Does FM have any African American fans?
 

I know this is not PC, but has anyone else noticed how FM seems to have no African American fan base? I don't think I have ever seen a black person at a FM/Stevie concert.

Sorry... I'm just thinking out loud I guess.

I posted that in another thread, too, but a little different. I met two at Concord SYW, and one in Vegas after Fri nights show. So i guess there are a few.
My AFA friend doesn't know barely any of the same songs as I do from the 80's and 90's, and I remember being shocked last year that she had only heard the song People Are Strange just that year. :shrug: Conversely, of course, I don't know lots of the songs she knows. I think Stevie's voice makes her cringe, a little, too. Either that, or she's just sick of her.... :laugh: I tried - sometimes she'll sing Edge w/me.... :D
oh, and don't forget about Sparky.... ;)

I saw that you posted something about that in a differnt thread and it made me start thinking about the whole thing.

Even when I saw FM in Atlanta (which has a heavy African American community) I didn't see one black person at the concert....

I guess it is just a different culture. I mean, I would never listen to rap.

Down here in Florida there's always a couple!!

And on "The Dance" there's 2!!!!!!!! :thumbsup:

My friend Kim (who entered that contest for me that won us the tix to the LA rehearsal 4/03) has always liked Mac & Stevie, but got way more into them after that show. She also won front row tix to Buffalo & took her dad. :D

I've seen a few AA fans at shows, but not too many.

I have an African American friend, and she was temporarily living with her aunt and her uncle, and her aunt found a mix CD I made for her, and her aunt said "Stevie Nicks is a devil worshipper!" And of course, she took the mix CD and threw it away. We were both so PISSED! :(

there were some at pnc. :)

First thing I thought as well.

That and Elisecia doing HAEWAFY at Red Rocks - love it. :]

- Jake

I miss Bobye Hall

she was off the chain

;)

As much I like Taku, Bobbye's drum dance during the Stand Back intro was inspired. :blob2:

- Jake

I sat next to an AA man at the SYW Camden show last year. Total chiffon head... yelling out "You sing it, girl!" whenever Stevie was doing a song. But looking around it was pretty much a sea of white... in Camden, NJ no less! And I thought to myself, geez... the two token minorities, and we're both seated next to each other! What are the chances of that at a FM concert? :lol:

Heaven forbid! You must flagellate yourself for one full hour every day for thirty days for daring to suggest that people of different races might travel in largely different cultures!

Anyway, pop music doesn't get much more "white" than Rumours-era Fleetwood Mac, so it shouldn't be very surprising to anyone that the Mac's audience is almost entirely white. That said, I would venture the following guesses:

1) Fleetwood Mac probably has more black fans in Europe and Africa than they do in America.

2) Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac probably has more black fans than any other era of the band.

Are there many classic rock bands that do have much of a black fan base, though? Are there many classic rock bands that have black people in them?

Well, that's a bit of a silly statement. The white audience for rap and hip-hop is enormous. Probably even larger than the black audience.

I think there are alot of African-American fans of Stevie and the Mac. I just don't think they shell out the cash to see them live because their are other artists that are more ingrained into their culture. For example, Etta James is playing here in Denver the same day that Stevie is at Red Rocks, and I'm sure there will be very few white people in the audience at that show.

I manage a retail store, and we play ALOT of Stevie and Mac in the store. I would venture to say that 70 percent of my customers are black, and it's so much fun when the black women come in and start doing a little dance to Stand Back or Dreams while they sing along. They always know the words. White customers never do that, they're too reserved and stuffy. :nod: One of my best friends, Santo, LOVES Stevie and would really like to go to Red Rocks with me, but he just bought his first home and is strapped for cash.

I remember when the FM reissues came out...I was listening to Beautiful Child, very loudly, as there were no customers in the store. This young black man decked to the hilt in hip-hop regalia came in, and I turned down the music. He said to me, "No man, you can jam, turn it back up!" So I did. He ended up listening to it, asked who it was, and so I showed him the CD. He said it was haunting and beautiful, and that he was off to go buy it. I love recruiting new fans. :)

The older generation of blacks doesn't seem to be too aware of Stevie or Fleetwood Mac, but the younger crowd is quite hip to them from what I've noticed. Most people's musical choices are influenced by what they heard while growing up, so it's really just a matter of exposure.

Yes
 

They have at least one African American fan... ME!! I have always loved Stevie/FM even before I knew who they were. I know what you mean though since I am usually the only one at the concerts that I attend. My partner, who is Mexican, and I are always looking for other people of color. By the way he is not really a fan but tolerates FM because I have brainwashed him somewhat.

Look for me at the LB Soundstage whenever that airs.

Sean

Awesome!!
 

That's me, a brutha all the way. :laugh:

You so silly, AMber.

Let's get Lindsey to do a private concert just for us Christy. It will be 10 x better than Soundstage.

But back to the question, aren't Macy Gray and Destiny's Child fans of La Nicks?

I somewhat disagree. I mean, ABBA is clearly "whiter" than Fleetwood Mac. Even during the Rumours-era, I think there was some grooving going on in the music, for example "You Make Loving Fun."
I would tend to agree on 1, but not necessarily on 2. If we're just talking about popularity in America, I still think the Rumours band would win, mainly because in America, that IS Fleetwood Mac.

Actually, I'd think Bob Welch would probably be more likely to have AA fans, as his stuff was more jazzy and funky. Bob's influences are as rooted in African American music as Peter Green's, maybe even moreso. But, Bob's influences are seen as still being relevant to many African Americans. Sadly, many African Americans write off the blues as being slave music, and don't realize its importance to American culture. Given the connotation of the blues for many African Americans, imagine how it must look to see a white person playing "the slave's" music. In fact, I'd say that a typical blues audience in my area is probably only 15-20% African American, regardless of who's on the bill (i.e. B.B. King or Buddy Guy). When I saw Peter Green in Cleveland, I think the audience was about 100% white.
In terms of classic rock, the Allman Bros. have a black drummer, Eric Clapton has been touring with Nathan East for about twenty years, and we can't forget about Hendrix. The problem is that over the last fifteen years, the lines between various sects of popular music have become much more rigid. So, where would one put groups like War, Sly & The Family Stone, or Earth, Wind, & Fire? You can't tell me that people who were likely to buy a Fleetwood Mac album in the '70s weren't also likely to buy an Earth, Wind, & Fire album.

Holy cow, yes...see below

Beatles/Rolling Stones/Eric Clapton Band: um...hello? BILLY PRESTON!!!

Doobie Brothers: Bassist Tiran Porter; later to be replaced by Willie Weeks...then Tiran came back, then I haven't a clue who their bass player is now.

Dave Mason Band/Steve Miller Band: bassist Gerald Johnson (I'm surprised you didn't mention HIM, Steve-o!)

Jimi Hendrix's Band Of Gypsys was ALL-black: Buddy Miles, drums; Billy Cox, bass...and then there's the all-black rock band, LIVING COLOR ...guitarist Vernon Reid is the only member I know by name.

The Allman Bros have had TWO black bass players: the late Lamar Willams and currently Oteil Burbridge.

Current Rolling Stones bass player (and bass player in the first Sting solo band): Darryl Jones

And, while were talking Sting's first band: the late Kenny Kirkland, keyboards, sax player Branford Marsalis, drummer Omar Hakim, too. Background singers, Janice Pendarvis & Dolette McDonald

And, later, drummer Manu Katche' (who previously had been in Peter Gabriel's band)

E-Street Band: CLARENCE CLEAMONS...and ex-E Street-er, ex-Sting band, ex-Eric Clapton Band keyboardist David Sancious

Santana's had more black members than I can even remember...original bass player, Dave Brown...singer Greg Walker (from the late '70's/early 80's incarnation)...keyboardist Leon Patillo (from the mid-70's incarnation.

And, Fleetwood Mac & Stevie Nicks have had black members of their touring entourage:

Eliscia Wright, Lynn Mabry, Lenny Castro, Bobby Hunt, Bobbye Hall...the bass player for Stevie's Street Angel & Enchanted tours, whose name I've forgotten...oh, wait...yeah...Don Boyette. And, Lindsey's bass player on the OotC tour...another space out on a name. Bob Welch's drummer for French Kiss and Three Hearts albums, Alvin Taylor

Ex-Animals lead singer Eric Burdon had an all-black backup band in the mid-70's (the Eric Burdon Band)...of which the aforementioned Alvin Taylor was the drummer.


It just seems ridiculous to even have to mention these people as "being black". It's the music that comes out of 'em, not the color of their skin.

Hey! Don't forget Randy Jackson in Journey!

My list was FAR, FAR, FAR from "complete". :thumbsup:

Still, I don't think bunches of AFA's like those bands.... :shrug:

Hell, I've BEEN trying to forget about that! Randy Jackson in tight leather pants. Sorry, but there's not enough beer in Milwuakee to make me think that was a good idea!

FYI, Willie Weeks also played on Billy Burnette's "Coming Home" album. For that matter, Nathan East played on Bob Welch's s/t album. And, let's not forget Greg Wright of The Zoo! While not a "rock" album per se, can I mention Fleetwood Mac In Chicago? I'd mention "The Visitor," but this discussion is about African AMERICANS, and those folks were Africans.

As for Gerald Johnson, I actually didn't know he was black. I've never seen a picture of him. Hey, I didn't have a lot to work with when I had that Dave Mason site!

Finally, dont' forget that it was Eric Burdon who actually founded War!

Woooooooo!!!!!!
 

It's hard to say. They don't collect demographic information from Soundscan. However, it was a two-part question, and we answered the only part that anybody really could answer.

Fair enough. I really doubt there are many, though, judging from what I've heard/seen. No big.

Etta James and Stevie Nicks the same day?!?!?! And I'll miss them both, Yippeee! :mad:

Romy

Ouch. I feel your pain. Although, I don't know if I could make the decision as to who I'd see. Stevie is a member of my favorite band, but Etta is a major influence on my favorite band. I'd probably choose Etta only because I haven't had the opportunity to see her live, whereas I've seen Stevie six times (once solo).

Oh...also forgot CSNY's original bass player, Fuzzy Samuels

Yep...
 

I have met several who happen to love Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks:

When Deb was first having diagnosis of her cancer I met one lady who was a ER RN who noticed my Rumours t-shirt and asked "Is that Stevie Nicks on your shirt? I love Ms. Stevie..." She proceeded to sing "Gypsy" in her Jamacian accent as she worked the ER floor :nod:

Last June when I was filling out paperwork before my throat surgery the receptionist noticed my Fleetwood Mac "SYW" t-shirt and asked "when/where did you see the Mac?" I told her I bought the shirt at the OKC show...She 'bout had a cow cause she said she never heard their concert being advertised on TV/radio (Which was true! It wasnt advertised period!). We sat for about 10-15 minutes talking about FM and how her whole family would've died had they known FM played OKC.

At the 2004 Dallas show a couple sat directly behind me and knew the lyrics to even the SYW tracks...That was cool!!!

Thanks. :)

I haven't seen live any of them and It would be a very hard decision for me too, Etta James gives me the same sensations singing that Glenn Gould gives me playing Bach. But Stevie Nicks emotionally right now is even more involving. I mean the lady is making me sing all around Hotel California and New York Minute and Don Henley wasn't really my cup of tea before these concerts. I'd be heading to Red Rocks to see my first Stevie solo show... hoping that you'd bring a recorder to Etta's. :D.

Romy

I did at the Gwinnett show Sept 2003. There was a couple in the same row as myself (4th) but more in the center. They were really into it too! It was funny because the lady seemed to be more into Stevie and the gentleman was more into Lindsey and totally rocking out to Come! :thumbsup:

Also there was a gentleman in the front row at the East Rutherford, NJ show in May of 2003 who had roses for Stevie.

My (AFA) friend just stopped by, and she loved this story. She was cracking up at the Jamaican lady.... :thumbsup:

Hey, we have feelings, too, you know. :wavey: :woohoo:

Oh lord, don't remind me of that spandex pic! :laugh::laugh:

this is an odd thread - bordering on un-PCness I think but -


What about Macy Gray?!

She's a fan!

In all honesty, most people who are in a minority demographic with whom I've either had a personal or professional relationship haven't cared about the whole PC thing. At the end of the day, everybody, regardless of race, religion, gender, or sexual preference, wants to be treated with dignity and respect. The rest of it, the PC part of it, is mostly just an academic exercise that really hasn't benefitted anybody. And, most people have a sense of humor about their particular demographic group. Just look at the gays and lesbians on this board. There's a discussion over on the chit-chat board about what famous/historical figure certain ledgies resemble. There was a debate over one male Ledgie being more like Paul Lynde or Bea Arthur, and said Ledgie thought either was pretty funny. In any event, I don't think anybody has been disrespectful in this thread.

I honestly thought of that but wasn't sure that Journey is considered classic rock.
Feeling old.

- Jake