Christine McVie Rolling Stone Article
 

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/fe...new-lp-w441626


Christine McVie on Fleetwood Mac's 'Peculiar' 'Mirage' Sessions, New LP
Singer-songwriter looks back on heady days at Château d'Hérouville, discusses band's future plans

Fleetwood Mac's Christine McVie recalls the "peculiar" making of the band's hit 1982 album 'Mirage.' Tim Mosenfelder/Getty
By Richard Bienstock
2 hours ago


Christine McVie has a confession to make. The 73-year-old singer, songwriter and keyboardist is on the phone with Rolling Stone to discuss the new deluxe reissue of Fleetwood Mac's 1982 effort, Mirage; but, she admits, she hasn't actually listened to it yet. "I just now got my copy of the remastered edition in my hands," McVie says, calling from her home in the U.K. "But I just moved to a flat where I don't have my DVD or CD player yet. So I'm unable to play it. And there's all these outtakes and demos and things in there that I certainly haven't heard since we made them. So I'm most curious to listen."

Indeed, the new package is a treasure trove for Mac completists (and, apparently, band members). In addition to presenting the original 12-track album – which spent five weeks at Number One and spawned two of the group's biggest and enduring hits in McVie's "Hold Me" and Stevie Nicks' "Gypsy" – in remastered form, the three-CD and DVD set offers up a disc of B sides, titled "Outtakes and Sessions," as well as a live collection culled from two nights at the L.A. Forum in October 1982 on the Mirage tour. The whole thing is rounded out by a vinyl copy of the album and a DVD in 5.1 surround sound, as well as a booklet with extensive liner notes and photos from the era.
An impressive package, to be sure, and one that is perhaps necessary for an album that, for all its multi-platinum success, never quite gets its due, having been overshadowed in the band's canon by the career-defining trio of records that preceded it – 1975's Fleetwood Mac, 1977's mega-smash Rumours and 1979's sonically adventurous double album Tusk. In an earlier interview with Rolling Stone, drummer Mick Fleetwood acknowledged that, in such imposing company, Mirage often gets overlooked – a notion that McVie seems to agree with. "It does, and I don't know why," she says. But, she adds, "As it stands today, a lot of people know every track on it. Which is quite unbelievable. So I just take it for what it is."
McVie spent some time reminiscing about the album with RS, from the "unusual" experience of recording at the Château d'Hérouville outside of Paris, to the "nightmare" of filming the video for her song "Hold Me" in the Mojave Desert outside of Palm Springs. But she wasn't only looking backward. McVie also discussed Fleetwood Mac's plans for the future, which may include a new album and another world tour. "We're just gonna keep on doing what we do best," she said, then laughed. "Which, I'm not really sure what that is!"
What was the state of Fleetwood Mac going into the making of Mirage?
I suppose we all felt in a way that what we were doing was kind of an homage to Rumours, in the sense that, obviously, after Rumours we went completely the opposite way and made a double album of an entirely different nature with Tusk. And for Tusk we had done this hugely long tour. Two world tours, I believe. Then we all disappeared for a few years. But we have a habit of doing that, Fleetwood Mac. Just kind of taking quite long hiatuses. And as we got together again, I think it was Mick who had this idea that perhaps we should enter another bubble-like situation, which was similar to what we had done for the Rumours album, when we recorded in Sausalito. Just taking us away from familiar things, like our families. There was the idea that maybe something would emerge from there that was completely different. Maybe it would make us more creative. And I think it worked, to an extent. It was definitely an unusual experience.
Rather than Sausalito, for Mirage you went to France. Do you recall anything particular about recording at the Château d'Hérouville?
Well, I don't think any of us remember a huge amount about it! But I don't remember there being anything bad about it, how about that [laughs]?
That's a good thing.
Yes. But, I mean, my recollections in general are of thinking, What a peculiar, odd place to be going. …
How so?
It was extremely odd in the sense that it wasn't really a studio. It really was a rather beaten-up old castle. We were living in it, and then there was another area that was made to be a studio. And there were wine cellars underneath, which I believe we used as echo chambers. So it was unusual, but it also provided a "come-together" sort of moment. Because we really had no options to do anything else. In Sausalito, at least you were close to restaurants, clubs, whatever. But at the chateau, you were just there. We had the table tennis out, we had some radio-controlled helicopters, we had food cooked for us every night on the premises. ... I don't know, it was like some weird, manic kind of resort or something. But I think we got on really well during the making of the record. The actual recording part of it, there were no particular spats I can think of. And some of the tracks are really good.
One of your tracks, "Hold Me," became the lead single off Mirage, and it was also a big hit. What do you recall about writing it?
I'd co-written it with a friend of mine, Robbie Patton. And when we first recorded it it was only semi-finished, really. But everybody liked it so we thought, Well, we'll lay something down on tape and get the bones of it. What we put down was very basic – there were huge chunks that had nothing in them. And then we just built it up in sections.
Christine McVie, interview, Fleetwood Mac
"I think we got on really well during the making of the record," says McVie. Neal Preston
In the demo version of the song that appears on the second disc of the Mirage deluxe package, you perform the vocal alone. But the final version of "Hold Me" is more of a duet between you and Lindsey [Buckingham]. How did that change come about?
I think some of these things just happen organically. I don't think it was a plan. But I do know that when I wrote the song with Robbie, he was also a singer, and he was always singing a lower part. And so at some point it became obvious to me that Lindsey would eventually do it.
Do you have a favorite track on the album?
Yes, well, I think "Gypsy" stands out clearly as the best track on the album. Without a doubt.
Why do you feel that way?
I just think the whole song came together in a very cohesive way. It's very musical. Very melodic. All the parts are right. It's just a very beautiful record. And, of course, that video – I know the record company spent a lot of money on it.
Reportedly it had the biggest budget of any music video produced up to that point.
Yeah. And it's one of my favorite videos of all time. And I don't mean just of Fleetwood Mac's.
What do you recall of shooting the video for "Hold Me"?
"Hold Me" was a nightmare! It was the middle of the desert in Palm Springs, in the height of summer. I don't know what possessed us to do that. But we sometimes do crazy things [laughs].
Did it feel unnatural that you were doing it at all? MTV, and the idea of music video being a promotional tool, was a very new concept at the time.
I'm sure we were a bit uneasy with doing it. To some extent, I've always felt that the music should be the thing that creates the emotion in you, rather than a video. There are so many songs that have become massive hits merely because the video is great, while the song is pretty rubbish. From that point of view I think I've always preferred to listen to a song rather than look at it. So it was a bit difficult.
The directors of both the "Gypsy" and "Hold Me" videos have stated that they encountered some difficulties trying to navigate the thorny romantic relationships between band members at the time. Do you recall as much?
[Laughs] Well, of course! I'm sure it oozes out over the screen when you watch some of the scenes. Yeah, for sure. And I'd be the first one to admit that none of us were stone-cold sober. There was a fair degree of alcohol and drugs going on. But everyone was doing it, so it was kind of the norm.
"I'd be the first one to admit that none of us were stone-cold sober. There was a fair degree of alcohol and drugs going on."
In contrast to the long tour behind Tusk, the Mirage tour was relatively brief – just two months in the fall of 1982. Was there a reason for such an abbreviated run?
I don't know why that was. Maybe Stevie was going off to do a tour. I can't remember if Lindsey had a tour. But it was short, and then we did another vanishing act for another couple years before we came back and did Tango in the Night.
More recently, you took some time away from Fleetwood Mac, before returning in 2014 for a world tour. What is the future of the band at this point?
Well, we cut seven songs in the studio already for the start of a brand-new studio album. Which we did probably nearer two years ago. We shelved that temporarily and then went on the road and did the tour. And now, actually, I think we're going back in in October to try to finish it off. Stevie hasn't participated yet, but hope springs eternal. She's going on a solo tour at the moment. But Lindsey and I, we have plenty of songs. There are tons more in the bag that we have yet to record. And they're fantastic. So we're going to carry on and try to finish the record. And then maybe if Stevie doesn't want to be part of that then we can go out and just do some smaller concerts.
You would consider doing some shows with just you, Lindsey, Mick and John [McVie]?
As a four-piece, yeah. With a view of doing a huge world tour after that, with Stevie.
And would you expect that we'll see this new album in 2017?
One would hope so, yeah. That's the plan. And I can't wait for it to be finished. It'll be great. And then we'll hopefully do this world tour with Stevie. And after that, who knows? But we're all still alive, how about that? So that's a start.

Wow, she must've read my post on another thread :D - go ahead and finish the album without Stevie, do a tour for it without Stevie, and then after that do a Fleetwood Mac Finale Tour with Stevie.

Make sense to me. Everybody's happy, right?

Jamie

Yes!!! Dream come true for me to see Buckingham/McVie led line up.

Holy crap. Way to go Chris.

Sparks are going to fly. I would hate to see bad blood between any of them at this point, but daaaaaaarrrn. The line in the sand has been drawn as Lindsey would say.

Would LOVE some CM/LB smaller venue concerts.

Mick, Chris and Stevie seem to be indulging in some serious kite-flying lately. Lindsey seems to have been very quiet, though. He must feel that anything he might say won't help

They seem to be reaching an end game with Stevie, though. I still think she'll take part in the album in the end but I fear her reticence will be apparent in her contributions and bring down the others' supposed good work.

No matter, if the four others do follow through on this veiled threat, I just hope they have the balls to tour and release the album as Fleetwood Mac, not as Buckingham Fleetwood McVie or some other contrivance.

Assuming this isn't all part of some publicity plan, I'm disappointed in Stevie. I thought she was better than this. :distress:

Yesssssss. Get in there Christine McVie!!!!! :thumbsup:

My only disappointment is it sounds as if a Lindsey/Chris/Mick/John tour would be a smaller US set of shows only. But hell, I might consider re-mortgaging my house and holidaying with my family in the US next year.

PS
tons more songs to record :D

I found it odd that they had studio time booked in October. And that's when the nasal tour starts.

I'm guessing that's no accident. They probably want to make it very clear to Stevie they are moving forward- with or without her. I do wonder though if Stevie is working on scaring up some demos to hand off to them before she hits the road. Since her tour is so short, she could quite easily join the band as soon as her tour wraps up. She's done that many times over the years, springing directly from Bella Donna to Mirage, even from Trouble In Shangri La to Say You Will.

I do have to call Christine's bluff on the small 4-piece tour, followed by a large 5-piece world tour. I just don't ever see that happening. Good for her for being the first person in the band to publicly draw a line in the sand with Stevie, though. Chris, I respect the hell out of you! :nod:

they should do it and get on , no one is getting younger and if they do and after that something happens and there is no record or tour she will have that as part of her legacy

It really sucks that the b/witch is making them resort to this. Boy she really has a huge head. She'll do concerts because she gets all the applause and attention,but won't do a record with FM. She BEGGED Christine to comeback and now she won't do a record? Just give three songs have them work on it add your vocals and be done with. Wow I can't stand her now. ugh!
It really feels like they are sayingk "let's draw a line in the sand, but Lindsey you keep your mouth shut because it will make things worse I'd be perfectly happy with an album without her. Much more so then Say your will. Christine adds not just thes song and vocals, but great keyboard work. F her, do it! Boy is b/witch ruining her legacy with the hardcore fans. What a shame.

I LOVE this. I never dreamed I'd see the day that she would get all this backlash!:angel:

Show that delusional egomaniac the door!

Oh wow. It would be a dream to see the Mac in a small setting with Christine singing twice as many songs as she normally would. I love the fact she makes the statement the short, smaller tour would be to promote the album.
Its obvious that Stevie already signed and agreed to the big final world tour. Having 2 Macs tour with such different sets blows my mind. Its just too good to be true. I just think Christine is using the press like Mick....putting Stevie on notice. I still bet Stevie will come around and record the new album. But now I am hoping that is wrong because I would love to see and hear more Christine!!!!!!

^^^ :nod:

I think a Mac album/tour sans Stevie would be really interesting. I'd LOVE to see them in a more intimate venue. But sorry, folks. It's not gonna happen. The label will not get behind that idea. I agree with the above statement (as well as what others have stated before) that Mick and Chris are "goading" Stevie into the project. They are toying with her ego by saying they are going to move on without her. They KNOW she won't let that happen.

Also interesting to see all you people out there calling Stevie a b*tch, selfish, etc for not recording with the Mac and then turning right around and saying "I hope she's not involved. I hope the new album and tour is just the four of them!" :laugh: Just so that whatever the outcome, whether she participates or not, you'll have SOMETHING to complain about. Ya'll a bunch of trifflin' b*tches on this forum! Just my opinion, of course. ;)

the band wants to create something , possibly the last , she wants to be a rockstar they should cut her loose and go on

this would be incredible! :blob2:

i know right?? i REALLY hope this happens!!

i really hope Stevie does not decide to join them after all. if she joins for an album, there will be just one huge expensive mostly Greatest Hits FM arena tour with maybe 3 new songs. contrast that to the nice small venue tour with 6-8 new songs?! and then you get all 5 GH arena tour too, if that's what you are into.

I would love to see the four of them in a small hall and (hopefully) snag a meet-and-greet ticket.

My concern about all this is it see,s a bit like media wars: Mick says something, Stevie counters; then Mick counters; then Christine backs him up...They all seem to be using the press to work out their issues. Some things never change.

My other concern: Stevie wants to join them in the proverbial last minute thus stalling the album's release until AFTER a huge and lengthy world tour.

I think we all need to take a lead from Christine.. and the subtext reads.. "we
are hoping.. but we are ready to let go without her. Let her have the nasal tour.. let the four piece have the intimate artistic tour.

yes, that's what i'm worried about too - Stevie's arena tour bombs / sells poorly and she rejoins at the last minute, making the album late, no small venue [and probably even more affordable!] tour and no tons of new songs live.

she is trying hard she has nothing to promote but the tour and she is all over the interwebs and soon the television

I'm also excited about this because Mick and Chris are pulling the Presscord.... Not a word from Lindsey yet. Keep your mouth shut and finish the darn album. let the rest speak in public, LB, and make the music daring and different on the other yet to record 7 tracks.

When Fleetwood Mac was here.. they sold out 6 shows at the Forum. Tickets on resale were going for $500-$10000. On 6 shows. Plus, they did Anaheim.

This show isn't close to being sold out. And then they will release all the resales. They wait for VIPS to come to the LA shows.. then if they can't unload those ticketmaster resells them.

I had decent seats and could have made $1500 on them.

I guess I had to see Christine again.. she's expensive. lol

Olive, you're preaching to the choir!!!!


Ack, ack, ack, ack, ack.... :rolleyes:

everything you do has been done!!!! and it WON'T last forever...

For the record, my "ack ack ack ack ack" is Popeye speak, in speaking to Olive.

And a Family Man reference, to stay somewhat on topic. ;)

You are gonna get beat up by Annabelle Lee... or Alice..

I'm so proud that I don't get those references. I mean, I know the titles, but I've been done with her solo career since the cement shoes known as OSOTM.

Then you're gonna get beat up by Juliet.

Tell her I said, "bring it".

From my last Steve E., my walls are flaming, and I'll sling that sh*t like there's no tomorrow!

I think Christine should have floated a trial balloon.
"We are prepared to bring back Bekka to sing Gold Dust Woman and Landslide if Stevie does not want to play with us anymore"

:eek:
That would get her goat :eek:

no Stevie songs on that tour. especially if they slightly change the band name.

This^^^^^^^^^^ :xoxo::xoxo::xoxo::xoxo:

No Stevie songs!!

Dreams
GDW
Rhiannon
SOTM (current version is painful)
Gypsy (boring live version w/ speech that barely resembles truth)
Landslide.. (thank God)
Sara (they could do the instrumental version)!! problem solved...

maybe they can blow some dry ice fog across the stage to represent her ethereal presence

or Lindsey can twirl

that never ends well

especially if he has a chord on his guitar...

Like when he fell 3 years ago?

^^^ awesome!!!