Let's talk about John

[shackin'up]

Originally Posted by SortaSavageLike

You know, John McVie, that dude who plays bass for Fleetwood Mac? Anyway, for the past few months, I've come to realize that he's probably the most under appreciated long-standing member of Fleetwood Mac. His bass lines are always intriguing, even when they get buried in the mix. Lately I've been listening through my albums with the low-end cranked up just so I can appreciate his playing more. Listen to some great pre-Rumours tracks like Coming Your Way, Bare Trees, and Bare Trees and tell me that John isn't one of the most underrated players in the business. I'm not even an amateur musician, but I know good playing when I see it. He has a subtlety and tack that most rock bassists simply wish they had.

Besides the drunken fits he had during the making of Rumours, I've never heard anyone have anything bad to say about John and I get the impression he's always been a pretty classy guy. No one has accused him of strangling his exes, being an overbearing freak, having an enormous sexual appetite, joining religious cults, or ingesting drugs in interesting manners. John is so low-key I wouldn't be surprised if I walked into him in a buffet line and didn't recognize him. He never takes serious potshots at anyone else in the band, he has almost no ego to bruise and he and Christine basically got over themselves after their divorce and maintained a professional working relationship for almost 20 years afterwards. I wish more rock "stars" were as humble as he is.

All that AND he is basicly the BIG star of SYW. If anyone is at the top of his game on that album, it's him.

John also secretly propelled Tusk into timelessness (with Mick, who was endlessly creative then too). He says he hates all the studiotime but he ALWAYS delivers very interesting, melodic and inventive parts that not only always suit the song, but they gain quality and tension by his additions. Boy that guy can listen and react like nobody else.