Mick's putting out a new autobiography

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by Wendy Welch

Bekka is one of the most incredible singers I have ever heard, as was her mother. But how could anyone fill Stevie Nick's shoes. It was her worst career decision in her life. She could have been huge on her own had she not tried to do that.\

What's funny is that a lot of people wondered how a certain American guitarist could possibly fill the shoes of Peter Green in 1971. But, he was so different, it took on a life of its own, and the band embraced the difference and gave it time to develop. I've always felt the same way about the Stevie-Bekka thing. Just as the only thing Bob had in common with Peter Green is that he was a man who sang, wrote songs, and played guitar, the only thing Stevie and Bekka have in common is that they're female. Completely different styles. Where the band went wrong with Bekka is that they didn't embrace those differences and didn't give it time to develop.

I've had a soft spot for her since 1992, but was already a fan of her folks. I was happy she was in and Stevie was out. By her own recent admission, Stevie had a lot of bad nights before 1997. Stevie was really at her worst when Bekka came into the picture, so Bekka was a very welcomed addition for me.

I don't know how truthful she was being, but I've read that Bekka really didn't want to be huge and turned down a lot of big offers over the years.

[johnnystorms]

yeah,
but by that time, Stevie was firmly established as the STAR of Fleetwood Mac. As big as Peter Green was, they never had a platinum album, much less 20x platinum before Stevie. So thinking that any woman stepping onstage in her place, while she was still in her own career, was a miscalculation at best.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by johnnystorms

yeah,
but by that time, Stevie was firmly established as the STAR of Fleetwood Mac. As big as Peter Green was, they never had a platinum album, much less 20x platinum before Stevie.

Yes, but Peter had all but one of the early Mac hit singles. He was pretty much the sole star of the band. While Stevie was the star, it was Christine, who was still with the band, that had the most hits on those 20x platinum records with Stevie.

So thinking that any woman stepping onstage in her place, while she was still in her own career, was a miscalculation at best.

OTOH, the alt.country/Americana movement was in full swing. It wouldn't have been platinum records, but they could have found a niche audience and grown that...again, like they had done before in 1971.

[johnnystorms]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

Yes, but Peter had all but one of the early Mac hit singles. He was pretty much the sole star of the band. While Stevie was the star, it was Christine, who was still with the band, that had the most hits on those 20x platinum records with Stevie.


OTOH, the alt.country/Americana movement was in full swing. It wouldn't have been platinum records, but they could have found a niche audience and grown that...again, like they had done before in 1971.

OR, wait 5 yrs... get Stevie back, and have a No. 1 album, sold out tour, and highest selling music DVD of the year.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by johnnystorms

OR, wait 5 yrs... get Stevie back, and have a No. 1 album, sold out tour, and highest selling music DVD of the year.

Doing mostly old stuff, resting on past glory, and selling out all the way to the bank. But, since that matters not to me...The better question is what have we gotten since?

I would much rather have seen them develop into an Americana type band with a huge cult following, NOT milking the band's past entirely, and had more albums and affordable shows. Become a working band, again, with its own unique identity. Oh, that's right. It's Mick and John. If Lindsey makes a solo record that tanks, it's praised as being an artistic masterpiece, and Lindsey's above worrying about sales. If Mick and John put out a new Fleetwood Mac that takes the sound in a new direction and it tanks, it's just a pathetic attempt at keeping the band they've had since 1967 together.

Instead, we got a compilation, "Say You Will", ANOTHER live album, TWO repackagings of "Rumours", and a couple of grotesquely overpriced Greatest Hits tours that rehash the same old tired songs.

[FierySequences]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

Doing mostly old stuff, resting on past glory, and selling out all the way to the bank. But, since that matters not to me...The better question is what have we gotten since?

I would much rather have seen them develop into an Americana type band with a huge cult following, NOT milking the band's past entirely, and had more albums and affordable shows. Become a working band, again, with its own unique identity. Oh, that's right. It's Mick and John. If Lindsey makes a solo record that tanks, it's praised as being an artistic masterpiece, and Lindsey's above worrying about sales. If Mick and John put out a new Fleetwood Mac that takes the sound in a new direction and it tanks, it's just a pathetic attempt at keeping the band they've had since 1967 together.

Instead, we got a compilation, "Say You Will", ANOTHER live album, TWO repackagings of "Rumours", and a couple of grotesquely overpriced Greatest Hits tours that rehash the same old tired songs.

I agree with both you Espy, and JohnnyStorms. It would have been much more interesting to see FM evolve once again into an alt/rock/country version w/ Bekka and Billy. Imagine the possibilities. I think they would have still had a core die-hard audience and New fans, as well.

I'm going to Jazz fest and as much as I love BN, I would gladly pay to see a blues/country version of the Mac ala Chris, Bekka, Billy, Vito and MF's blues Band. Refreshing, Yes. Mass Commercial Appeal, No.

[Erin]

I asked Mick about this at the M&G and he had no idea about it, so sounds like a re-release of the old book, so no new material. He did say he was currently thinking about writing something, but it would be more a long the lines of his philosophy on life type of a thing rather than a bio.

He also said he didn't know how it could be re-released as he owns it. Better check with the publisher, Mick.