Buckingham/Nicks live January 1975

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

From most of the Stevie interviews I've listened to. I always felt the sentiment from her: "Thank God, we joined this band." and sort of, "we needed help." And I think LB resented that notion because, he wanted FULL control of the music direction and concept. He didn't want to deal with another singer or writer. Until, World Turning. And then I think he realized there was an opportunity for him to be in a great band.

However, I don't think he fully appreciated it until The Dance thru BuckVie era.

I always got the impression he resented joining and being in Fleetwood Mac. OOTC tanking, having his 1995 album rejected, and having Rob Cavallo stuck on him by the label humbled him. However, I also think the success of The Dance surprised him and I think he realized the only way he was doing arenas was with Fleetwood Mac.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

I always got the impression he resented joining and being in Fleetwood Mac. OOTC tanking, having his 1995 album rejected, and having Rob Cavallo stuck on him by the label humbled him. However, I also think the success of The Dance surprised him and I think he realized the only way he was doing arenas was with Fleetwood Mac.

Yea.... ^^ that too. He was going with FM because when the teat is that large, everybody gets in line. But, by Mirage, he was so completely over FM. And over Stevie's antics and addictions. I think he does now realize what the Brits did for him.

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

I think he does now realize what the Brits did for him.

Certainly, in interviews, he honors Mick and the bond that formed between them. I’m thinking of that interview he did with Nile Rogers which was all about how he and Mick had a special musical connection. That he has enlisted Mick many times for his solo projects confirms this.

He knows John and Christine’s worth, too, but has often underplayed what each of them brought to the table. Even when he has spoken of the “magical” connection between him and Christine, he still has not given get her full due for the success of Mirage and Tango. He admires her “commitment to craft” but almost never speaks of her singing voice, never talks about her keyboard skills, and doesn’t credit her attention to studio arrangements. She was “always at the boards” with him when recording albums. He taught her a lot, but she certainly taught him, too.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

She was “always at the boards” with him when recording albums. He taught her a lot, but she certainly taught him, too.

If one listens to, In The Meantime, they would hear how much she helped him. I was kind of bored during his 2018 tour. She also gave him a spark and made him better. (like Christine does for everyone).

Edit: I actually hear some Tango elements with her vocals on this album.

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

However, I also think the success of The Dance surprised him and I think he realized the only way he was doing arenas was with Fleetwood Mac.

I don't think he realized it since The Dance. Fleetwood Mac filled arenas without him during Tango tour. And rejoining the band was more than certain that they would fill stadiums again, and if it weren't for Christine the tour would have been longer and worldwide. The 90s was the reunions decade, with Eagles and other bands precedents, there was no surprise.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by Villavic

I don't think he realized it since The Dance. Fleetwood Mac filled arenas without him during Tango tour. And rejoining the band was more than certain that they would fill stadiums again, and if it weren't for Christine the tour would have been longer and worldwide. The 90s was the reunions decade, with Eagles and other bands precedents, there was no surprise.

The Tango tour was based on Lindsey's album and produced hit singles with videos of him in them. The album was successful and yes the tour was successful. The next album without Lindsey was not successful and the tour did not pack them in like the Tango tour. I saw basically a sold out show in Pittsburgh in 1987 but the Farewell tour in 1990 had about only 2/3 full of the same arena. At the time I felt it being a sad farewell attendance for a supergroup. Stevie's OTSOTM tour one year earlier in the same arena had far more in attendance.

[David]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

I always got the impression he resented joining and being in Fleetwood Mac.

There was a brief window of time while they were recording Tusk when he was enthusiastic about the band’s future because he assumed the rest of them were gladly following him into new territory and aligned with his musical aspirations. Mick, particularly, filled him with hope about the kind of band Lindsey wanted Mac to be. But Lindsey wasn’t reading the room accurately. Far from wanting to take Mac down a new path, the others were only sitting back after a commercial blockbuster and letting Lindsey unfold his wings. But they were doing so only half-heartedly — or quarter-heartedly. The two McVies were pretty clear about not loving some of the music they were recording, Nicks didn’t have much authority in the band dynamic, and nutty Fleetwood was only having a little fun with Buckingham for a spell, like kids at recess.

In 1978, Buckingham believed he was in a band of edgy artistic allies. It was a failure of intelligence on his part, and the truth hit him probably even before the tour was over, as the backlash set in (probably from label executives even before the members said anything).

This is why his talk about legacy this past decade is so out of character for him. It’s not that I don’t believe him, but it’s definitely an about-face from his attitude about the band for forty years. He had some bizarro awakening about how good the band really was.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by Villavic

I don't think he realized it since The Dance. Fleetwood Mac filled arenas without him during Tango tour. And rejoining the band was more than certain that they would fill stadiums again, and if it weren't for Christine the tour would have been longer and worldwide. The 90s was the reunions decade, with Eagles and other bands precedents, there was no surprise.

I was talking about it from Lindsey’s end. He’d never toured solo prior to 1993 and I think he was shocked by how little demand there was for him as a solo artist. Fast forward to 1997, and he’s playing arenas again in one of the biggest bands in the world. I think that’s something he took for granted.

Fleetwood Mac was fine without him so long as Stevie was in the band. BTM might not have been successful by Rumours-era Fleetwood Mac standards, but it was still a pretty successful album, and they were still an arena band.

Originally Posted by David

This is why his talk about legacy this past decade is so out of character for him. It’s not that I don’t believe him, but it’s definitely an about-face from his attitude about the band for forty years. He had some bizarro awakening about how good the band really was.

Wild theory, but maybe it had something to do with revisiting all of that material for the deluxe edition reissues.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

I was talking about it from Lindsey’s end. He’d never toured solo prior to 1993 and I think he was shocked by how little demand there was for him as a solo artist. Fast forward to 1997, and he’s playing arenas again in one of the biggest bands in the world. I think that’s something he took for granted.

Fleetwood Mac was fine without him so long as Stevie was in the band. BTM might not have been successful by Rumours-era Fleetwood Mac standards, but it was still a pretty successful album, and they were still an arena band.


Wild theory, but maybe it had something to do with revisiting all of that material for the deluxe edition reissues.

I think it was the big money machine that made him come back and sort of change his tune about legacy. He was already rich but in the old days of the 70s and 80s, the bands and especially the writers made the most money off album sales. Tours were supplemental for the mega groups. Smaller bands who did not sell as many albums relied more on touring. However the late 90s and the cash grab tours changed all that. Suddenly one tour could gross more money than all of their touring combined. When there is that kind of money on the table, its really hard to resist. I think as Lindsey got older he also got more grounded. In 1982 he told Cream magazine that he did not want to tour anymore once he turned 40.
In the 70s' 80's you could see a concert for $15.00 or less almost what an album would cost. Today the cheapest tickets are well over $200 with many closer seats selling for thousands. Tours can gross over 1 million for one night.
Money changes everything.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

Fleetwood Mac was fine without him so long as Stevie was in the band. BTM might not have been successful by Rumours-era Fleetwood Mac standards, but it was still a pretty successful album, and they were still an arena band.

I agree. The Cleveland crowd at the BTM tour was full house and ravenous for them. I remember thinking, wow they actually really gel "as a band" and not some individuals stroking their own egos. Stevie was sedated of course.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

I agree. The Cleveland crowd at the BTM tour was full house and ravenous for them. I remember thinking, wow they actually really gel "as a band" and not some individuals stroking their own egos. Stevie was sedated of course.

I saw them at the Capital Music Center in Grove City and it was packed. It was a great show, the highlight being “Stop Messin’ Round” for me.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

I saw them at the Capital Music Center in Grove City and it was packed. It was a great show, the highlight being “Stop Messin’ Round” for me.

I still can't believe they performed: Don't Me Let Me Down Again. I never knew they broke this out. It's so damn good!! Billy was made for this song. Rick rips through it. Christine and John come thru loud and clear. Stevie nails it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYAa2RT0x3I

It's better than the B/N live version that's for sure. Just incredible.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

I still can't believe they performed: Don't Me Let Me Down Again. I never knew they broke this out. It's so damn good!! Billy was made for this song. Rick rips through it. Christine and John come thru loud and clear. Stevie nails it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYAa2RT0x3I

It's better than the B/N live version that's for sure. Just incredible.

I preferred the Tango setlist with that song. I was lucky to see both Rhiannon and Gypsy before they were dropped. Gypsy was really good. But BTM re-introduced Landslide which was groundbreaking. Funny to think that today. IMHO the band sounded better in 1990 esp with new original music with those members. Opening with In The Back Of My Mind was genius.

[David]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

I saw them at the Capital Music Center in Grove City and it was packed. It was a great show, the highlight being “Stop Messin’ Round” for me.

I got to see them sing “When the Sun Goes Down” with Chris on accordion and see Stevie swish around in a short-short skirt. This was during the June leg, up in Northern CA. But I was bored, bored, bored. This was my Alban Berg phase.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by David

I got to see them sing “When the Sun Goes Down” with Chris on accordion and see Stevie swish around in a short-short skirt. This was during the June leg, up in Northern CA. But I was bored, bored, bored. This was my Alban Berg phase.

I remember someone (possibly you) say how flat that tour had become.