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Originally Posted by Mr Scarrott
Can anyone remember whether Bob's case had any merit? I seem to recall that it was settled out of court. Mick and Bob reconciled somewhat I seem to recall (although the former as a non-writer would have had less to lose). There was something about Bob alleging that the Mcvies & Fleetwood unilaterally changing the royalty structure without Bob's consent.
I suppose the later success of the band would have helped keep the sales of Bob's FM albums up but it all left a sour taste in the mouth.
Would the band have insisted on Bob's inclusion in the RRHOF (like the Rolling Stones did for the late Ian Stewart) without the lawsuit? I would like to think so but hand on heart.....
What a photo that would have been.. the Rumours 5 Peter & Bob. Such a shame that Jeremy and Danny couldn't or wouldn't attend.
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The case had merit — on a technical, legal level. Fleetwood and the McVies had renegotiated their Warners contracts to receive higher royalty payments. These royalties included records with which Welch was a part. He was not included on these renegotiations and said he too should have higher royalties. Bob touches on this in a very skeletal way in one of his two Q&As. I’m sure there was some legal merit because the matter was resolved in the form of a settlement.
However, the spirit of the lawsuit may have felt like an injustice to Fleetwood and the McVies, whose affiliations with Warners had been constant and whose name recognition was much higher than Welch’s at the time of negotiation: they were in a position to renegotiate; he was not. Plus, getting sued by Welch had to have felt like a bitter, ironic echo of their own lawsuit against Davis, spearheaded by Welch, Fleetwood, and the McVies. So….