Picture from 1996

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

I find it hard to believe that in 1996 Stevie would follow the Mac anywhere.

Well, it wasn't a Fleetwood Mac show. Fleetwood Mac had broken up at that point (and Bekka and Rick weren't in Fleetwood Mac together). Actually, 1996 was the year Stevie, Lindsey, and Mick did "Twisted."

[billwebster]

This is pretty awesome. Bekka & Billy with Stevie and Rick Vito with his "Pink and Black" guitar!

[moon]

This is simply great...three different times of Fleetwood Mac together in one picture!!

[cbBen]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

Well, it wasn't a Fleetwood Mac show. Fleetwood Mac had broken up at that point (and Bekka and Rick weren't in Fleetwood Mac together). Actually, 1996 was the year Stevie, Lindsey, and Mick did "Twisted."

A trial run to see whether Stevie and Lindsey could work together prior to their committing to the Dance?

Or had that reunion already been agreed to?

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by cbBen

A trial run to see whether Stevie and Lindsey could work together prior to their committing to the Dance?

Or had that reunion already been agreed to?

I don’t know. I know what they’ve said, but I also know what others have said.

We know Lindsey made a cameo on “Time” and that Neale Heywood was mentioned in the liner notes. Dave Mason later said that they knew in 1995 that the classic lineup was getting back together. So, I think it’s safe to say that Mick started working with Lindsey again sometime in 1995.

Mick announced sometime in February or March, 1996, that he was working with Lindsey on Lindsey’s upcoming solo album. On March 30, I got an email from Dave Mason’s bassist Rich Campbell confirming Fleetwood Mac had broken up. Weeks later, there was an official press announcement.

On May 3, 1996, Mick, John, Christine, and Stevie showed up to the Kentucky Derby, ironically with Steve Winwood filling in for Lindsey. They were supposed to play, but it rained and the McVies wouldn’t play. The next day, Mick did an interview and said Lindsey decided to stay home and work on his album instead. A few days later, “Twisted” came out.

So “Time” was released on Oct. 10, 1995 and “Twisted” on May 10, 1996, seven months later.

You be the judge.

Personally, I think it had become obvious to all sometime in 1995 that Fleetwood Mac was floundering, Lindsey tanked as a solo artist, and Stevie hit a low point in her career, yet Smashing Pumpkins and Hole were having minor hits with Fleetwood Mac songs. I think it became obvious they needed each other to be able to continue having any semblance of a future, especially with Mo and Lenny out at Warner Bros. And, with the success of “Hell Freezes Over” and “No Quarter,” a blueprint for a reunion was already in place.

I think Lindsey very intentionally started using Mick, John, and Christine on his “solo” album. He wanted it to have durability as to how it could be released.

[Macfan4life]

To say Fleetwood Mac was floundering in 1995 is an understatement. The band was staying at Best Western and Holiday Inn hotels during this time. There was an article about the Dance in 1997 in the Palm Beach Post that described how Mick's life had changed. They were renting an entire floor at the world exclusive Breakers Hotel yet 2 years prior the paper pointed out this dumpy Best Western hotel they stayed at prior.

Mick has always taken great pride in keeping the band going. However, I was surprised he recently admitted it was a mistake to do so. I was floored I heard him say that.

Besides Street Angel tanking (it was not even gold in 1994) not charting, and not having any top 40 hits, her tour was not extended as planned. She was supposed to play 2 nights at the new (then) Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. It was never announced but she cancelled the extension of the tour. The Kravis Center is a theater so Stevie was playing the Ohio Fair and in some instances theaters promoting an album that flopped.

I recently watched those long Dance interviews during rehearsals. It was just a reminder that old wounds were not healed but did it for soaking in wild success again.

When Enchanted was released in 1998 many commented how the Dance relaunched Stevie's career. Enchanted sold well but her concert was playing to packed amphitheaters and arenas again.

So not once but twice Fleetwood Mac made Stevie a solo star. Christine was always good with money so she probably did not need it. Lindsey saw those dollar signs and went along for the ride.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

To say Fleetwood Mac was floundering in 1995 is an understatement. The band was staying at Best Western and Holiday Inn hotels during this time. There was an article about the Dance in 1997 in the Palm Beach Post that described how Mick's life had changed. They were renting an entire floor at the world exclusive Breakers Hotel yet 2 years prior the paper pointed out this dumpy Best Western hotel they stayed at prior.

Mick has always taken great pride in keeping the band going. However, I was surprised he recently admitted it was a mistake to do so. I was floored I heard him say that.

Besides Street Angel tanking (it was not even gold in 1994) not charting, and not having any top 40 hits, her tour was not extended as planned. She was supposed to play 2 nights at the new (then) Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. It was never announced but she cancelled the extension of the tour. The Kravis Center is a theater so Stevie was playing the Ohio Fair and in some instances theaters promoting an album that flopped.

And, Lindsey floundered as a solo artist. In spite of videos and heavy promotion, OOTC sold about what “Time” sold and he had to resort to opening for Tina Turner.

A lot of pride had to be swallowed all around. But, the six or seven months they spent for The Dance paid off for all of them. Christine got to go out on top (or so we thought), Stevie was able to reinvent her image and become relevant again, and Lindsey eventually found his own niche.

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

And, Lindsey floundered as a solo artist. In spite of videos and heavy promotion, OOTC sold about what “Time” sold and he had to resort to opening for Tina Turner.

A lot of pride had to be swallowed all around. But, the six or seven months they spent for The Dance paid off for all of them. Christine got to go out on top (or so we thought), Stevie was able to reinvent her image and become relevant again, and Lindsey eventually found his own niche.

I agree Lindsey's solo career didn't make as much money or chart as high as Stevie's.
Opening for Tina Turner is a privilege. To me, Tina is the queen of rock, pop, dance. The greatest.
Stevie has opened for Aerosmith and even said she was happy to open for Rod Stewart, playing a shorter set than Rod did.

[Macfan4life]

I remember Fleetwood Mac playing a small nightclub in 1994 (one year before Time) in West Palm Beach. I imagine this is what Mick regrets about carrying the band on at any cost. I wonder what they were paid for such a small gig.

[Nicks Fan]

The thing I always found hypocritical was those in recent years who chided or made of Lindsey for playing theaters and or casinos on solo tours and opening uo for Tina Turner but Stevie has done the same thing. She has opened for Rod Stewart done co head lining tours with The Pretenders and Don Henley. She also has played casinos and theaters as late as the IYD tour. I don't think for a second that if she did another solo tour with zero opening act or Vanessa Carleton again that she would be playing and or selling out arenas.

Her last tour was successful but I think having the Pretenders along helped a great deal. It amounted to a tour similar to the ones being put on with bands like Def Leppard and Journey or Chicago and REO Speedwagon, Heart with Sheryl Crow and Elle Goulding or Steve Winwood and Santanna etc. You get two groups of fans buying tickets.

I think the reunion in 97 helped everyone. Lindsey made some new music finally and did tour even if it took a while before that happened. It just makes me mad that since 97 we have 1 new studio album from FM. Yet they have milked the past for over 10 years vs doing new music for the fans.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by UnwindedDreams

I agree Lindsey's solo career didn't make as much money or chart as high as Stevie's.

It’s not a contest. Lindsey wasn’t viable as a solo artist at that time. His album tanked in spite of heavy promotion and the leadership change at the label didn’t favor him going forward as a solo artist. It also didn’t favor Fleetwood Mac going forward without him and Stevie, especially if Christine wasn’t going to do an extensive tour. Stevie also hit a low point in her career and needed to reinvent herself on a grand scale. A reunion was the only way any of them had a chance to have careers going forward.

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

I remember Fleetwood Mac playing a small nightclub in 1994 (one year before Time) in West Palm Beach. I imagine this is what Mick regrets about carrying the band on at any cost. I wonder what they were paid for such a small gig.

You’d be surprised. Some of the small venues come up with serious cash to get a a couple of big name acts. I’ve seen some small venues come up with over $30,000 for a band.

I’d be curious to see the itinerary at that time. It could have been a pickup gig. In any case, I never faulted the venues and tours they did in 94-95 because they didn’t have an album of new material out. Since it was a new lineup with none of the vocalists in the classic lineup and they didn’t have anything released except one song, I don’t know what people expected them to play.