He and Billy had been working on demos together, which is how Rick ended up on "Mystery Girl" (Roy had to have the guitarist on the demo Billy played him), and I think Mick met Rick during that time. Obviously, Peter Green and John Mayall would had to have come up. I vaguely recall Rick was contemplating doing a blues album and Mick was going to play on it.

Anyway, Billy and Rick were at the recording studio recording with Roy when they got the call.

Kind of why I think Frampton would have been the perfect fit.

There's a big difference between opening for Stevie Nicks and joining Fleetwood Mac, though.

Vito or Veto
 

Did a casual fajitas-based dinner interview with the other members ensue or did Christine only get a veto when another woman was joining?

I’m sure Christine and Stevie got a vote in whether to allow Billy and/or Rick to join. But as already noted, Billy was already known to most of them, so he was probably an automatic yes. I would bet that with only about six weeks to make a decision, the tour was probably an audition for both of them to see how they did; once they saw how well the tour was received by the public and how well they all got along together, it was easy to then make the decision to record with them.

In all seriousness, there was a dinner a day or so later with Mick, Billy, Rick, and Stevie, who insisted on going when she found out, so kind of.

Billy had played and/or recorded with all of them, even Lindsey. Per Mick, they were going to have him be their second guitarist on the Tango tour even if Lindsey had stayed. (I get the vibe that he was on the top of their shortlist, but hadn't been asked, yet.)

As for Rick, he was an in-demand session player/side man who'd been a Bluesbreaker, had worked with Bonnie Raitt, Roger McGuinn, and Bog Seeger and had been working with Billy, so there was a chemistry there.

Nah. They knew Billy's writing and ability to sing with the girls. No audition needed. Rick probably nailed it during the first rehearsals, so ditto.

I have no problem with Rick's guitar playing but always hated his sound during the opening of The Chain. IMHO it sounded like a bad cover band. I dont expect anyone to copy or duplicate Lindsey but it was lame, too conservative, and blusey for The Chain. I love the blues but The Chain is not a blues song. Once the song got going, it was ok. It sounded like......Like A Rock meets The Chain.
See, this is why I wanted Angus Young ;)

Ronnie Woods..
Plays lead or rhythm…plus other instruments.
Willingly shares the stage with other band members.
Probably knows the Brits in Fmac and has a Blues background.
Writes songs and can sing.
Likes being on stage and giving a performance..
Is a fun guy and strong team player.
But
But was an addict for years, years, years
And as Stevie would have had an affair with him.
Maybe not such a good idea.
Plus prising him away from The Stones would have been difficult.

Was he in Shotgun Express with Mick?
Not sure….maybe. Don’t know, but they sure would have crossed paths.

I could never imagine Ronnie in FMac but 1987 was a strange time for the Stones. Mick and Keith were firmly at war, they hadn’t toured in 5+ years with no future work planned. The Glimmer Twins were both focusing on solo albums. And fun fact, Ronnie wasn’t a full financial partner in the Stones until after Bill Wyman left in 1993. Soooo, I guess that all makes it possible. But I just can’t see it. Also, his singing is pretty terrible and certainly wouldn’t fit in to what FM we’re doing at that time. I actually think the circus spectacle of this makes this a what if id love to have had the ability to see happen!

He’s one of Mick’s best friends, IIRC.

Writes? Yes. Sings? Hard pass.

Rod Stewart was in Shotgun Express before he and Ronnie joined the Jeff Beck Group.

Mick played on Ronnie’s solo album, though.