[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

Why does that even have to be a choice? Can anyone absolutely say for sure that Fleetwood Mac's entire future is predicated on Sheryl Crow?

I think the future of FM was predicated on Christine and Stevie. Since Christine is not coming back, I think Sheryl was a compromise. But this is just speculation. In any case, based on what we know about the turmoil within the band during the SYW sessions and Stevie's most recent interviews, I do think Stevie would have refused to return to FM unless the situation was made more palatable for her. And Mick knows better than to try and soldier on without Stevie again. Ain't gonna happen.

So choose: Sheryl + FM or no FM at all?

If so, is the motivation to make Fleetwood Mac more marketable? Sheryl Crow's previous release tanked big time.

SC's latest album is doing quite well, actually. She's getting lots of radio play, which is saying a lot for a 46-year-old female rocker. And in case you haven't checked it out for yourself, Detours is a damn fine album. A couple of clunkers, but the most consistent SC album in a long time.

Sure, FM would like to be marketable. But there is also a legacy that everyone, including Stevie and Lindsey, are extremely proud of. As such, they have an interest in preserving and adding to the legacy, but not at the expense of being miserable and in constant combat with each other. That's where SC comes in- the interpersonal and musical mediator. IMHO, I believe SC is being brought in to babysit, as well as to change the political dynamic.

Fleetwood Mac is generally considered to be a lauded dinosaur in the music industry, and not in the main demographic that buys music now, song by song off of ITunes. A band this old and legendary should just be concerned with making good music, and dispence with the antiquated notion of making a "hit."

Yes and no. FM's legacy was not built upon making "good music" in the vein of critics' darlings like the Jayhawks, Patti Smith, and Richard Thompson. Their legacy is based upon making good, intensely personal music that also happened to be consistently successful commercially. Although each FM album has had lots of wacky, idiosyncratic elements, you could depend on it to crank out 3 or 4 monster singles, especially by Christine. Now that the primary hitmaker is no longer in the band, the pressure is on to keep up the momentum. Expecting FM to suddenly become an "art" band is just like asking a zebra to lose its stripes.

However, if Sheryl pops up in guest appearances like Stevie shows up at Tom Petty shows, the more the merrier! It would be cool if other artists were surprise guests as the tour progresses.

The fact that she is being factored in a year beforehand is a clear indication that her involvement will go far beyond merely "jamming" with the band. It's so premeditated. I do believe that she will be functioning as Christine's replacement in the band, as well as tackling other instruments as needed. Everyone can agree that she is no Christine; however, she is, by far, the most qualified and acclaimed musician (as well as being a friend to the band) to assume this role.

I have no idea whether this will be a fruitful collaboration. However, I have every reason to be optimistic based upon their respective track records. There really is something to be said about having 3 singer/songwriters in a band, especially when they are so talented and so different.