Do Fleetwood Mac need backing vocalists?

[Phil]

As mentioned in previous threads, I am more than impressed with the Mac version of "Thrown Down" but I am troubled by one aspect of it - the rather anonymous backing vocals courtesy of god knows who. Yes that's right, someone other than a member of the band!

This just doesn't make any sense to me - the Mac are renowned for their unique harmonies and not just the blend of Stevie, Lindsey and Christine, but also for their inventive approach to vocals whether it be all three vocalists; just Stevie and Lindsey or multi-tracking of a lone voice (cue Lindsey and most of his contributions to the Tusk album).

So why would they take the step of soliciting the services of outside backing vocalists? Well, of course, the obvious explanation would be to fill the supposed void of Christine but this just doesn't cut it for me. The supporting vocals featured on "Thrown Down" seem to be mimicking Christine but are a pale imitation of the real thing. The fact is that Christine has left the group and as Mick has mentioned in recent interviews, paved the way for a new incarnation of the band. So why would they want to replicate the previous incarnation, particularly if they are not capable of doing it themselves?

Mick has also spoken about the dynamic of this pared down version of the Mac harking back to the days of Buckingham Nicks and the fact that it presents an opportunity for Stevie and Lindsey to reassert themselves as a vocal duo. He has even trotted out the old "full circle" cliche as a catalyst for the sound and themes of the new album, yet the inclusion of hired vocalists would serve to contradict this statement.

It's one thing to rope in celebrity rock guests like Sheryl Crow (and whilst I don't consider this a wise move, she at least can boast an intimate and creative bond with Stevie) but to rely upon the input of insipid, generic sounding nobodies, well that just leaves me cold... and somewhat confused.

I guess none of this bodes well for the upcoming concerts which will undoubtedly feature backing vocalists just as the Tango In The Night and The Dance tours did. I was hoping with Christine gone that Stevie and Lindsey would rely solely upon themselves and strip things back on stage, but I will have to accept that this was wishful thinking. Once again, I'm sure the justification for these superfluous intruders would be that they are integral to recreating the sound of the records, but why is this deemed necessary?

The Mac catalogue has always taken on a new dimension in a live context and it is these raw reinterpretations that are generally cited by fans as the definitive versions of classics such as Rhiannon; Landslide; Go Your Own Way; Sara; Sisters Of The Moon; Gypsy and Big Love. The whole purpose of live performance is to redefine one's work and communicate it in an honest and truthful manner. Highly stylised odes to perfection are of no interest to me... but more importantly, are they to anyone else out there?