Lindsey was fired. RIP Fleetwood Mac.

[elle]

Originally Posted by dontlookdown

It’s just music.
And while it’s hugely disappointing, everyone will be fine.
These are all adults at the end of very long hugely successful careers.
I’m just happy they’re all still making music.
Hiring Mike Campbell is the most rock solid insurance policy a band could ever buy into.
The Tom Petty fan base is thrilled. Maybe we should keep an open mind.
If I made a list of the best live shows I’ve seen in my life, Heartbreakers shows would appear several times on the list.

I’m sad and disappointed, but looking forward to seeing my second favorite guitarist on stage with Mick and John.

Actually Tom and Mike fan bases are as divided as Mac fan base. They think Mike can and should do better. Some are hoping this might give him exposure. None of them expect he’ll get to express any creativity with the mac.

You know that If Tom was alive, he’d be appalled. Yet I fully expect Lindsey’s name will now be replaced w Toms in all the endless stories from the stage,

[dontlookdown]

I don’t know.
There’s a lot of speculation going on.
I’m just going to trust that they all came to this decision as adults,
just as they did in 87.
It sucks for us now, but it’s sort of like offering opinions when the neighbors down the street are going through a divorce.
Not really for us to judge and as I said before, they don’t owe fans anything and they aren’t beholden to us.
Nobody is saving lives here or keeping democracies from teetering off the edge.
It’s just a band.
Not sure if I’ll go see them, but I hope some new and interesting music comes out of it.
I think since I lived through the first Lindsey departure, I have to keep an open mind.
As disappointed as I am...

[Lola]

Originally Posted by dontlookdown

I don’t know.
There’s a lot of speculation going on.
I’m just going to trust that they all came to this decision as adults,
just as they did in 87.
It sucks for us now, but it’s sort of like offering opinions when the neighbors down the street are going through a divorce.
Not really for us to judge and as I said before, they don’t owe fans anything and they aren’t beholden to us.
Nobody is saving lives here or keeping democracies from teetering off the edge.
It’s just a band.
Not sure if I’ll go see them, but I hope some new and interesting music comes out of it.
I think since I lived through the first Lindsey departure, I have to keep an open mind.
As disappointed as I am...

You sound like my sig other--he's trying to help me with gentle reminders that nobody died. He means it seriously like wouldn't it be worse if one of the members had died.

[NotonRodeo]

Unlike 1987, I'm not sticking around to watch this train wreck. I've already seen it. People who don't think history repeats itself are deluding themselves. This will be a disaster.

At least in 1987 it was plausible to think that Fleetwood Mac still had a future and had opportunities to expand creatively. But now? What, have they taken so much drugs that they actually think they are immortal? And seriously, will they allow Finn or Campbell to dictate matters? Lindsey's Mac succeeded because he was in Mick's terms a "martinet" who compelled everybody to get things done properly his way. Yes he was a monomaniac control freak--but to get this bunch of people to accomplish anything he needed to be. Time was a "democratic" album--heck, didn't Christine have her own guitarist?--and look how awful, awful that was.

I remember the band saying how much more fun it was to make Behind the Mask than Tango. Is there anything on BTM remotely resembling Little Lies or Everywhere or Big Love? Even WTTRS was better than anything there.

So that's that then. In hindsight this band should have died thirty years ago. It is now a Dead Band Walking. It's about time to stop pretending it is still alive. Lindsey worked hard to create that illusion, and at his best he almost succeeded. With him gone, they have no chance.

[bwboy]

Originally Posted by NotonRodeo

I remember the band saying how much more fun it was to make Behind the Mask than Tango. Is there anything on BTM remotely resembling Little Lies or Everywhere or Big Love? Even WTTRS was better than anything there.

Since you asked- Save Me, Skies the Limit, Behind the Mask, and As Long As You Follow are great songs, and I would rank Save Me and Follow higher than Little Lies. In the Back of My Mind, Do You Know, Love is Dangerous, and No Questions Asked are also excellent. This version of the Mac I totally loved. Sorry you didn't like it but I understand... I didn't like Time at all, but that album has fans, too. And there are some bombs on Tango- When I See You Again and Family Man are wretched, Welcome to the Room Sara is saved only by the lyrics, and You and I 2 is forgettable fluff.

[rhiannondontgo]

Jeez, some of you guys make it sound like Stevie is the wicked witch of the west hatching some evil plot to ruin poor lindsey’s life for no reason. Nobody woke up and randomly said “hey Lindsey, you’re fired because we’re sick of you”. Stevie & Mick aren’t dumb. They both live for money and attention and they know full well that the full rumours line up is what gets them the most of both those things, so neither would ever prefer to tour with the band incomplete.
Meanwhile they had this tour pre-planned and scheduled. I’ve heard from a few sources that there were even contracts already signed and in place. And he pulled out last minute, just like he did in 1987. Sure Stevie has delayed lots of stuff, but warning your band a year in advance that you want to delay a hypothetical tour is very different from signing on for a preplanned tour and then trying to pull out in the 11th hour. I’m sure they put forth every bit of effort to try to get him back on board. If he chose to continue being the hold-out and the rest of the band grew tired of fighting him on it, then his absence is his own fault. There’s a difference between a band spitefully firing somebody for no reason and a band deciding to continue with their plans despite one member’s absence.
If your argument is that you think they should’ve just broken up or that they shouldn’t call the new incarnation “Fleetwood Mac”, I can understand that. But demonizing & attacking the rest of the band while making Lindsey out to be a completely innocent victim with no complicity is ridiculous IMO.

[bombaysaffires]

Originally Posted by rhiannondontgo

Jeez, some of you guys make it sound like Stevie is the wicked witch of the west hatching some evil plot to ruin poor lindsey’s life for no reason. Nobody woke up and randomly said “hey Lindsey, you’re fired because we’re sick of you”. Stevie & Mick aren’t dumb. They both live for money and attention and they know full well that the full rumours line up is what gets them the most of both those things, so neither would ever prefer to tour with the band incomplete.
Meanwhile they had this tour pre-planned and scheduled. I’ve heard from a few sources that there were even contracts already signed and in place. And he pulled out last minute, just like he did in 1987. Sure Stevie has delayed lots of stuff, but warning your band a year in advance that you want to delay a hypothetical tour is very different from signing on for a preplanned tour and then trying to pull out in the 11th hour. I’m sure they put forth every bit of effort to try to get him back on board. If he chose to continue being the hold-out and the rest of the band grew tired of fighting him on it, then his absence is his own fault. There’s a difference between a band spitefully firing somebody for no reason and a band deciding to continue with their plans despite one member’s absence.
If your argument is that you think they should’ve just broken up or that they shouldn’t call the new incarnation “Fleetwood Mac”, I can understand that. But demonizing & attacking the rest of the band while making Lindsey out to be a completely innocent victim with no complicity is ridiculous IMO.

BUT, the story that's out there is actually that STEVIE was the one who issued an ultimatum-- "it's either me or him"-- to the band, not Lindsey.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

BUT, the story that's out there is actually that STEVIE was the one who issued an ultimatum-- "it's either me or him"-- to the band, not Lindsey.

Because Lindsey couldn't/wouldn't have said that.

They know which side their bread is buttered on.

[elle]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

BUT, the story that's out there is actually that STEVIE was the one who issued an ultimatum-- "it's either me or him"-- to the band, not Lindsey.

Yup. The story this Rhiannon person wrote is the one circulated on Stevie only fans boards, I hear. That’s the story this newest version of post/FM WANTED out there - saying they parted ways makes it look like they are martyrs and are covering for Lindsey letting them down right before the booked tour once again. He was always an a**hole, that story goes. Public would be on their side in that scenario.

But the truth came out because enough people had Lindsey’s back and spoke the truth. Guess he must not be as bad as some are trying to portray him if people have his back so much! Some radio stations are reporting that the band is furious!!

The only positive spin they are getting is their own statements and SN fan boards.

[bombaysaffires]

hmmm... so any response countering the claim that comments about Stevie qualify as "misogynistic" have been removed by mods and/or moved to the 'hot topics' thread so they will be lost. Interesting.

[bwboy]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

BUT, the story that's out there is actually that STEVIE was the one who issued an ultimatum-- "it's either me or him"-- to the band, not Lindsey.

That is a rumor, being passed as fact. It seems to validate a few people's feelings on this board. I'll just wait until Lindsey talks before I spread misinformation. I really want to hear his version of what went down and he has no reason to stay silent. Well, there would be only one reason he would keep silent.

[elle]

Originally Posted by bwboy

That is a rumor, being passed as fact. It seems to validate a few people's feelings on this board. I'll just wait until Lindsey talks before I spread misinformation. I really want to hear his version of what went down and he has no reason to stay silent. Well, there would be only one reason he would keep silent.

Nope that was first publicly reported by that Tom Petty insider who got raked over the coals for the whole report. Most stuff that he reported was confirmed since so i’d call this a bit more than a made up rumor.

I don’t see Lindsey talking any times soon. First he is usually pretty classy about not dumping really low stuff in the interviews, and second if he’s suing them and there is some kind of settlement I have no doubt he won’t be allowed to as one of the clauses of the settlement. I hear FM is already fuming with the way reactions are all on his side so far, they would not willingly allow him to add to that by confirming it’s all true.

[secondhandchain]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

BUT, the story that's out there is actually that STEVIE was the one who issued an ultimatum-- "it's either me or him"-- to the band, not Lindsey.

Ironic isn’t it? Back in the day Lindsey said it’s either both of us or I can join the band. She sucks.

[rhiannondontgo]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

BUT, the story that's out there is actually that STEVIE was the one who issued an ultimatum-- "it's either me or him"-- to the band, not Lindsey.

I’m in no way disillusioned here. I don’t doubt that she issued that final ultimatum but my point is, she did not wake up and say “hey let’s break up the band today and ruin LB’s life for sh*ts & giggles”. She may not always like him but she knows full well that keeping the whole band together is the best thing to do financially, creatively, and for PR purposes. They all know that. So sh*t really had to hit the fan to get 4/5 FM members to just give up and move on without such a vital part of the band. While none of us actually know what the final fight was that caused them to actually go through with something this drastic, it’s been said by multiple people that the drama was sparked by LB wanting to postpone the upcoming FM tour to focus on his solo project. Which is backed up by the fact that he is indeed in the studio currently working on his solo album. Clearly that’s not the whole cause because if it was, they’d just announce that Lindsey won’t be joining them on this specific tour due to scheduling conflicts. Instead they came out and said flat-out that LB is no longer in the band and that it’s “final” and “firm”, leading me to believe that the disagreement ended up becoming far deeper and more personal than just the schedule issue. I assume the ensuing argument over the schedule started an even bigger fight and all the lingering resentment and bitterness just came to a head.
Either way, I don’t believe that any one band member is entirely at fault and I fail to see any possible scenario where LB isn’t somewhat complicit in the drama that lead up to this. There’s no “hero” or “villain” here. There’s 5 very imperfect, petty, difficult people who constantly make each other miserable and have never been able to fully co-exist peacefully. This situation sucks but if they can’t tour all together, they can’t tour all together. I’m not going to tell them to break up. There’s still lots of fans that love the girls and while it’s not preferential, would still rather see 4/5 members than never see them again.

[mitzo]

Maybe Lindsey really crossed the line, by getting physically aggressive. It has happened before. That would get him kicked out, surely.