight” was a natural hit and should have been promoted better. Had Lindsey stayed and the band done a video for it, it probably would have done much better.

[Wdm6789]

Yes John's drinking was pretty awful during Tango. I've also heard Chris drank far more in those days than what's been reported lol. Have heard cocaine was still present during Tango but not as much as in earlier years. So I believe Lindsey was the straightest one of the 5 at that time. He just loved his weed !

--Lis

We know Mick was still doing coke well into the 90s. Stevie was out of rehab for cocaine in 1986. Christine said in an interview with, I think The Guardian, in 2013 that she stopped doing cocaine in 1984 during the recording of her solo album. Lindsey and John, I haven’t found any info, but we do know that Lindsey had a trailer set up in his yard during the recording of Tango so the other band members could go indulge in their vices. I can’t imagine this was only for Mick, so I would assume John and Christine may have partook in the cocaine at some point during Tango. I get the impression that Christine was just doing it for fun or like for old time sake to make a little joke out of it. John was probably doing it more with Mick. John was also a big drinker so he was probably still drinking a lot back then. Christine was still drinking a lot well into her post 1998 retirement because she said in her BBC documentary that she was drinking and fell and injured her hip or back and got hooked on painkillers for a while. So I’m sure she was still drinking during Tango too. She also said in an interview at one point during her 2014 come back that everyone in the band had quit drinking and this is the first time she’ll be performing without a drink.

[aleuzzi]

Yes John's drinking was pretty awful during Tango. I've also heard Chris drank far more in those days than what's been reported lol. Have heard cocaine was still present during Tango but not as much as in earlier years. So I believe Lindsey was the straightest one of the 5 at that time. He just loved his weed !

--Lis

I read in an interview somewhere that Christine was done with cocaine by 1985. The drinking continued…

[jbrownsjr]

I read in an interview somewhere that Christine was done with cocaine by 1985. The drinking continued…

You could tell after Mirage her skin and face appeared so much healthier. By the time Tango rolled around she looked fantastic.

[aleuzzi]

You could tell after Mirage her skin and face appeared so much healthier. By the time Tango rolled around she looked fantastic.

She also sang a lot better live in 84 and 87-90 than she did in 82.

[jbrownsjr]

She also sang a lot better live in 84 and 87-90 than she did in 82.

Oh wow, you're right. I do hear a cleaner voice. She sang so well at the 1984 show I attended. She was flawless.

[Penguin Emeritus]

We know Mick was still doing coke well into the 90s. Stevie was out of rehab for cocaine in 1986. Christine said in an interview with, I think The Guardian, in 2013 that she stopped doing cocaine in 1984 during the recording of her solo album. Lindsey and John, I havenÂ’t found any info, but we do know that Lindsey had a trailer set up in his yard during the recording of Tango so the other band members could go indulge in their vices. I canÂ’t imagine this was only for Mick, so I would assume John and Christine may have partook in the cocaine at some point during Tango. I get the impression that Christine was just doing it for fun or like for old time sake to make a little joke out of it. John was probably doing it more with Mick. John was also a big drinker so he was probably still drinking a lot back then. Christine was still drinking a lot well into her post 1998 retirement because she said in her BBC documentary that she was drinking and fell and injured her hip or back and got hooked on painkillers for a while. So IÂ’m sure she was still drinking during Tango too. She also said in an interview at one point during her 2014 come back that everyone in the band had quit drinking and this is the first time sheÂ’ll be performing without a drink.

Mmm... maybe she did it for a couple shows lol. I think they were trying to present an image where they had all put the naughty stuff behind them. and i think they really wanted to! But FWIW i heard on 2014 tour Stevie, Mick and LB were all quite straight, but J and C...occasionally struggled.

As anyone who knows me is aware, I adore John and Chris...but I do think sometimes they were both full of **** with regard to what they were saying publicly as opposed to what was really happening. Which i guess isn't really surprising. Over the years they would say in various interviews that they were all healthy and no more substances etc blah blah... but i think a lot of that was untrue, or maybe true if only for a brief while.

It's pretty common knowledge that John was/is 'an alcoholic.' He was constantly trying to get it under control but never quite succeeded... and i don't think he was the only one in that boat-- I'm not so sure Chris was not an alcoholic as well. Esp out on the road, where there was loneliness, and pressure to be good, and a desire to feel confident...even though they had the best of intentions...i think it was easy to slip back into bad habits.

--Lis

[Villavic]

I saw them in NJ, 2014. I chose one of the initial dates to see them in good shape and not tired (in 2009 I saw them in Dallas, the 27th show of the Unleashed tour and Stevie looked a bit tired).

I don't think any of them have been under the influence of any substance or alcohol. That is just my perception.

Also John looked noticeably skinny, I think he had just recovered from cancer, so he sure was taking great care of himself.

[bombaysaffires]

Mmm... maybe she did it for a couple shows lol. I think they were trying to present an image where they had all put the naughty stuff behind them. and i think they really wanted to! But FWIW i heard on 2014 tour Stevie, Mick and LB were all quite straight, but J and C...occasionally struggled.

As anyone who knows me is aware, I adore John and Chris...but I do think sometimes they were both full of **** with regard to what they were saying publicly as opposed to what was really happening. Which i guess isn't really surprising. Over the years they would say in various interviews that they were all healthy and no more substances etc blah blah... but i think a lot of that was untrue, or maybe true if only for a brief while.

It's pretty common knowledge that John was/is 'an alcoholic.' He was constantly trying to get it under control but never quite succeeded... and i don't think he was the only one in that boat-- I'm not so sure Chris was not an alcoholic as well. Esp out on the road, where there was loneliness, and pressure to be good, and a desire to feel confident...even though they had the best of intentions...i think it was easy to slip back into bad habits.

--Lis


I think this bit about Chris is what she alluded to when talking about her time at her house in Kent, especially after a few years and all the busyness of renovating etc was done. She always couched it in terms like "I got in a bit of trouble" etc... every so often she'd give a little more detail, like when she told how she'd fallen down some stairs in the house and injured herself because she'd been drinking whilst taking pain meds, which she called a "no-no". She was a bit more honest about that stuff in British interviews on radio and tv than in the US. It feels like maybe she felt her UK interviews wouldn't get as noticed or nitpicked by the US contingent ie Stevie and her handlers. (Though she found out with the 'we are done' comment that they were still listening, so she had to famously walk that back). And her seeking out a therapist can't have just been the fear of flying, because she'd been retired for multiple years and a lot of other stuff had happened, including the end of her marriage etc. She made it clear she eventually got bored out in the country.... and strongly hinted she was drinking far too much.

I think they have all lied a bit about their sobriety, in that I think they've been selective about what that means, and what substances it includes. They all seemed to have kicked coke finally (though I've never actually heard stories of Mick going to rehab, and he was clearly as hooked as Stevie if not even worse) but they seem to think that kicking coke means 'going clean'. Alcohol seems to get a pass for most (I find it curious Stevie's team after her first rehab were afraid she'd turn to alcohol - not a bad assumption as addicts often switch from one addiction to another -- and that that was why they had her see a therapist. Yet she herself was so sure her drinking wasn't a problem). And none of them thinks smoking pot is taking drugs... Stevie was clearly smoking in the DR doc and has mentioned it helps her be creative in some interviews in recent years. LB must still smoke but presumably not as much as before.... I'd bet money John and Mick still smoke it... not sure if it was Chris's thing. Mick I'm betting kept on drinking as well... when Bekka mentioned him puking in buckets I immediately thought of the famous "Steve" video where Mick got sick halfway thru a show and his drum tech Steve came out and played GYOW so they could wrap up the set. They said he was backstage throwing up....:eek:

I never take anything any of them say at face value....PR and all that..

[Penguin Emeritus]

I think this bit about Chris is what she alluded to when talking about her time at her house in Kent, especially after a few years and all the busyness of renovating etc was done. She always couched it in terms like "I got in a bit of trouble" etc... every so often she'd give a little more detail, like when she told how she'd fallen down some stairs in the house and injured herself because she'd been drinking whilst taking pain meds, which she called a "no-no". She was a bit more honest about that stuff in British interviews on radio and tv than in the US. It feels like maybe she felt her UK interviews wouldn't get as noticed or nitpicked by the US contingent ie Stevie and her handlers. (Though she found out with the 'we are done' comment that they were still listening, so she had to famously walk that back). And her seeking out a therapist can't have just been the fear of flying, because she'd been retired for multiple years and a lot of other stuff had happened, including the end of her marriage etc. She made it clear she eventually got bored out in the country.... and strongly hinted she was drinking far too much.

I think they have all lied a bit about their sobriety, in that I think they've been selective about what that means, and what substances it includes. They all seemed to have kicked coke finally (though I've never actually heard stories of Mick going to rehab, and he was clearly as hooked as Stevie if not even worse) but they seem to think that kicking coke means 'going clean'. Alcohol seems to get a pass for most (I find it curious Stevie's team after her first rehab were afraid she'd turn to alcohol - not a bad assumption as addicts often switch from one addiction to another -- and that that was why they had her see a therapist. Yet she herself was so sure her drinking wasn't a problem). And none of them thinks smoking pot is taking drugs... she was clearly smoking in the DR doc and has mentioned it helps her be creative in some interviews in recent years. LB must still smoke but presumably not as much as before.... I'd bet money John and Mick still smoke it... not sure if it was Chris's thing. Mick I'm betting kept on drinking as well... when Bekka mentioned him puking in buckets I immediately thought of the famous "Steve" video where Mick got sick halfway thru a show and his drum tech Steve came out and played GYOW so they could wrap up the set. They said he was backstage throwing up....:eek:

I never take anything any of them say at face value....PR and all that..

Yep, I agree w/ all of the above. I do think Chris was more honest in the UK interviews. esp as she got older, it seemed she would just say whatever came out of her mouth lol.

I've heard they all used pot occasionally on later tours. i don't think they really saw it as a drug.

i also think after sooo many years of using alcohol on the road, that the British members especially had a much harder time *not* continuing to use it, and maybe they fed off each other in that regard. If mick is sitting there having a drink, you don't think john and chris wouldn't wanna have a glass of something in their hands, too? lol i think that's a given.


and i agree with how you said they were 'selective' in what being sober meant and what substances were included. maybe they weren't doing long lines of coke every day and night....but that didn't mean they weren't drinking a little something before and after shows... and maybe a little toot now and then. it's like everything was relative to what they'd done before, which was off the charts insane.

--Lis