Let's show some love for Penguin and Heroes!

[chriskisn]

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

The reason they hired Dave was not to change the sound of the band. Recalling comments from band members, they convinced themselves to believe that they needed a front man...at this point in time.

Yet they were very uncomfortable with that prospect -- hence his limited output on the album. They just didn't really know what to do with him - how to assimilate him into the group as the front man. Then it became very obvious to all that the chemistry was off and having an official designated "front man" was not the preferred format of a Fleetwood Mac band.

However...

Whether the band or Clifford Davis was behind the hiring of Dave, what was the reason for hiring him in particular? There must have been some belief that his sound was what FM wanted (or what Clifford Davis wanted for FM). Otherwise they could have hired a front man who sang opera.

I'm not questioning whether Dave as a personality fitted into the band or whether the band needed a front man - we know from history that they didn't (they needed a front-woman but that is a story for a different day).

I just figure that other than the fact that Dave needed a job and that FM or Davis thought they needed a front man, there must have been a reason for hiring somone with his particular style - hence either the band or Davis wanted to bring a somewhat raw bluesy style to their music.

Personally I can imagine the conversation with Davis telling the band "Guys we really need to capture this harder edged sound, its what is selling out there right now. We need to harden you up a little. I know of a perfect front-man who can really work a crowd, plus he'll blow the rest of you off the stage with his voice. The record buying public will love it"

Ok so maybe that is just my imagination but Dave has said in interviews that what he thought they wanted and what they did want were two very different things. I'd hazard a guess that it wasn't only to be a front-man but also more of a raw bluesy sound.

Disagree if you will