How guilty is Mick?

[Villavic]

I've reading in the Ledge many comments about Mick, focused on his excessive interest for money. I don't see it that way, and (except for the latest fan club), most of his attempts for getting money brought us good stuff.

1. He wrote a book. Some said it is not so accurate, but most of what he said has been corroborated in other sources (Bob Brunning, BTMusic, etc.). And for fan beginners like me in the early 90s, I learned a lot about Fleetwood Mac (for example, until the day I got the book I thougt the McVies were brothers ).

2. Maybe the real reson was money, but after the Tusk tour he said he wanted a document of live performances from the 70s era. And we got the LIVE album (I still enjoy that album).

3. Mick impulsed the idea to release the Mirage video.

4. He went in bankruptcy. Mid 80s. The result of that? the band helped him and we got TANGO IN THE NIGHT (I still enjoy that album, don't you?).

5. Lindsey left and Mick wanted to keep the band alive. So we got Behind the Mask (and I do still enjoy that album).

4. And of course there are all those TV specials and videos. Did you like the Mick Fleetwood story? IMHO, watching Stevie dancing in Hawaii (a bit drunk I guess) makes that video worth it

I don't see Mick as an ambitious man obsessed for money. I do see him as an useless man, who does nothing but playing drums, and the only huge successful band he got was Fleetwood Mac, thanks to the songwriters or guitar players (Peter, Chris, Lindsey, etc..).

When Fleetwood Mac is not on the road or selling new songs, he is in trouble, because he doesn't know what else to do. He admitted in his book he is very silly for studying or memorizing things. So he never studied anything. And I think he does not manage his money well. I guess he actually is dummy for many things (the BIG mistake happened when he became manager of the band during Tusk).
So, he is desperate when Fleetwood Mac does not makes him earn lots of money (since I guess he wants to mantain a high life style).

So he thinks in videos, dvds, any merchandise. That sounds cool to me, whenever prices are ok and he gives what he promises. (again, the fan club was dissapointing).

But if we put everything in a balance, I think we won more than what we missed.

[David]

Originally Posted by Villavic

When Fleetwood Mac is not on the road or selling new songs, he is in trouble, because he doesn't know what else to do. He admitted in his book he is very silly for studying or memorizing things. So he never studied anything. And I think he does not manage his money well. I guess he actually is dummy for many things (the BIG mistake happened when he became manager of the band during Tusk).

He became manager of the band well before that, & the fact that the band was self-managed for many years was one of the best things about Fleetwood Mac in those days. Many of the group's later problems are directly or indirectly related to their being managed by five different business execs at any given time, plus all those execs' assorted peripherals, like lawyers, producers, & label goons.

So, he is desperate when Fleetwood Mac does not makes him earn lots of money (since I guess he wants to mantain a high life style).

You hit the nail on the head. I think "desperate" is the most accurate word to describe the situation Mick frequently finds himself in.

Otherwise, we're going to have to agree to disagree, Villavic. For about the past twenty years, I've seen Mick concoct one harebrained scheme after another for bilking fans or just making a buck in unsavory ways.

So he thinks in videos, dvds, any merchandise.

"Any merchandise," indeed: wine, jumped-up portable CD players, digital drum loops, Atari Hotz Boxes, faux jewelry, etc.

It's not that each one individually is so ridiculous. It's the overall effect, year after year, of Mick treating the relationship between Fleetwood Mac & its fan base like a giant yard sale.

[chiliD]

The endless promotion of Rumours is what bugs the crap out of me...you'd think it was the only Fleetwood Mac album ever recorded.

[wondergirl9847]

Yep, the public seems to think so.

[chiliD]

Originally Posted by wondergirl9847

Yep, the public seems to think so.

That's ONLY because that's what they've been led to believe.

[wondergirl9847]

Baaaaaaaaa.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by chiliD

The endless promotion of Rumours is what bugs the crap out of me...you'd think it was the only Fleetwood Mac album ever recorded.

And I'm so f*cking tired of Rumours I could puke coat hangers. There is SO much more great material out there, but they won't play it, because, THEY'RE MONEY WHORES(period!) It's ONLY about them maintaining their lifestyles.....

[amber]

Originally Posted by chiliD

The endless promotion of Rumours is what bugs the crap out of me...you'd think it was the only Fleetwood Mac album ever recorded.

don't.even.
biggest.bane.
never.even.hear.songs.from.tusk.except.tusk.
yyyaaaaaaaahhhhrrrrrggggg.
save.me.from.all.rumours.and.fm,fm.all-the-time.help.help.

[Josh2003]

Originally Posted by David

"Any merchandise," indeed: wine, jumped-up portable CD players, digital drum loops, Atari Hotz Boxes, faux jewelry, etc.

It's not that each one individually is so ridiculous. It's the overall effect, year after year, of Mick treating the relationship between Fleetwood Mac & its fan base like a giant yard sale.

I couldn't agree with this more (btw, don't forget the instructional golf videos!).

I see nothing wrong with capitalizing on the Fleetwood Mac name by marketing Fleetwood Mac merchandise: live albums, DVDs, books, etc.

What I think makes Mick so sleazy is the fact that he tries to spew out things completely unrelated to what his famous for...such as the items you mentioned about (the drum loops being an exception). Does he think that fans of FM will go out and buy his wine or the sound system because he, Mick Fleetwood, has stamped his signature on them?

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by Josh2003

Does he think that fans of FM will go out and buy his wine or the sound system because he, Mick Fleetwood, has stamped his signature on them?

Yep, that's exactly what he thinks. IMO, Mick's very dumb in certain areas....

Did you hear about the bass player who locked his keys in the car?












It took him 3 hours to get the drummer out!

[amber]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

Yep, that's exactly what he thinks. IMO, Mick's dumb in certain areas....

Did you hear about the bass player who locked his keys in the car?












It took him 3 hours to get the drummer out!

MWAHHHHHHAHAHAHA! *sniff*

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by David

"Any merchandise," indeed: wine, jumped-up portable CD players, digital drum loops, Atari Hotz Boxes, faux jewelry, etc.

WOW! I didn't know that. Since I live in Peru, I never knew about wine or jewelry. I just knew about the videos, books and t-shirts. Now I understand.

And about Rumours, yes. It is my fave album, but there are lot of material that people don't know. All those VH1 and BTMusic specials, it is always Rumours. Why they don't talk about how they recorded Tango or Tusk?

[Nicks Fan]

As far as I'm concerned Mick is money hungry and he needs Fm to keep him going. I would like to think that the other members are not like that. As for the music I understand the bands need to get people in the door byu playing music that we all know and love ( Rhiannon, Landslide GYOW ETC) but I would like to think that even the casual fan must get sick of hearing those songs too. I mean if they really took there time and rehearsed then there are some great songs that they pull out and perform that either have not been done in a while or never at all. As for the documenatries I agree that they always focus in rumours. What I wouldn't give for documenatry that talks about every album that they ever made and goes in depth with every album and line up and doesn't just skim over certain parts.

Matt

[Miss Vicky]

In a word: Very.