Neil Finn on Fleetwood Mac internal politics

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

Billy said that?

To Rolling Stone last year.

[BigAl84]

On one hand I can kind of understand why Billy may have been a little shocked to not get any kind of phone call from Mick, but it has been 30+ years since 1987 so If I were Billy or Rick, I wouldn't make any big assumptions about anything. Making dismissive remarks about Neil definitely isn't a good look, Billy sounds bitter.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by BigAl84

On one hand I can kind of understand why Billy may have been a little shocked to not get any kind of phone call from Mick, but it has been 30+ years since 1987 so If I were Billy or Rick, I wouldn't make any big assumptions about anything. Making dismissive remarks about Neil definitely isn't a good look, Billy sounds bitter.

Wouldn't you be majorly disappointed as well? Can you blame him?

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

Wouldn't you be majorly disappointed as well? Can you blame him?

I can see why Billy was hurt. I can also see that FM wanted someone with a bit of pop relevance. I'm not sure Neil was the best choice, though he acquitted himself well.

For what it's worth, in 1987, Billy was hired over Welch returning. Welch said in his Q&A that he asked to rejoin when Lindsey left, but he never got a response. FM must have thought about Bob in 87 what they thought of Billy in 2018: best not to move backward...

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

I can see why Billy was hurt. I can also see that FM wanted someone with a bit of pop relevance. I'm not sure Neil was the best choice, though he acquitted himself well.

For what it's worth, in 1987, Billy was hired over Welch returning. Welch said in his Q&A that he asked to rejoin when Lindsey left, but he never got a response. FM must have thought about Bob in 87 what they thought of Billy in 2018: best not to move backward...

Bob wasn't a great singer, and that was probably a factor?
I've always liked Billy's voice. It's soothing, like Christine's.

[BigAl84]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

Wouldn't you be majorly disappointed as well? Can you blame him?

I totally don't blame him for being disappointed! But even as a fan of the band, I've come to learn to never expect loyalty from the majority of that band, especially from Mick.

[David]

Originally Posted by BigAl84

I totally don't blame him for being disappointed! But even as a fan of the band, I've come to learn to never expect loyalty from the majority of that band, especially from Mick.

I think I can understand and sympathize with Billy’s disappointment. But he’s been in the music biz long enough to know how it works at the Fleetwood Mac level. He’s a personable guy onstage, a good vocalist and performer, and a songwriter with standing among his peers. But when the organization is as big as Fleetwood Mac, you have all those agents and managers who are looking for the biggest paycheck possible. The American managers were probably down with Mike Campbell because he’s a legend with name recognition in American rock, but lord knows what they thought of Mick’s wish to hire Neil Finn, who had been off the American radio landscape for several decades. The managers were probably hoping for somebody like Ed Sheeran or Adam Levine — somebody who sold out venues in America. Maybe the lead singer in Coldplay or the guy who wrote “Over My Head.” Or Drake. Or Cher.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by David

but lord knows what they thought of Mick’s wish to hire Neil Finn, who had been off the American radio landscape for several decades.

I think they were probably thrilled. “Don’t Dream It’s Over” was one of the more iconic songs from the ‘80s, Neil Finn kept the critics darling art rocker vibe going, and he’s still popular amongst other major artists (like Eddie Vedder).

[David]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

I think they were probably thrilled.

I don’t think they were “thrilled.” I think they just wanted to get Mac out on the road.

“Don’t Dream It’s Over” was one of the more iconic songs from the ‘80s, Neil Finn kept the critics darling art rocker vibe going, and he’s still popular amongst other major artists (like Eddie Vedder).

If Americans remembered Neil at all, it was because of “Don’t Dream” and “Something So Strong” — pop hits from 1986. Since that time, their fanbase has been Australian and Asian and UK, not US. A string of their albums got good writeups but didn’t chart in the US any higher than Lindsey’s solo albums. I think the businessmen would have preferred a commercial powerhouse in the US had joined Mac, like the lead guitarist from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. That pleased the moneymen and the public.

[FuzzyPlum]

Originally Posted by David

I think I can understand and sympathize with Billy’s disappointment. But he’s been in the music biz long enough to know how it works at the Fleetwood Mac level. He’s a personable guy onstage, a good vocalist and performer, and a songwriter with standing among his peers. But when the organization is as big as Fleetwood Mac, you have all those agents and managers who are looking for the biggest paycheck possible. The American managers were probably down with Mike Campbell because he’s a legend with name recognition in American rock, but lord knows what they thought of Mick’s wish to hire Neil Finn, who had been off the American radio landscape for several decades. The managers were probably hoping for somebody like Ed Sheeran or Adam Levine — somebody who sold out venues in America. Maybe the lead singer in Coldplay or the guy who wrote “Over My Head.” Or Drake. Or Cher.

Maybe one eye on writing/recording. There’s no getting away from the fact Neil Finn is an incredible songwriter. He can pluck a tune out of nowhere. Though I hate the idea of this iteration of the band, the idea of a fm record part-written by Neil Finn is intriguing. His killer songs with Stevie/Christine backing vocals and a few staples from Chris & Stevie (ahem)….coulda been a terrific album. Genuinely!!!

[BigAl84]

Stevie Nicks “shocked” by Neil Finn’s latest remarks