Books on Fleetwood Mac - To buy or not to buy??
 

Hi everyone, even though Im an avid Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks fan i've only read a couple of general books based on the band but i've never read Carol Ann Harris' book or Mick Fleetwood's autobiography.

I always got the impression that Harris' book was probably going to be "fluff" and was just a broken-hearted woman lamenting her relationship whilst giving Stevie a hard time etc. (Apologies for this very cruel/lude description);

Then i always stayed clear of Mick's book because of the whole thing that he made up the big Stevie/Lindsay fight so i was unsure what would be believable and truthful from him....

Anyway, I'm just asking would anyone still recommend these 2 mentioned books or any others?? All suggestions/comments/reviews welcome...

I have both books. I think just like any book about anyone, you have to take the occurrences described with a grain of salt. Mick probably thought more 'drama' would sell better. I am sure there are parts of his book that are definitely true. I'm just as sure that some parts are more drama than truth.

Concerning Carol Ann's book, I felt that she tried too hard to make herself look never at fault for anything that happened to her/around her. In the process of doing that, she made herself seem like a clueless and helpless person. Of course, I don't know how much of what she said is true or untrue. Still, if someone is going to do tons of drugs around someone else doing tons of drugs, things are going to happen that may not have if both people were sober.

You can preview some of the book Storms at
http://books.google.com/books?id=Ha2...i=ezo4TcOQM4TQ

There's a list, here, on The Penguin of a bunch of books related to the band. Some are out of print, but you can find them from time to time on eBay and some second hand book stores:

http://discog.fleetwoodmac.net/artis...25&gid=0&fid=3

Actually, there is one thing I never understood about Mick's book (which is great fun to read, by the way). If he was so determined to bring out all the drama and write a true kiss-and-tell story, willing to tell the world about his affair with Stevie and Lindsey's alleged outbreak against her in 1987, then why did he not say a word about Christine's affair with Martin Birch in the early 1970s, that is, while she was still married to John. There is this one paragraph in the book, where Mick describes how a drunken John was chasing Chris who had to seek shelter in Mick's hotel room that night. But the lady herself is the only one who is being portrayed as a true "English Rose". I never knew about the affair with their engineer until I read Bob Brunning's book (which was very boring otherwise).

Getting an education on Fleetwood Mac---

My recommendations:

I read as much as I could on this Ledge place...going into old threads, as people posted what they experienced at concerts back in the day. I learned a lot. And as I asked questions here on the Ledge, members were kind enough to respond.

The first book I read was Leah Furman's Rumors Exposed-the Unauthorized Biography...in the author section, it said she is an attorney and did her research. I liked how the book went from the early days of FM and didn't get started when SN and LB joined the band.

I was amused to find out that Jeremy Spencer did a mini-Elvis set (?) in the early days. From there I wanted to find concert audio to hear the songs. Someone here on the Ledge posted a song ...."Somebody's gonna get their head kicked in tonight." That is one fun song....

From there I got back issues of RollingStone, People, Circus etc. from the local library to read about the band as they were being reported.

And then...I went to Amazon/Ebay and started buying new and used books.

Books which I felt I should not have purchased were:
40 Years of Creative Chaos-Brackett
Read Between my Lines (Musical Life and Journey of Stevie Nicks)-Halliburton
Never Break the Chain-Cath Carroll
Fleetwood Mac: the First 30 Years-Bruning
The Fleetwood Mac Story-Rumors and Lies-Bruning

They were books which I did read and would not say I hated...just wish I had not bought them, because they would not be books that I would re-read.

As for Micks's and CAH's book, I read and purchased them...purchased both of Mick's books, the 25 years one and the My Life and Times one. The authors have different perspectives and for that, I found them interesting. Who really knows what "the truth" is? I wanted to find out what really happened in New Zealand.

One last comment...I can't remember...but the one book of Mick's is a coffee table sized book and contains lots of photographs. That one I did enjoy and I would recommend if you can find it. I found it on Ebay for about $10 and it was a hardback copy.

I don't know if this is what you wanted when you started this thread, but this is my 2 cents worth.

Thank-you to everyone who has replied so far... All of your inputs have been very informative and i'll have to explore a few of the recommendations. I think it's always good to here other people's thoughts and its not as though there are many reviews on these books on amazon etc. So thanks a lot everyone.:thumbsup:

I bought one off of eBay, and it was still in the factory shrink wrap, so I couldn't bring myself to open it. So I bought another used copy, for my actual coffee table!

I like Mick's book the best, followed by CAH's. Others, such as Rumours Exposed, are pretty much disposable. Buy them if they're cheap, but only because you can't get enough FM in your daily diet!

Personally, I found Mick's book to be quite boring and it was deleted off my Kindle as soon as I was done (I do still have the text file though, so if want it, PM me and we'll make an arrangement).

In regard to CAH's book, I found that it's best to read with numerous grains of salt, but to just let yourself laugh (you remember the granny panties bit David?)

I did read that Cath Carroll one from the library and it really wasn't that great, but she got a ton of info from The Penguin of all places. And I heard Bob Brunning's book is something you should skip.

I found Storms at my public library! It was an entertaining free read...

I find that surprising! I like Mick's book, most of all! The main thing I like about it, is probably what the people that don't like it, dislike. That he devotes a CONSIDERABLE chunk of it, to the pre-1975 lineup.

I do find CAH's book to be an interesting read, even if she comes off as a saint. She actually reinforced, what I always believed, about Lindsey's temper.

I don't have the Brunning book...

Since we got wifi at work, my reading days are pretty much over.:mad:

I've read Storms and Mick's book. I think they're both worth reading, if you have the time, interest, and money, though both are far from perfect.
Overall, I preferred Mick's. There may be some inaccuracies (as there are in CAH's book), but I found it an interesting, informative read. You learn a lot about the pre-BN days, in particular. And he has a totally inoffensive voice--which I wouldn't note if he weren't up against CAH.
I actually think almost everything Carol Ann said about Lindsey (at least, the important things) was true. But her writing was so...drippy. Still worth, reading, though--there are some good stories, interesting portraits of Lindsey and Stevie, and particularly entertaining moments involving Christine.

CAH's book was the first one I read and, while I did find it more funny that anything else, I did find some parts intriguing and as for Lindsey's temper, I do have reasons why I think it's true, mainly being the assorted stress at the time (or maybe he was PMSing :lol:)

When I was reading that Cath Carroll one, I was thinking "is it just me or have I read this stuff on The Penguin?" (I'm not gonna lie, the rest of the site keeps me very entertained on a boring day lol) and, lo and behold, in the works cited-thingy at the end, she cites The Penguin as a major source

And how did wifi prevent you from reading? Spending too much time of teh Internets now?

Which book is Cath Carroll's???

Yes, I am but a mere slave, to the internets. WTF did we do, before it? While I'm old enough to know, I don't remember life without it. WTF did we do, just sit around watching TV?

Cath Carrol wrote this one I think was called Never Break the Chain and it was on "the making of Rumours" (there was hardly anything on the topic and there was more on Tusk than anything else). I took it out from the library and I was thankful that I did (I have a bad habit of getting books and finding out later I don't like it).

And right there, you sounded just like me when I was little. Back then, I was basically obsessed with TV to the point where I'd put on the TV in every single room I went into, even if I wasn't staying and while I don't watch much TV now (thanks to teh internets), I used to wonder what people did before TV and thought they must've been falling off their faces bored.

I don't know, that I've seen that book....

God, can you imagine life without teh internets, OR TV? Good lord.....

About 3 years ago, we had a terrible storm here, and I was without power, for 3 days! By the third day, I was going absolutely batsh*t crazy. I called my aunt, an hour away, and said, "fire up that TV, I'm on my way!" Three days with NO NOISE, whatsoever(especially living by yourself) was quite unnerving.

If I went without power for 3 days, I'd probably die from lack of electronics, but watching my mom during a blackout is pretty funny (she stands there with her hands in her pockets, freaking out).

Over the summer, I did have a similar situation for about a week. I dunno what it was, but at a certain time every night and then periodically throughout the day, my phone would be nothing but static and my internet (which is DSL) would completely short out. It was the most bizarre thing and the phone company did manage to fix it in the end, but I was dying from lack of internet

And if I had to pick my technologies, in order, it would be
#1 the internets(hands down!)
#2 TV
#3 cell phone and texting. I do a lot of texting, but I could live without it.

My list is the same actually. I do a lot of texting myself, but there were times I could've lived without it, especially when my friend Kristine started whining to me about how she couldn't be a business major cause her GPA was't high enough (bizarre as it may sound, SB has a few majors you have to be accepted into, business being one of them, but it took a lot for me not to tell her that her GPA would be higher if she actually went to class)

Speaking of books about FM....look what else looks like it's dropping on May 3rd:

http://www.amazon.com/Starting-Rumou...5576189&sr=8-1

I remember when Ken was on here about a year ago talking about this. Here's the link to that thread: http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showth...hlight=caillat


May 3rd will be a busy day for us Ledgies! :thumbsup:

:shocked:




:D

I got something that won't be put off till paperback comes out or be downloaded to my Kindle

EDIT: And a good use for a Borders coupon

i have mick's book and find it a very entertaining read. bought it as a hard copy off ebay for about a dollar (thanks to whoever posted the link here several months ago!):wavey:.

there are bunch of interesting little snippets in there. i especially like the ones attributed to dashut. considering that mick once said that he just told a bunch of stories to his co-writer during a series of late nights, and never bothered to read/edit it, plus his overall hazy state of mind through many of the happenings he was describing, it wouldn't be too farfetched to assume some of the things described may not be completely accurate - as people have pointed out in various threads before.

re storms, i read some parts on google books preview and although written in a trashy style it has some interesting insights (heineken bottle caps backstage, for example). people debate a lot about the abuse accusations. seems hard to say - something to consider may be substance abuse (of all involved) or similar accusations about paul mccartney, or mel gibson.

speaking of dashut, i find interesting how all these people appeared to have always been living in lindsey's house at the same time - carol ann, dashut, i think somebody else was also mentioned?

WOW. I was beginning to think this would never happen.

I'll probably barricade myself in my room that day, alternating between reading and listening.

And I have a message on my phone, and FB, from Ken to me, about his book. It's fascinating, that I can communicate personally, with someone who worked on the album, that changed my life.

That's awesome. Anything worthwhile that you can share with us? I can't wait for this book cause unlike CAH's book, this one should make sense!

Yes, I think Carol mentioned that one of the guys from Fritz was living with them early on, back when they got robbed.

Michele

I had asked him about his book coming out, in a private FB message, and told him that I'd put his answer on the Ledge. It reads:
Ken Callait to you:
Hi David, yes, it is finished, and being edited now. I am looking for a publisher.

Dated 9.14.2010

Looks like he found one...I hope we hear back from him again. I'm really excited to read this.

excerpt of: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/p...-12-2009-.html

'Rumour' Mill

Peter McGuigan, of Foundry Literary + Media, sold, at auction, Fleetwood Mac producer Ken Caillat's Starting Rumours. Kate Hamill at It Books took world English rights to the Grammy winner's behind-the-scenes take on the making of the band's seminal album, Rumours. According to McGuigan, the book, which he called an “oral biography,” includes Caillat's firsthand experiences as well as interviews with a wide swath of people, from band members and roadies to studio execs.