Rare (and cool) Christine Interview: 1985

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by Villavic

It is supposed that the first motivation for doing Tango was Mick’s bankruptcy. In his book he said this happened in June 1984. But I would think the idea was born in 1985.

As it happened, it was really Christine McVie who reunited Fleetwood Mac. It started when she called John Courage out of his Hawaiian exile to help her make an album in Switzerland, and eventually to manage her career. Christine had been asked to record Elvis's "Can't Help Falling in Love" for the soundtrack of the film A Fine Mess. She called in Richard Dashut to produce, who in turn said that Lindsey was a real Elvis fan and might like to get involved. Then John Courage called me and John McVie, and in August 1985 four-fifths of Fleetwood Mac found themselves in the studio, cutting this record. This was fun, and the seed that eventually grew into Tango in the Night.

But it was far from easy. Our natural group chemistry was still pretty weak at that point, and it was really the lawyers and managers the Gang of Four who tried to work out a structure in which we could create together. I have to say that from the outset, Stevie's people were great. Mick's in a jam, they said. How can we help him? John McVie said he would be there. Christine said she was in. Lindsey Buckingham alone was fairly reticent about Fleetwood Mac. He was enjoying his hard-won independence and deep into his own album with Richard Dashut.

Eventually we worked to build enough momentum that we were able to convince Lindsey that it might go off without him. When Lindsey said he was in, things went forward.


So if this is true and accurate, when in 1984 Christine announced a Mac reunion to record an album, probably it was based just in conversations with Mick, and probably John. I don't think she was sure they would count on Lindsey. And on Stevie. Nor when would this happen.

You and that book!

I do think this brings up a good conversation about this odd time in the Mac's history 1983-1985. All the singers with their solo projects were routinely asked about the future of Fleetwood Mac. The Zoo was on TV asked about the future and we got answers like "No comment." Stevie in 1985 was sort of bitter and cast shade saying "if everyone is really nice then maybe I will be a part" During numerous Go Insane promo interviews Lindsey was always vague too. Stevie was positive in 1983 saying "there will always be new Mac albums" But she grew very bitter and isolated about the Mac's future in that 1985 long interview that's been posted here many times.
Christine was always positive no matter what year. As early as spring of 1984 she was claiming the band was going to get together later that year (on American Bandstand). She had not even recorded "Cant Help Falling In Love" yet which was sort of the catalyst for bringing the band together again.
So I think there is some truth with what you are saying. There was probably a Mick conversation or a Warner Bros inquiry about a new album.
Since you brought up that freaking book I can quote it without even looking at it. Mick writes something like "Stevie had just finished the platinum Wild Heart and there was no way her management was going to allow her to come back to the Mac for awhile.
Chris was the always the optimist in those confusing and dark Mac years.