Mike Campbell talks about FM in New interview

[anusha]

I agree -- I don't agree with the justifications that I'm describing, but I think that it was part of the whole picture inside Stevie's head. But that is in no way an endorsement of it. Like I said, they wanted an excuse to do what they wanted and not appear to be the bad guys. I think this played into the mindset, but it's just a theory.

I suspect Stevie was fairly assertive especially at the height of her post-Rumours fame. A lot of the guys she was with seem like jerks, but she didn't seem cowed by any of them. That doesn't mean that she didn't have to put up with a lot of sexist BS.

I personally haven't liked any of SN's solo albums since TOSOTM. There have been bits and pieces that have been good, but overall, I find her lyrics generally have crossed the line from self-mythology to straight on narcissism, and I don't like the musical arrangements. I do think Lindsey is really the only one who is producing music that is vital and interesting (and I say this as someone who was lukewarm on his SYW songs overall).

As much as I am trying to get inside the mindset, the firing was really the last straw. There's been so much moneygrabbing by FM/Mick over recent years with all the reissues and greatest hits tours, and I was along for ride until now.

The thing I find galling about the firing, as a fan, is this -- FM, and especially SN, were willing to milk fan/press interest in her and Lindsey for 20 years after The Dance. Even though it's pretty clear it's been a contentious and fairly toxic relationship the entire time. Stevie was willing to play up the fake romance when she could profit from it, but then she can't be civil and stands on "principle" about not waiting for his solo tour when FM has waited for her solo projects before starting theirs? I think the entire band went along with firing Lindsey because they knew it wouldn't affect them financially. And to me, that cheapens anything we saw from them after maybe the nights when they filmed The Dance.

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by anusha

Stevie was willing to play up the fake romance when she could profit from it, but then she can't be civil and stands on "principle" about not waiting for his solo tour when FM has waited for her solo projects before starting theirs

When Stevie's ready, that's when Mick's ready. Meanwhile Stevie's 2012 IYD Tour was playing sheds with tons of empty seats.

2018 was a rush to do another run through the past tour. The bones of the 2018 set is what they did with Lindsey. They copied Lindsey's Chain, Chris song, and Dreams opening trio that he sequenced for OWTS and MusiCares. Acoustic set in the middle with just Stevie and Neil (that started on Unleashed) And Gold Dust Woman into Go Your Own Way to close the main set and then encore with Don't Stop.

They used him then lose him.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by UnwindedDreams

2018 was a rush to do another run through the past tour. The bones of the 2018 set is what they did with Lindsey. They copied Lindsey's Chain, Chris song, and Dreams opening trio that he sequenced for OWTS and MusiCares. Acoustic set in the middle with just Stevie and Neil (that started on Unleashed) And Gold Dust Woman into Go Your Own Way to close the main set and then encore with Don't Stop.

They used him then lose him.

On the 1987 tour, they did SYLM, The Chain, and Dreams to open, HAEWAFY as the “acoustic” number midway through the set, and Don’t Stop was in the encore. In 1990, it was In The Back of My Mind, The Chain, and Dreams to open, Landslide in the middle of the set, and Don’t Stop in the encore. But, sure, everything that ever happened with a Fleetwood Mac setlist ever was all Lindsey. Even when he wasn’t in the band.

Christine has had “Don’t Stop” in the encore set ever since her 1984 tour, which he was also not involved with.

[SteveMacD]

Lindsey’s firing had nothing to do with abuse or MeToo.

Stevie didn’t need Lindsey or Fleetwood Mac after 1981, yet Stevie continued to work with Lindsey for over 35 years afterwards. That’s simply not consistent with abuse. Not saying he didn’t with other women or that he didn’t work on his demons, but I genuinely do not believe he was abusive towards Stevie. Just compare Stevie and Lindsey to Ike and Tina Turner, where there was actual abuse. Tina got out and never looked back.

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

On the 1987 tour, they did SYLM, The Chain, and Dreams to open, HAEWAFY as the “acoustic” number midway through the set, and Don’t Stop was in the encore. In 1990, it was In The Back of My Mind, The Chain, and Dreams to open, Landslide in the middle of the set, and Don’t Stop in the encore. But, sure, everything that ever happened with a Fleetwood Mac setlist ever was all Lindsey. Even when he wasn’t in the band.

Christine has had “Don’t Stop” in the encore set ever since her 1984 tour, which he was also not involved with.

Unnecessary anger written in your post.
You're incorrect to bring up '87 because '87 came from 82 Did you know In the Back of My Mind isn't a Chris song?
Lindsey created the acoustic portion of the show. Big Love. Landslide. NGBA.
To deny that Lindsey didn't craft the Mac setlist template is to deny that every person has an orefice.

[sue]

Originally Posted by UnwindedDreams

Unnecessary anger written in your post.
You're incorrect to bring up '87 because '87 came from 82 Did you know In the Back of My Mind isn't a Chris song?
Lindsey created the acoustic portion of the show. Big Love. Landslide. NGBA.
To deny that Lindsey didn't craft the Mac setlist template is to deny that every person has an orefice.

I have plenty of orifice, but can’t find one orefice.

I often don’t quite understand all that Stevemacd goes on about.
But I don’t hear any anger in his quote

[anusha]

I don't think there is a way to parse out whose contribution means the most in FM, to be honest. You have Mick/John, an amazing rhythm section and the founders, Chris, the writer of some of the most enduring, radio friendly hits, Stevie, an amazing stylist, writer and a genuine star, and Lindsey, an amazing performer, producer and musical architect.

They've toured without Lindsey or Chris in the past, and it's been fine but not great. But somehow a band that always used to tout how much their message was about unity and the ways they've gone through so much together, in the end, they were always chasing the moneymaking machine that was The Eagles (whom I respect more for being honest about what their goals are).

I mean, it was a no brainer for Mick and the McVies financially and even in terms of what kinds of shows they wanted to play -- arenas and not theaters. Stevie knew that, and they knew that. What is disappointing to me is not Mick and John -- they always have been willing to pick up new players and move on -- but Chris. I mean she made a duo album and did a whole tour with Lindsey, and then to just roll over and let this happen? She might have had the power to say, I'm not doing this. Man, that's just cold to me. And, I'm sure that behind the scenes, she's emails Lindsey and says, I had to go along with them if I wanted to actually play big shows and make money. And he probably accepts that. But that's the part that I think is especially gross.

While I think Stevie/Mick bear the most responsibility for the firing, the McVies are responsible for their own choices. Everyone gets to make their choices, but they don't get to control how other people see those choices. Mick/Stevie/McVies tried to have both when firing Lindsey, and that's just not happening.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by anusha

I mean, it was a no brainer for Mick and the McVies financially and even in terms of what kinds of shows they wanted to play -- arenas and not theaters. Stevie knew that, and they knew that. What is disappointing to me is not Mick and John -- they always have been willing to pick up new players and move on -- but Chris. I mean she made a duo album and did a whole tour with Lindsey, and then to just roll over and let this happen? She might have had the power to say, I'm not doing this. Man, that's just cold to me. And, I'm sure that behind the scenes, she's emails Lindsey and says, I had to go along with them if I wanted to actually play big shows and make money. And he probably accepts that. But that's the part that I think is especially gross.

While I think Stevie/Mick bear the most responsibility for the firing, the McVies are responsible for their own choices. Everyone gets to make their choices, but they don't get to control how other people see those choices. Mick/Stevie/McVies tried to have both when firing Lindsey, and that's just not happening.

Yep, THIS.

This is what I've been saying since day one. Chris had the power to stop this, and she rolled over like a dog. "You can't fire him. You fire him, and I'm GONE".
That would have stopped it. Guaranteed.
Prove me wrong.

[elle]

Originally Posted by anusha

While I think Stevie/Mick bear the most responsibility for the firing, the McVies are responsible for their own choices. Everyone gets to make their choices, but they don't get to control how other people see those choices. Mick/Stevie/McVies tried to have both when firing Lindsey, and that's just not happening.

oh, definitely agree there. McVies could have walked and waited to see what happens. maybe managers would have to reconsider and go back to Lindsey, and maybe they would throw McVies over the fence too. considering some of the other old bands / corporations managed by the same managers, they would have probably toured with just Stevie and one more member and called it Fleetwood Mac, and charge even more to have money to push the damage under the rug and try to make up bad excuses for all 3 - McVies and Lindsey, the same as they were tripping all over themselves trying to make up excuses for what they did to Lindsey.

my only problem with your narrative is that you keep saying that "the band" or Mick Stevie and McVies fired Lindsey. that's not true. McVies didn't fire Lindsey. remember first vote they took, while Christine was on the plane to London and Lindsey on the plane to LA, with just Mick, Stevie and John, was Stevie and Mick for firing, John McVie against. John went back to LA and then Mick had to "work to convince" John for 3 days that he should do what Mick and Stevie wanted him to. so then John agreed.

then Christine was told and apparently disappeared off the face of the earth for several days and refused to have anything to do with them - or something like that. and then they dragged her back.

so no, McVies didn't fire Lindsey, they didn't want him out of the band. they had no problems with him whatsoever, probably just the opposite. they just went along after a lot of convincing, and probably threatening with contract breaches (which was bs because they actually breached the contract by firing Lindsey, and that's why they ended up paying him like he toured with them).

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by sue

I have plenty of orifice, but can’t find one orefice.

I myself am somewhat of a spelling Nazi. Or is that NazE?

[sue]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

I myself am somewhat of a spelling Nazi. Or is that NazE?

All I can say is...
Don’t be stupid be a Smartie...

And switch your spell checker thing on.

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by sue

I have plenty of orifice, but can’t find one orefice.

I often don’t quite understand all that Stevemacd goes on about.
But I don’t hear any anger in his quote

"But, sure, everything that ever happened with a Fleetwood Mac setlist ever was all Lindsey."
This is a red herring and the inclusion of "But, sure" presents his frustration with persons who credit Lindsey with being the tour musical director and set sequencer. Sure, Stevie says to Lindsey "I want to do Beautiful Child or Seven Wonders" but she's not putting together the running order or the song's live arrangement.
There is photographic proof of him at the 2014 tour announcement board in RS looking at the songs pinned against the board: Chain, YMLF, Dreams

[bombaysaffires]

Originally Posted by anusha

The thing I find galling about the firing, as a fan, is this -- FM, and especially SN, were willing to milk fan/press interest in her and Lindsey for 20 years after The Dance. Even though it's pretty clear it's been a contentious and fairly toxic relationship the entire time. Stevie was willing to play up the fake romance when she could profit from it, but then she can't be civil and stands on "principle" about not waiting for his solo tour when FM has waited for her solo projects before starting theirs? I think the entire band went along with firing Lindsey because they knew it wouldn't affect them financially. And to me, that cheapens anything we saw from them after maybe the nights when they filmed The Dance.

This