How many incarnations of the Mac have you seen live?

[PenguinHead]

1. Mick-John-Christine-Stevie-Lindsey (Mirage/The Dance/pending tour!)
2. Mick-John-Christine-Stevie-Rick-Billy(Behind the Mask)
3. Mick-John-Beka-Dave-Billy (Time)
4. Mick-John-Stevie-Lindsey(Say You Will/recent tour)

Two Dance shows (Boston/Portland)
Two Behind the Mask shows (Boston/Portland)
Two Say You Will shows (Boston/Portland)

I regret, inexplicably, not seeing their Tango tour, and to a lesser extent, the the non-album tour, prior to the most recent one. I didn't start attending concerts until 1980, so I missed the Tusk tour, and of course, all shows prior to that; I was just a little child (of mine).

The Mirage show was/is still memorable. It was my first Fleetwood Mac show, and it was just overwhelmingly fantastic. So glad I got to see them in a purer form, before they began glutting their stage with Stevie's background singers and numerous musicians. That seems to be somewhat of a progressive norm for older bands.

On their last tour, I was glad to see that an effort was made to keep the support players less visible. That doesn't bother me anymore. Tours have become more akin to corporations, with big brand sponsors,generating huge profits. Some music "fans" began having specific expectations as ticket prices went through the the roof. So shows became less loose and paced and polished, akin toe a Vegas show in order to placate the sponsors and squeeze as much revenue as possible.

I don't blame the bands. They are just trying to make a living and keeping up with the current state of the industry and fill seats. Also, I suppose it's much more expensive to be tour these days.....blah, blah, blah...time to turn off my stream of thoughts now.

But one more note: Ticket prices for the Mirage and Rock a Little shows I saw were less than $30! Later shows I saw in the 1990's were no more than $60. Food for thought.

[He's So Unusual]

I've only seen the four piece line-up twice (Mick, John, Lindsey and Stevie). I wasn't alive when the Peter Green and Bob Welch line-up toured, and I was too young to attend any of the 1980s and 1990s tours.