How come this man doesn't SPEAK more?! He's HYSTERICAL!
 

John, your bass line for "Smile at you" is outrageous! Does Stevie's songs inspire your creative style?

I think all of the Writers Songs are inspirational. I just try and make the Bass lines, hopefully, compliment the song, work with Mick’s kick drum and stay out of the way of the ‘Lead line”. Be it Instrumental or Vocal. ageing

John, Two part question. Would you classify this experience w/o Chris as totally different than the Rumors era Mac, and what are you're feelings, good or bad on this incarnation of the Mac line-up? p.s. any thoughts on a re-unite with fleet & greeny album? You know we hardcores would love to see it. Love your work. ~Brian

Brian, Two part answer.
It’s different, obviously, as Chris isn’t here. Physically and Musically. I don’t think it’s a question of “Good” or “Bad”. It’s a different Line-up. A bit “tougher” perhaps with Lindsey doing more Guitar work. I miss her presence as she’s a nice Lady with a great sense of humor. Mick talks to “Greeny” a lot. I haven’t seen him since “The Grammys” a few years ago. I don’t know if there’ll be a re-unite album. Sort of doubt it. But, who knows?

Your bass lines are inspiring, John. What has kept you playing so well for so many years now?

Fear. (LMAO!!!)

John, could you please tell us the origin of why and when you got the penguin tattoo on your arm?

Chris and I used to live ‘round the corner from London Zoo. On days off I’d go over and take pics of the animals. Usually ending up at the Penguin exhibit. The display area is very interesting visually and I found/find the penguins fascinating. When the Band moved to a “House in the Country” we thought we could use a “Logo”. Hence, the “Penguin”. The tattoo came from a boring afternoon in the bar at the “Riot House” on Sunset Boulevard. Right opposite is, or was, “Lyle Tuttles” tattoo parlor. As the afternoon wore on the idea of a tattoo became an increasingly “GREAT IDEA!” ... DUH!

John, Why is Christy not on the tour? (Yeah, why am I not on tour with them? :rolleyes: )

She’d had enough of Touring. She didn’t care too much for So.Cal with the earthquakes and all and I think she just wanted to go back to England. I could be completely wrong, but that’s my “take” on her departure.

Are you singing any back-up or are you just laying back playing that steady, incredible bass like you always have?

The Band will NEVER be that hard up for a laugh to have me singing “back-ups”! I’m just plugging away on Bass as usual.

What type of Bass do you play and why do you like it?

Hi Jon, Thanks for your question. Right now I’m using a Rick Turner “Renaissance” Bass as the main unit. (Rick Turner, I believe, was one of the original Guitar Geniuses at “Alembic”. I’ve been playing one or another of his Basses for many years).
Another “Turner” for “Never Going Back” & “Goodbye Baby”.
The “Turners” are Great Basses. I like the Pick-ups which give a nice tight tone. The necks suit me just fine and they’re light. That’s important for an ageing, old fart Bass Player. The other Basses are tuned for specific Songs. A 1962 “P” Bass for “So Afraid’. A Tobias for “The Chain”, Another Tobias for “World Turning”.


What's your favorite thing about being on the road? What do you hate the most?

I love being on “The Road”. With all of its “Down Side”. Missing Family and Home etc. It’s different every night and there is nothing that comes close to the “Rush” of playing to a live audience. ( Well, mostly “live” ). It’s still Fun. When it’s not Fun anymore, I’ll hang it up.

Re: How come this man doesn't SPEAK more?! He's HYSTERICAL!
 

lol ;) Where did this come from?? It looks like some sort of... Q & A. I'm guessing it was a Fan Club thing?
:xoxo: Thanks Christy.

Yuh huh.
 

;)

Christy, thanks for posting. Very nice comments from John about Christine. You're right, he should talk more.:)

Awesome interview! Thanks for posting! I love his bass line's he's laid down on the whole SYW album.

I agree with you -- I often wonder why John doesn't speak more too, because he is completely f-in hilarious. In the video footage on VBOFM, he cracks me up the whole time. He's almost got the whole Ozzy thing going on, only he's way more competent. That's the only analogy I can think of. I really wish he'd talk more though. :laugh: I

Too bad John & Chris broke up, or MTV could be airing The McVies as reality TV. I think Chris would make a better Sharon than Sharon, come to think of it. I'd rather see Chris throw a drink in a face than hear Sharon swear, and the plastic surgery has done more for Chris, IMO.:nod:

- Jake (the guy with no cable, just opinions of cable)

If they had stayed together, do you think they would have had kids?

Interesting question. I could see Chris being the motherly type but she like Stevie may have felt that the career would have gotten in the way of that. Would the child have played bass or piano? Or both?
I really enjoy John's sense of humor. I wish he'd speak more too. They interviewed him in the June issue of Interview magazine and I thought his (short) interview was the best (and funniest) of the four.

Raising Stevie, Lindsey, and Mick to share and play nicely would already be full time work. Who needs real kids?

Maybe that's the new reality series concept: The Rumours members have to live in the same house. Nobody can be voted out, regardless of how much they might want to go.
I call it "Last Firefly Standing/Destiny Road Rules (without the road)/I'm One More Link In The Chain Get Me Out Of Here".

You have Chris, who only wants to leave for England.
Stevie, whose Yorkie poops on the others' instruments.
John, who never talks about himself but snoops in Stevie's journals. "If you f*** with my journals..."
Mick, who demands pay-per-view fees for the show.
Lindsey, who never comes out of his room except to talk about cycles.

And of course, your host, Jonathan Todd, who brings you a virtual tour of the very kitchen appliances that the Mac will use to prepare meals.

- Jake

LMAO!!!! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: They should do a Celebrity Mole, Fleetwood Mac style..."who's the mole in the Mac?" Is it....Christine? "I'm the bloody mole." Stevie....."I'm like, the totally fabulous mole." John...."I had a mole once...I had it removed..." Mick..."mole starts with M and so does Mick....oh, and so does MONEY! OOOH I'm the MOLE!" or is it Lindsey..."you know, Moles come and go in cycles....this reconveening of these five people was quite moley....yea...i'm the Mole...haven't you seen me beat my guitar?" :laugh:

Marissa and Jake--you guys both had me laughing so hard at work, people were asking if I was okay!!!! :laugh: :eek:

Gldstwmn--I could totally see CM being a mom. The child would play accordian ;) The interview from the beginning of this thread also shows JM's sense of humoUr.

Jake and Marissa...
 

Ya'll are HYSTERCIAL!! BWAH!!!

"I'm like...the totally fabulous mole..." LMAO!!!!!!!!

Could you see FM Survivor? Stevie wouldn't know what to bring for her one luxury item, hahaha.

He's Hysterical...
 

:wavey: John is just such a sweetheart!!!
You always get a clever answer with
a lot of humour from silent John!!! :) :)
He said of Chris..."Bless her heart...I
was drunk a lot of the time!!!" He also
said he misses her keyboards because
he stood behind them...out of the way!

:blob1: Thanks much for sharing Christy!!! Wish I
had access to the photos...Hear they are great!:blob1: