I like Mick...anyone else?

[EveryHour]

I know a lot of people around here are really hard on Mick, so I just wanted to see who else out there likes him (or is at least indifferent!). Yes, he focuses a lot on money, but he's the Head Cheese of the group so that's part of his role. Yes, I am ready for him to toss the Hotz vest in favor of going back to his "talking drum", but he's probably just trying to help the inventor out. I know a lot of people rank on him as a drummer, but I think he's awesome. What would GYOW be without him?! He remains passionate about music and FM, and he seems emotional and genuine on a human level. And let's not forget the one and only wacky drumming faces.....

[DrummerDeanna]

I like Mick...now I don't know him personally but I like his drumming and I like his style...

As a fellow drummer he is rather good...not like Earth-shattering good, but he's not bad...and he actually does some really cool and creative stuff...the vest may need retiring...but hey it was cool at one time

He's wacky, fun and has a lot of personality..he's a blast to watch on the drums...and being in the front row, at one point when Stevie was facing him, I saw her reflection in the plastic partition thing...she was making weird faces back at Mick as he was making faces....classic moment right there...he's a ton of fun!

So as far as drummers go he's one of my all-time favorites...how bad can the man be...after all...Animal from The Muppets is rumoured to be modeled after him....:

[GypsySorcerer]

I like Mick. Sure, he's made mistakes, but I truly believe that he loves FM with every fiber of his being. That's HIS baby. And I think he is a heck of a drummer.

[wondergirl9847]

I like Mick. I don't know the man personally, but he's cool.

His drumming is pretty awesome, if ya ask me. I'm not a drummer, but hey, I just have to listen to the end of GYOW or Tusk.

[David]

Originally posted by EveryHour
I know a lot of people around here are really hard on Mick, so I just wanted to see who else out there likes him (or is at least indifferent!). Yes, he focuses a lot on money, but he's the Head Cheese of the group so that's part of his role. Yes, I am ready for him to toss the Hotz vest in favor of going back to his "talking drum", but he's probably just trying to help the inventor out. I know a lot of people rank on him as a drummer, but I think he's awesome. What would GYOW be without him?! He remains passionate about music and FM, and he seems emotional and genuine on a human level.

I love Mick. He's always been my favorite rock drummer -- by a landslide. I've heard all the "explanations" from other drummers & musicians about how Mick falls a bit short of great or even very good -- but what those people don't understand is that rock music is about style, not chops, & that Mick's style is exactly right for Fleetwood Mac. He is better for Fleetwood Mac than a thousand other drummers who can play rings around him technically. In fact, we've heard many technically more proficient drummers play Fleetwood Mac material -- many of them toured with Stevie Nicks, performing "Dreams," "Rhiannon," "Gold Dust Woman" & other Mac signature tunes. And not one of them ever outplayed Mick on those songs in terms of feel or style -- they couldn't kick "Dreams" in the butt the way he does, they couldn't propel "Rhiannon" for 15 minutes the way he used to, & they couldn't make that "Gold Dust Woman" cowbell sound anywhere near as eerie as he did back on the '77 tour.

They just don't get it.

Of course, the exact same argument can be made about Christine. I've heard a bunch of guys -- Steve Thoma, Dan Garfield, Brett Tuggle, Cat Gray, Kevin Stoller, Jay Winding, Chris Cameron, ad infinitum -- play the keyboard parts on Fleetwood Mac songs, & they all have more technical ability in their feet than Chris does in both her hands.

But who plays those Mac songs more "right"? Who added sharp, memorable signature licks throughout those songs that the time-clock sessionists couldn't even begin to approach, let alone equal, in terms of style? Hint: It sure wasn't the million-dollar session talent.

Mick's problem is he's just a venal idiot. But only very shortsighted fans will confuse that character flaw with his drumming.

[DownOnRodeo]

As soon as the fan club got straightened out to some extent I was happy with Mick again as an individual, and then having experienced some lucky moments in his 'presence' (lol, sounds a bit ridiculous) I can vouch that he's nothing short of a gentleman to strangers. And his drumming - well, we all know how good it is. I've heard ISA done by some other drummer and, um, yeah.... give me the Mick and Lindsey chemistry any day.

Stevie was amazing on the tour but for me, Lindsey and Mick almost stole the show. I was not expecting that!

[shackin'up]

I love Mick. For his extravaganza lifestyle over the years that added a huge part to the FM-story (positive and negative). His money-attitude is sickening, but also part of the same drama. But for the most, his stage personality and totally rock'n'roll drumstyle appeals the most to me. And of course because he sticks to his "less pronounced ego"-friend for about 40 years. For musical reasons, obviously. And the lindsey-mick chemistry, Joe, I agree, there's nothing like that in rockhistory.

[Gypsy-Rhiannon]

I don't like Micks involvement with a certain 'Toad' but when we waited in the freezing cold for over 2 hours in Birmingham he was the only band member who made the effort to come over and talk to us. I respected him for that

Pip

[Cristian]

When he plays drums (and I mean the real ones, not the ones in the vest or whatever), he's great. Really really great. Although sometimes he's buried in the mix by Lindsey's percussion machines (esp. on albums like Tango). But he is a great musician. He just shouldn't take care of money issues.


Song of the moment - Gypsy

[chiliD]

Mick as drummer: He's great

Mick calling the shots businesswise: pisses me off a lot...but the reissues have calmed me down a bit. I just hope the rest of the catalogue's reissues are released, if not, it'll stir my ire once again.

[jbrownsjr]

I agree with David. There is just something about Mick, John and Christine that people with technical and solo ability don't have. Call it a gift or magic add some honesty and you have the rhythm personality of FMac. Plus, Christine has golden ears which she doesn't get credit for very much. And when she has solo'd I have loved her approach ie. Crystal, For Duster, Bermuda Triangle etc.

[4Buck]

This rock soldier is an explosive rhythm machine!

When Mick Fleetwood’s ensconced on or off his throne, he’s the consummate showman! As he comes to a rhythm change and gets his groove, he punctuates each musical phrase to make something magical happen, e.g. on Buckingham’s GO YOUR OWN WAY and TUSK.

In OH WELL, Fleetwood had to apply some serious studying to that cowbell solo he originally did off-the-cuff so he could play it nightly the exact same way throughout a concert tour! He’s an instinctive, impulsive player and can’t always pound out the same brilliance twice! That's what makes him the great Mick Fleetwood! No other drummer could fill the shoes of the best band in the world!

(Wonder how many "hammer" marks are on Fleetwood's auxiliary hat!)

[WelshWitchPMD]

Mick was always a gentleman whenever I met him last year. I did get a backstage pass from him too even though I did not meet anyone after the show.

[dissention]

Good drummer.

When it comes to money, though, he's on par with Dubya in handling it.

I get the impression that he's in it for the money a lot. I think he enjoys his job, but I think money, not music, is his biggest motivation.

[golddustwoman77]

I love Mick! He is goofy and fun, and he adds another special dimension to FM that make it what it is----my favorite band ever and one of the best, most interesting bands in rock history! All the band members have had their ups and downs that, if we chose to, we could judge them for. But I don't feel that it is my place, so I try not to judge them. I just love each of them for who they are and what wonderful artist they each are. Also, I think Mick is an excellent drummer, and he has his own unique style that makes FM special. I also appreciate the fact that Mick cares SO much for FM. As someone said above, FM is Mick's baby, and I think he truly cares about the band. So for all those reasons, much love to Mick!