^^^^^^^^
100% agree! It's like beating a dead horse, over and over and over.....

Same here with when I saw her at South By Southwest promoting the In Your Dreams and Sound City projects. She seemed genuinely happy and utterly relaxed- two emotions she never seems to exhibit concurrently within the confines of Fleetwood Mac. I think such intimate venues and projects do make Stevie happy as a reprieve from the politics and emotional stress FM carries. However, would she be totally fine with permanently walking away from all of the glamor that goes along with Fleetwood Mac? I think she'd initially breathe a sigh of relief, but get restless after a few years. Like she says, she's a Gemini- she's gotta have both sides of every coin to be content.

So wrapping all of this around to the initial question at hand- will Stevie record this final Mac album? Of course! She wouldn't miss it for the world. Will it be an immediate thing? I wouldn't count on it. Stevie will most likely insist on a break from the band when this tour finally wraps. I wouldn't want to speculate on a date an album would emerge, but I wouldn't expect it before later in 2016. She will want some time off after 3 consecutive years touring with FM. Then she'll likely want to do some sort of promotion for 24k Gold- maybe some small theater shows in hand picked cities? Next she'll want to take some time to get the prose & poetry into song form that she most certainly wrote during the past few years with FM. Then she'll want to put those songs into demo form so she can have something to bring into FM.

So my point with all of this being- maybe she really is putting the brakes on committing herself to the FM album for legit reasons- she realizes it will probably be the last FM studio album, and wants to bring fresh, relevant material to the table. And to accomplish that, she doesn't want to commit to what she feels are arbitrary time tables.

I agree.She will be happier working on her solo career.

I know everyone has a right to comment what she should do but its getting old,stale and sour and freaking tiring when these threads keep popping up about this topic.

I LOL when I see these posts about the band should fire her.
She probably would be pissed like anybody that gets fired from a job but she can march on with her solo works .

If Chris have not return.This current tour more likely wont be happening.

I can understand what the pressure is.Its like going back to the warehouse job I had and dealing with the idiots I've dealt with for the past 10 plus years.

Looking back, my post came off really aggressive. So I'll mention this; I love Stevie and Lindsey both. I'm 27, my mother introduced me to the Mac when The Dance aired on MTV. I immediately went out and bought every album of the Mac, Lindsey, Christine and Stevie I could find. I took a day off from school just to be first in line when Trouble In Shangri-La came out, my first ever concert was when they played Raleigh in 2004 for the SYW tour and I was so awestruck I saw Stevie again in Charlotte in 2005. This high school bullsh*t behavior has got to stop. I just wish they'd all make one more album, a final tour and just call it a damn day so they can end things gracefully and not go out embarrassingly kicking and screaming like a bunch of cranky, unpleasant elderly folk.

You would've been what, 9 or 10? That's a bit young to go on a spending spree like that. Where'd you get all that money? ;)

I have corns older than that! ;)

My father being a classic rock guy was practically begging me to stop listening to country music so he helped me make the transition. lol

I started listening to country music when country music wasn't cool in the 1970's when country music was country music.LOL Thanks to Barbara Mandrell for using her song title.

As the recent years went by I got tired and fed up of these so called country artists popping up making country music sound like rock and roll so I end up going back and enjoying classic rock and classic country music along with the other great oldies hits from the past.

When they fire the hard rock elect guitar players and rehire the banjo,dobro,Fiddle,Washboard,ETC ,Steel guitar players better lyrics maybe I'll come back.

The industry had to do something to lure in the younger demos in to listen.

Make the move .It will be worth it.

90s country, the trapping of many our age. Lol. Fleetwood Mac helped me transition from country also. And I'm your age. That's really funny to me. I wanted to be Faith Hill when I was a kid. Then somewhere around 11, 12 I wanted to be Stevie, or some sort of Sarah McLachlan/ Stevie Nicks hybrid. (Though ugh, Sarah's last two albums really lost me.... That's the artist I am angry at. I've loved IYD and 24KG so...). I remember saving up whatever money I got as a teen, pre teen, to go to the cd shop. I had an insane collection but cds scratch or get lost so easily I don't even know what happened to them all, I rebuy cheap used cds at record shops now.


As for the topic at hand... I don't think it even matters what I think. Not like we really have any control over this band or what the members do or don't. I'm still bummed I never went to a SYW show, I'm so attached to that album (along with The Dance and TISL, probably because of my age, I've seen research that notes the strong effect music we liked in our teens has on us the rest of our lives, I think it's true.) I only went to my first Mac show in 2013. And yeah, as a diehard, I'm getting sick of the same old songs (but three cheers for Sisters of the Moon!) and the drama. I was mad for awhile since I'm pretty sure I'm not mistaken, didn't they originally insist album first, then tour? Then suddenly went and announced this tour months and months in advance.... I want the album. And as I've sid in a couple of other posts around here, while I'm young, I have extremely poor health, frankly I'm just as worried if not more so that I will die before the dang album gets released. I know some rightfully worry something could happen to any of the band members and Johns cancer sure brought that home, but shoot, I don't have rock star money to seek treatment nor am I anywhere near healthy enough to go on a world tour so I just want this darn album before I pass. But frankly I also desperately want a solo Stevie show, and heck the smaller the venue the better... I'm not young enough for Make a Wish or similar but my life goal is to meet Stevie. And eh, the drama of the band bothers me less in many ways than the drama of the fans. Lol. But hey there's really no one like Fleetwood Mac and there's sure no other group of fans like Mac fans, and I think that's largely a good thing. Who else has three lead singers in their main lineup? Who else has various and in ways vastly different "generations” (for lack of a better word, eras maybe?) of the same band... Makes for interesting dynamics in the hardcore fan world. Me personally, I'm a completionist. I have to have everything but Stevie is my favorite. I relate to Stevie in ways both good and bad, maybe I even like the fact that I share not so good qualities with Stevie. Artsy types arent always nice people anyway. Lindsey isn't without flaws for that matter... ;) always least like Christine because she just i don't know, seems more reserved, her music is more lovey dovey happy. Not the guts and feelings and emotions Lindsey and Stevie bring to the table. But I think I like that she's back, I love the way their voices blend. I love seeing Chris and Stevie together. Certainly takes us at least partially away from all the shipper drama.

But dear G-d, I would really like to hear some new songs, please! And let's face it, they won't put out an album without Stevie, like her or not, she's a draw for the casual fan for sure, probably the biggest draw. You don't have to personally feel that way and heck, I'd still buy the album but might not enjoy it as much. And that's just it, it seems clear the band is smart and mine seems to be a big bottom line. If they put out another album, all five of them, they can easily expect it to be a reasonable hit, much like this tour. But if Stevie isn't on it, they won't make near much, it won't be a hit and you know, you must know, if Stevie isn't on the album, every write up and review is going to focus on that. The album will be known as "well, it could've been better if the whole band was on it" and the "where is Stevie?" Album. If, and I highly highly doubt it, Stevie all out refused, frankly I don't think we'd see a new album at all. If we were lucky maybe an anniversary collection comes out that includes the songs Lindsey and Christine are supposedly working on because sure, that would sell. But a full Stevie-less album, yeah sorry won't happen. As music fans we all get our favorites, we may not always like every member of the band, or the new direction a band or singer takes (like what I said above about Sarah McLachlan, she used to share the top spot on my list of favorites with FM, she sure fell for me and I've never seen a favorite artist let me down so bad..l) but while we may wish for this or that in the end we don't have any control and even our absolute favorite band can do things that really piss us off. I wouldn't be totally surprised if the album never happened or takes way, way longer since they've already repeatedly changed when they claim said album will be made. And if Christine hadn't returned, I'm not sure we'd ever see any new Mac at all... The one thing that would absolutely surprise me honestly would be them releasing the album without Stevie, just don't see that happening...

From an interview with Stevie 2007 in Songwriter magazine http://fleetwoodmac-uk.com/wp/vision...ng-songwriter/


After that you returned to Fleetwood Mac yet again. How do you look back on the making of Say You Will [2003]?

On Feb. 2, 2002, I went straight from the Trouble in Shangri-La tour into recording with them. It was nightmare doing that record. It really was Lindsey’s vision, and it wasn’t very much about the other three of us. And of course it was also the first record we had ever attempted to do without Christine [McVie, who left the band in the late 1990s]. Right there, the whole thing was completely insane. She is the magic mediator in that band and always was. She’s the one who made light of everything and made everybody laugh and told us all that were full of ****. She was the person who made it all work. So when she wasn’t there, that sunk the boat. I don’t think that my friend Chris ever realized how important she was. Without her, it’s a boy’s club. The lack of Christine is a big, hollow hole in my heart.

Would you be willing to attempt another record without her?

Absolutely not. Not in this lifetime. Why? We already tried, and it did not work. My thing is, somebody convince Christine to come back and do this one more time. I don’t think she’s going to change her mind, but stranger things have happened.

Which just circles us back to the question, so wtf is holding her back now??:distress:

IMO, she's a lot older now, and a lot more diva-like. Her agenda is most important to her now, and if that f*cks up FM's, she doesn't care. I think SHE thinks that she's the star of FM(and maybe she is), and she wants to make them kiss her ass now.

Wow. I don't recall this. Stevie articulately shed light into the tension surrounding the Say You Will saga. Maybe Stevie needs to remember her quote "Come back and do this one more time." Christine is back. Now Stevie needs to take her ego and take it down, climb a mountain and turn around and come back one more time, because there may truly be no second time around for us. She can never look back.

Lmao
 

I have loved reading through this whole thread. There are people on here who obviously prefer the pre-Rumours line up of FM. That is all well and good. However, that line up is gone. Why do we have to listen to this continuous drivel about what would have been if Stevie and Lindsey wouldn't have joined or if Stevie would just leave. Go post in your own section of The Ledge. It probably isn't going to happen whether you like it or not. If it did happen, I am sure the 4 or 5 of you would be totally thrilled seeing them in a 2000 seat theatre which is also all well and good.

If Stevie did just turn back to her solo career, she could still outsell Fleetwood Mac. It isn't even a contest...my whole point is to give credit where credit is due. Her mystical songwriting paired with her very beautiful and unique voice gave wings to Fleetwood Mac. I am not disparaging any other band member by saying this. Add in her sense of style and her stage presence and it was the winning combination that is needed for a successful, revenue-generating band.

My whole problem with this thread is that one of the 4 or 5 people are always dogging Stevie. If you don't like her, you probably don't really like Fleetwood Mac in this line up. Go post in the section that applies to your tastes!!

That's hardly a fact. Fleetwood Mac would be less successful without Stevie, certainly, but I hardly think that they would be less successful than she is as a solo act.

Michele

I bet she wouldn't...
...though if most of her audiences were there to see Rod Stewart then it might be close.

Yeah, In Your Dreams has sold about 200,000 copies in the US and I don't know what 24k Gold Has sold but its first week sales were about 60% of In Your Dreams. Could Fleetwood Mac sans Stevie sell 200,000? I think so. Especially if they had a catchy Christine song that was well promoted and got them some exposure in a commercial, TV show or awards show performace.

Straw man. Nobody has ever suggested that the earlier versions would/could/should ever get back together.

It's a counterpoint to the "Fleetwood Mac was going nowhere until Stevie and Lindsey joined." Fleetwood Mac had a track record, and if you consider where they were at that point in time, on Dec. 31, 1974, the environment was prime for them to take the band to the next level.

Last time I checked, Mick, John, and Christine were also in the "Rumours" band. When Chiffon-heads start rambling on about some idiotic nonsense like "Fleetwood Mac was going nowhere prior to Stevie gracing them with her presence," we can offer a much different, more informed perspective.

With Lindsey and Christine still in the band? Not hardly. None of them will set the world on fire, given the changing nature of the industry, but the Fleetwood Mac brand is much bigger than Stevie.

Like how you ignore the fact Christine had nine of Fleetwood Mac's 17 top 40 singles.

It was a gimmick that worked. But there were/are fans who don't like that.

I'm a fan of the Fleetwood-McVie-McVie rhythm section, be that with Peter Green, Danny Kirwan, Bob Welch, Lindsey Buckingham, or Billy Burnette, or whoever. I'm also a fan of Lindsey's finger-style guitar playing, as I love folk guitarists, such as Richard Thompson, Roger McGuinn, Peter Yarrow, Noel Paul Stooky, etc. It's VERY easy for me to say I'm a fan of this version of Fleetwood Mac without liking Stevie.

What section should I post in if THIS applies to my tastes?

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ps594aa0ed.jpg

The bottom line is none of us know f*cking ****. I don't have a crystal ball and neither do you guys. Unless we hear a statement from the band, I am going to assume that they are all on board for a new studio album. Now STFU.

Well said, well written, Nick.

Yes, and considering that the tour extends into July, it will be several months before any of them can work on the album again. I wish this thread could go on hiatus until then.

I'd drink to that. ;)

They lived in England, they had a snaky manager who was their main contact with the label, and he didn't really have any creative ways to market the band after Peter Green left.

The difference by Dec. 31, 1974, is the band was living in Los Angeles, was internally managed, had a direct relationship with the label, and had established that Mick and John were the legitimate owners of the Fleetwood Mac name with the "Heroes Are Hard To Find" album and tour (even thought you could hear the strain the whole "Fake Mac" had taken on the band, especially Bob). They had some experience piloting their own ship by the time Lindsey and Stevie joined.

Unless we hear a statement from Stevie, I am going to assume that she is not on board for a new studio album. It's much easier to know somebody's intentions when they're not playing coy. Mick, John, Christine, and especially Lindsey aren't playing coy with their intentions. But, since Stevie has chosen to play coy, there is, and will be, a lot of speculation. That's nobody's fault but Stevie's.

Amen. I wish she'd just say that she's not on board, and waddle off into the sunset.:wavey:

Right, this is why I said they kind of get a pass due to the fake band etc. and that's a good point about them still being in England back then as well. I guess I just wanted to point out in case some were under the impression that every FM album/single before '75 got equal exposure to the '75 album but people chose to ignore those albums/singles then just decided to buy the '75 album simply because BN were now there because that wasn't the case. They need to realize that got more of a push and in the specific areas that some of the previous albums/singles should've been promoted.

John

In all seriousness, when was the last time that any of them mentioned the new album? I'm not talking about recycled interviews either. I don't think there's been any new info since before the tour started (Fall 2014).

That's not true. Mick, Lindsey and Christine have all given interviews since the tour has started and the album was mentioned. Meanwhile, by contrast, Stevie has given interviews and mentioned her future possible plans without referencing the album among those plans.

Michele

It's still worth discussion. While I'm annoyed by Stevie's initial reluctance to do a new album, allegedly. I would love to see another album with these three singers. Seems Lindsey and Christine have some amazing chemistry going on. Add Stevie to that and I'm sure something great could happen from it.

That's definitely worth talking about on a Fleetwood Mac discussion board.

Huh? Who said we can't discuss the new album? I was talking about all these people assuming Stevie won't participate. Not convinced of that.

Oh, my bad. I thought the, "STFU" was for everybody. Carry on..... :woohoo:

it's your prerogative to be convinced of whatever you wish.

it's a problem when you are telling everyone else to stfu based on your flawed "information".

the last time anybody heard from a band member about the state of the album, who is on board and who is not, and possibility of releasing it without Stevie was most probably 2 days ago at Mick's m&g in Chicago.

Did Mick mention releasing an album without Stevie as a possibility? I know we have discussed that here but wasn't aware any of the band members spoke of it.

yes. i'm not sure what exactly he said in Chicago, but at other m&gs he also mentioned a possibility of releasing it as one of the band members' solo album (i think he said as LB solo album?) or as FM with just 4 members if SN doesn't get on board. or waiting for her for years.

their new album and when/how will it be released seems to be a recurring question for Mick at every m&g.

That's because a lot of Fleetwood Mac fans want a new album. And even if we like Stevie, some of us will direct the anger where the evidence takes us.

If Lindsey kept insinuating he wasn't on board for a new album whilst Christine and Stevie had recorded 8 tracks together and were waiting for him to show up... Well, I would bet all the money in my pockets that the chiffon heads would be madder than a ghost in the fog, on a staircase, with dark make up, in the winter, without any boots.
And that's the truth!

Beyond that, Stevie reiterated in 1987 that "we could wait around another five or ten years for Lindsey to come around" and in 2003 "we couldn't have her be on the album and not tour because what if one of her songs became a hit..." It wouldn't be so bad if she hadn't towed the company line so hard in the past. But she did. Now it's her turn to shine or get out of the way.

I would be fine with that...Bye Bye LB...Bring in Peter Frampton to take over...A lot of his '70's hits would fit right in with the FM setlist...Peter can play and sing and they've toured together before...

OR, just bring back Billy and Rick.

Richard Thompson would be the best choice. He writes great pop songs about breaking up and other dark themes. He's a revered folk-rock guitarist who wasn't particularly influenced by the blues. He's known for choosing artistry over profits and isn't afraid to experiment with music. He made an album and toured with his wife while going through a pretty bitter divorce (only, that was a van tour). I can't imagine a more empathetic figure that could still push the band's creative envelope.

Now now, you're gonna make the shippers mad... :laugh:

How about Tom Petty? Don't think he would accept but they could play the new Sam Smith tune on tour.. ;)

:laugh:

That may be the quote of the week.

Can you imagine? We diehards would be crapping ourselves having to listen to Sam Smith during a FMac concert.

I bet Petty could do some Welch tunes; but, we'd need someone to play lead guitar.