SN: Schedule Horrific; Nearly Killed Them All

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

. . . Stevie's withstood 35 years worth of criticism, and she's still around. Her career isn't going to suddenly end because of criticisms presented on a message board. Plus, the people on here who criticize her, do still buy the albums, still go to the concerts, or at the very least still spend their valuable time talking about her. She's only really in trouble when all of that stops.

Exactly - and she and FM are still commanding top dollar, though I readily admit they, on a tour with no record to support, are only at 90% or more capacity on average. So, despite all the naysayers, she and they must be doing something right And, who is to say that all of that 10% or so would buy a ticket if it were $25 less. I am sure many marketing people spent hours using their harvard degrees figuring out FM's price point to ensure max. capacity per gross rev.

In the end and IMO - La Nicks needs to move on from her Gold Dust tour, which she has been essentially doing (with some major differences like Henley concerts during the initial GD tour and the Summer of Petty) for the last three years. I think she is going to move on after this tour.

As for her bashing -- I think people take what she says way to literally. For example, some "fan" awhile back said she was insulting the troops to some horrible degree by saying being in FM was like being in the army, etc. I mean give me a fukcing break - the lady has her not so good points (a lack of interest in a good vocal on the likes of Dreams or Rhiannon standing to the front for me) - but she hardly rises to the level people, mostly naysayers, ascribe to her

[LukeA]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

As for her bashing -- I think people take what she says way to literally. For example, some "fan" awhile back said she was insulting the troops to some horrible degree by saying being in FM was like being in the army, etc. I mean give me a fukcing break - the lady has her not so good points (a lack of interest in a good vocal on the likes of Dreams or Rhiannon standing to the front for me) - but she hardly rises to the level people, mostly naysayers, ascribe to her

http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showpo...7&postcount=26

And I stand by it.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by LukeA

http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showpo...7&postcount=26

And I stand by it.

And ridiculously so IMO. But, opinions are like a$$holes . . . .

have you actually never heard this expression used in the vernacular - are you that out of touch? More likely, you are stirring the shiitte because no one is that naive, stupid, and/or ridiculous IMO to think that she actually meant it literally.

I mean

Yes, that was once the (lame) excuse that her defenders used to rationalize her insensitivity. However, this time, she went out of her way to elaborate on her generalization to show exactly what she has meant by it all these years.

You see, its not just the regimented/disciplined environment that comes by being a professional in general... but also the frightening, uncertain scenario of going to faraway lands (touring), putting yourself in a potential combat scenario (Lindsey the meanie) for who knows how long (read the damned contract next time).

Forget "costs a gazillion times more", "we wish we could play for free", "why bother recording"- those lines, more than anything, just present her as the relatively clueless person we can all pretty much concede her to be. She lives in a different world of celebrity and doesn't have a real idea on what the world is like around her, and who her fans truly are. As fans, we accept this as a necessary flaw, or even something that might even make her more charming (as I've seen suggested on these boards in this past week).

The army/Iraq analogy, however, reeks of pure idiocy and insensitivity. Its completely indefensible, and not something that can be excused (before anyone brings up the iPod's/Walter Reed/etc- a gesture can never override an overarching belief) Unless she was misquoted the dozens of times she's used this general analogy, this is how she believes.
\

is laughable.

[BTFLCHLD]

The only NEG within this thread is The Whiner

[vivfox]

Someone please close this thread and lock it away in the vault with the rest of FMac's long lost demos...

[steviefan59]

Originally Posted by vivfox

Someone please close this thread and lock it away in the vault with the rest of FMac's long lost demos...

i love this mark...this should have been locked up and thrown away 8 pages ago imo...stupid that a 20 something year old is causing this much stir...hugs pat

[louielouie2000]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

I haven't been to any of the shows (I believe you've said that you haven't either), but I've read many times about her going over to John and sharing a laugh with him. Smiling and making faces with Mick. Laying her head on Lindsey during the end of "Sara." Holding hands with him. Etc., etc. And she certainly looks content enough to me in the pics I've seen.

When it comes to her statement about the tour -- as I read it, she wasn't bashing the tour itself, only the schedule. Reminds me of the time on 'The Osbournes' (yes, I admit to having watched a few episodes) when Ozzy was in a complete tizzy because they scheduled him to perform two concerts in a row (he's the same age as Stevie, for the record).

One can still love performing while also not wanting to utterly exhaust themselves in the process. The two things aren't mutually exclusive.

As far as her comment that "people are stealing our music" -- it can't be bashing when it's the truth. Just about every single artist in the music industry will corroborate her statement. On the positive side, she's said on several recent occasions that she wants to make new music again, whether it's commercially successful or not. So she seems to be coming around again.

[*** I should note that the following is no longer in response to Louie.]

Despite my reputation as a "Stevie Defender," I've never been opposed to criticisms of her or the band, so long as they're presented fairly or reasonably (of course, I fully recognize that everyone has their own perspective on what's "fair" or "reasonable").

David O., for example, can completely break down every single aspect that he doesn't enjoy about a track (oftentimes one of my favorites), and I thoroughly enjoy reading what he has to say -- because his tone is calm and rational, and his opinion has been well articulated.

Maybe, and I could be wrong here, but just maybe some of the people who express displeasure with the tone of certain threads, aren't against criticism, per se, but the sometimes over-the-top, seemingly unrelenting way it's presented. Although they most certainly shouldn't use that as an opportunity to bash other Ledgies. The carping and passive-aggressive sniping is the worst part of any message board, and one would hope that anyone over the age of 15 would move beyond that.

Stevie's withstood 35 years worth of criticism, and she's still around. Her career isn't going to suddenly end because of criticisms presented on a message board. Plus, the people on here who criticize her, do still buy the albums, still go to the concerts, or at the very least still spend their valuable time talking about her. She's only really in trouble when all of that stops.

Brian! Glad to see you're throwing in your chips, I haven't seen you post in forever!

You're correct, I haven't seen the band perform this tour. But I did see them 3 times during the Say You Will Tour, and have seen plenty of videos from this current tour. And that's why I've chosen to sit this one out. I must say, the early shows of the Say You Will tour were just electric to me. The kids were all so ON and there was an energy of freshness coursing through the band with the new dynamic, sans Christine. Lindsey was a wildman, and I think Stevie really enjoyed the additional breathing room in the set. You can tell both parties were wildly proud of their new material. Something happened during that tour though, which I don't think the band has recovered from yet. By the time the band rolled into Charlotte in the summer of 2004, they didn't seem to be having much fun. New songs had been dropped, and Stevie especially had become very disinterested. Through all the Mac concerts I've seen this decade, she absolutely won't interact with the audience. She won't make eye contact. She just blindly stares out into space. Especially the last show I saw them, Stevie just couldn't seem more disinterested. I think that's something that you have to experience in person, and be up close to recognize. She just seemed to be going through the motions. Having seen that in person, I can recognize many of the same things in videos from this latest tour. It's like she's lost her Mac muse. She's almost went into this tour with a chip on her shoulder from the last Mac outing, where she admittedly didn't have a great time. It's all just so very different from seeing her solo. She interacts with her audience, she's much looser, happier, chattier, etc. I think the happiest and most INTO performing I've ever seen Stevie was the opening night of Tom Petty's tour in Charlotte a few years ago. Stevie was just glowing. Seeing her perform Insider with Tom for the first time in nearly 2 decades sent chills throughout me, and you can tell it truly affected her the same way. I just wish she could get some of that mojo back for her Mac performances. I'm really hoping the Mac will close out this tour, go straight into the studio, and record some magic to change things up a bit. Maybe that's all it is... Stevie's just bored from singing Rhiannon for 35 years straight?

[michelej1]

Here's a bit fuller quote from Stevie, posted on Star FM 103's website in Tulsa

http://star103fm.com/music/music_news.html?printer=1

Stevie Nicks Dislikes the Pace

Following Fleetwood Mac's concert at Tulsa's BOK Center Sunday, May 3rd, several concert-goers called Star 103.3 to say that they thoroughly enjoyed the show, but that Stevie Nicks appeared to be "tired". Well, she probably was. According to Stevie, the schedule for the first leg of Fleetwood Mac's Unleashed tour gave the band members only a few days off. "The schedule was horrific and nearly killed all four of us," Nicks said. "So they've actually gone back in and changed a few things around so we could have two days off every once in a while. Because it was two on one off, two on one off, one on one off, two on one off...it's like, 'Are you trying to kill us?'" Promoter Live Nation has worked more off-days into the second leg, which now runs through late June.

[LukeA]

Originally Posted by michelej1

Here's a bit fuller quote from Stevie, posted on Star FM 103's website in Tulsa

http://star103fm.com/music/music_news.html?printer=1

Stevie Nicks Dislikes the Pace

Following Fleetwood Mac's concert at Tulsa's BOK Center Sunday, May 3rd, several concert-goers called Star 103.3 to say that they thoroughly enjoyed the show, but that Stevie Nicks appeared to be "tired". Well, she probably was. According to Stevie, the schedule for the first leg of Fleetwood Mac's Unleashed tour gave the band members only a few days off. "The schedule was horrific and nearly killed all four of us," Nicks said. "So they've actually gone back in and changed a few things around so we could have two days off every once in a while. Because it was two on one off, two on one off, one on one off, two on one off...it's like, 'Are you trying to kill us?'" Promoter Live Nation has worked more off-days into the second leg, which now runs through late June.

Never mind the fact that the entire tour's schedule (thru San Diego) was already set & publicly released well before opening night.

[belladonnadream]

Originally Posted by nailatixela

It looks like May is jammed packed with dates though. Doesn't sound like Stevie is very happy about touring...hmm.

I think she hates when things aren't her way...when she tours solo she seems soo much happier and probably has things more her way then having to compromise....she gets on the road with FM and gets so dramatic...and look how happy she looked for her Soundstage thing in NYC....must have been a breath of fresh air for her!

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by LukeA

Never mind the fact that the entire tour's schedule (thru San Diego) was already set & publicly released well before opening night.

Agreed, again, why the sudden revelation? /.\./\./\

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by vivfox

Someone please close this thread and lock it away in the vault with the rest of FMac's long lost demos...

NO.... i want those demos...

[vivfox]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

NO.... i want those demos...

What I meant to say was that this thread has become a slingfest at attacking various Ledge members. Ledgies arguing with other Ledgies is not a good thing. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about. We should stick with the subject at hand or just close and lock this thread. Just my humble opinion.

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by LukeA

http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showpo...7&postcount=26

And I stand by it.

you are so funny!! And I stand...and sit by it! Being on this board is like being in the Navy!

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by steviefan59

holy crap...this board has turned negativity into a credo...i'm on several boards and i have to say that if u dont like stevie thats fine but there are a lot of us who love her...ur all entitled to ur own opinions but sometimes ur opinions are just plain nasty...stevie nicks is fleetwood mac...lindsey buckingham is fleetwood mac...they've tried it with other members and it just didnt work...stevie has contributed some of the biggest hits to fleetwood mac...i know as a 62 year old woman that i am i have a bitch of a time some days doing the necessary things to make a household run...i can't fathom how stevie does what she does without using drugs or booze to prop herself up...u guys should be greatful that she and lindsey are able to get up there night after night and try to put on the best show they can...some days are harder and God forbid she should say anything or complain bc yall jump down her throat for every little fukking thing she says...all this crap makes me down right pissed...who are u going to complain about when stevies gone? have u ever heard the phrase "if u can't say something nice about someone don't say anything at all"? if u dont like her u'll never understand why so many of us do but please try to give her credit and not squash the part she's played in making this a band that is still popular 35 years after they joined...pat

I don't wish to be perceived as negative, but why the aversion to sentence structure, commas and periods? Why "u" instead of "you," and why "u'll" instead of "you'll."

I appreciate the statements you post, but clear and literate communication, as well as credibilty, is severely strained with these perculiar mannerisms. In other words, the message you are trying to convey loses its impact, Sorry if you take this the wrong way, however I am a professional writer and student of English, and I hate to see written communication so hacked up and disrespected. I still make mistakes, but at least I try!