Shocking 1992 Article...

[SuzeQuze]

Yes, this topic has created heated discussions in other forums as well. The minute it gets nasty the thread will be archived. Otherwise the topic remains open to intelligent discussion. Remember to keep your anger and emotions in check and no personal attacks. If this topic or a post makes you angry, please wait to respond until you're no longer angry.

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by BlackWidow

He was wearing a burgundy coloured water silk vest (waistcoat) with a watch chain and a very long jacket that was very nipped at the waist, and beautifully made pants. I was awe struck. I still am to this day of Mick's presence. The whole air around him is power."

Ah... finally I get it. The song "Watchdevil" is about Mick:

"And a watch chain becomes you...
You're just a watch chain...
Watchdevil... keeper of the time."

As the drummer in the band, Mick is literally the keeper of the time. Duh! I love the way she made the association between Mick the drummer and this rather innocuous (but telling) accessory he was wearing. Brilliant. But what's really intriguing is that last verse:

"Be aware of the danger as you cross the great water.
Be careful of strangers who are new to your eyes.
Be careful of the people who look not straight at you.
~The keeper of the time is blind.
~The keeper of the time is blind."

Could this possibly have to do with Mick and the affair that his then-wife had with Bob Weston, who had just recently started in the band? And Mick was initially kind of oblivious to what was going on?

Discuss.

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by BombaySapphire3

uh didn't this article result in a shake up of sorts on here quite a few years ago including the acrimonious departure of a group of Ledgies and the subsequent creation of an alternate somewhat darker ledge.I may be mistaken but I think that this article and the posting of it caused quite a stir at one time.

Did I miss something? I'm totally not understanding why this article would have caused an uproar or caused people to form their own underground sect. It's a fascinating article about a very sad time in Stevie's life. So what's all the fuss for?

[skcin]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

Ah... finally I get it. The song "Watchdevil" is about Mick:

"And a watch chain becomes you...
You're just a watch chain...
Watchdevil... keeper of the time."

As the drummer in the band, Mick is literally the keeper of the time. Duh! I love the way she made the association between Mick the drummer and this rather innocuous (but telling) accessory he was wearing. Brilliant. But what's really intriguing is that last verse:

"Be aware of the danger as you cross the great water.
Be careful of strangers who are new to your eyes.
Be careful of the people who look not straight at you.
~The keeper of the time is blind.
~The keeper of the time is blind."

Could this possibly have to do with Mick and the affair that his then-wife had with Bob Weston, who had just recently started in the band? And Mick was initially kind of oblivious to what was going on?

Discuss.

That is a very interesting interpretation of that tune. I've never thought of Watchdevil being about a specific person, and that does make sense. But when was Watchdevil written and/or recorded? I always assumed it was a BN demo, but I'm not sure.

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

Did I miss something? I'm totally not understanding why this article would have caused an uproar or caused people to form their own underground sect. It's a fascinating article about a very sad time in Stevie's life. So what's all the fuss for?

The abortion issue gets some people upset, and then people argue about how accurate & truthful the article is, and then it gets personal, and then the thread gets locked. You know, like usual.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by David

There's a perfect example of Stevie's "intelligence": joining a rock band in Southern CA provides a "perfect opportunity" to learn about the succession of the Stuarts or the vagaries of the House of Hanover (as if Mick Fleetwood has any more idea of it than Stevie did).

It should be noted, though, that the "perfect opportunity to learn about kings, queens, princes and princesses" comment was made by the author of the article, not by Stevie.

I've never had any major problems with this article... it's more sad and depressing than shocking or inflammatory. One thing is certain, Stevie is undoubtably human, and she's as vulnerable to life's ups and downs as the rest of us. This article shows her at the lowest point in her life, and, as a document to that time period, it makes her ultimate reemergence as a healthy, vibrant, clear-headed woman all the more impressive.

[DavidMn]

Originally Posted by BlackWidow

I meant no malice..I had never seen this article.

Dont worry. I've never seen it before and I found it informing. I dont think you should have to apologize. I find it rather rude for people to jump down someone's throat that meant no malice.

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by skcin

That is a very interesting interpretation of that tune. I've never thought of Watchdevil being about a specific person, and that does make sense. But when was Watchdevil written and/or recorded? I always assumed it was a BN demo, but I'm not sure.

If memory serves, I believe Watchdevil first surfaced on the FM "Almanac" bootleg LP that was released in either 1979 or 1980. I would suspect that it is a "Rumours" era boot since to my ears the bass sounds like John McVie and her voice has that "Dreams"-like raspy quality to it. And since Mick's own marriage was falling apart around that time I suspect Stevie was consoling him by saying "I think that I should hold your hand," to which Mick would reply "I'm hurting, Darling, do you understand?" You know how Stevie flip-flops between the first and third voice without any warning!

[David]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

If memory serves, I believe Watchdevil first surfaced on the FM "Almanac" bootleg LP that was released in either 1979 or 1980.

Yeah that's where it first appeared. I still have my Almanac vinyl (two records) that I bought back then at Rockaway Records in Glendale. The vinyl is mostly inaudible by now because it was such cheap vinyl.

I would suspect that it is a "Rumours" era boot since to my ears the bass sounds like John McVie and her voice has that "Dreams"-like raspy quality to it.

I think the recording on Almanac is no earlier than 1978. There's a yamaha cp-30 on it, & those weren't manufactured until around '78 (although one of the music magazines had an ad for it in late '77). Chris bought one & used it at the Village Recorder to play on Tusk tracks. Stevie is probably playing Christine's cp-30 on this demo (given the nature & design of the instrument, it's unlikely stevie or anyone else in her circle would have owned one--christine needed a heavy-duty combo instrument to tour with).

[David]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

As the drummer in the band, Mick is literally the keeper of the time. Duh!

Excellent, hejira! I think the song has something to do with Mick, too.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

It should be noted, though, that the "perfect opportunity to learn about kings, queens, princes and princesses" comment was made by the author of the article, not by Stevie.

I've never had any major problems with this article... it's more sad and depressing than shocking or inflammatory. One thing is certain, Stevie is undoubtably human, and she's as vulnerable to life's ups and downs as the rest of us. This article shows her at the lowest point in her life, and, as a document to that time period, it makes her ultimate reemergence as a healthy, vibrant, clear-headed woman all the more impressive.

Yes, and the first I saw of this was her performance at MixFest where she was just on fire. I never thought I'd see that Stevie again and boy was I ever grateful. I still am!

[ELIUD]

Oh it is a bit scandalous, this article, but I did love reading through it and for the first time actually. The only thing that bothered me, in fact was the bitchyness of the interviewer. Those English and their possessiveness of their precous Samantha Fox. **** em.

[David]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

It should be noted, though, that the "perfect opportunity to learn about kings, queens, princes and princesses" comment was made by the author of the article, not by Stevie.

Mea culpa!

I've never had any major problems with this article... it's more sad and depressing than shocking or inflammatory. One thing is certain, Stevie is undoubtably human, and she's as vulnerable to life's ups and downs as the rest of us. This article shows her at the lowest point in her life, and, as a document to that time period, it makes her ultimate reemergence as a healthy, vibrant, clear-headed woman all the more impressive.

I don't think any less of my artists when they don't or can't re-emerge as healthy, vibrant & clear-headed. They might sink deeper & deeper into the mire of obsession, confusion, self-torture, drug addiction, illness & insanity. I love reading about Beethoven, Hölderlin, Hugo Wolf, Tchaikovsky, Van Gogh, Hoffmann, Fitzgerald, Falconetti, Twain, Griffith, Pabst, Pavese, Kafka, Robert Lowell, William James, Camus, Herzog, Ingmar Bergman, Conrad, Poe, Hawthorne, Lincoln, Romain Gary, Jean Seberg, Abbie Hoffman, Randall Jarrell, Primo Levi, & on & on. I also have always loved reading about Stevie's (& Peter's & Danny's & Lindsey's & John's) psychical battles, their agones.

[carrie721]

Originally Posted by David

Mea culpa!
I don't think any less of my artists when they don't or can't re-emerge as healthy, vibrant & clear-headed. They might sink deeper & deeper into the mire of obsession, confusion, self-torture, drug addiction, illness & insanity. I love reading about Beethoven, Hölderlin, Hugo Wolf, Tchaikovsky, Van Gogh, Hoffmann, Fitzgerald, Falconetti, Twain, Griffith, Pabst, Pavese, Kafka, Robert Lowell, William James, Camus, Herzog, Ingmar Bergman, Conrad, Poe, Hawthorne, Lincoln, Romain Gary, Jean Seberg, Abbie Hoffman, Randall Jarrell, Primo Levi, & on & on. I also have always loved reading about Stevie's (& Peter's & Danny's & Lindsey's & John's) psychical battles, their agones.

I'm fascinated also by people's descent into madness (especially if they have some sort of artistic talent to hang it on), but I also find it really inspiring and reaffirming when people pull themselves out of it.

[BlackWidow]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I think it is fine to post the article, esp. if you have never seen it, etc. Having said that, the article created a huge argument awhile back on this board and others and the poster then did not have your good intent. So, I say no harm and no foul - but I also say that all of the peeps worried about where this thread could lead to should just avoid this thread, etc.

Anyway, my $0.02

Thank you...

[BlackWidow]

Originally Posted by danax6

Oh, she said that in most of the 89-93 articles, that's nothing new. It wasn't until around the Dance that suddenly she started saying that she never regretted making the decisions she made. Me thinks she was having a lot of regrets in the early 90's.

It was around The Dance..she changed her tune...