Neil Finn on Fleetwood Mac internal politics

[Macfan4life]

Are people new here? People commenting with surprise that Mick said they got rid of Lindsey. Is that not what he always said?

Nothing new here. Even the part that Stevie is the leader "in many ways' is not really new. She controlled this band post Dance and when Christine came back went for the jugular and became a female version of Saddam Hussein.

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

Are people new here? People commenting with surprise that Mick said they got rid of Lindsey. Is that not what he always said?

Not surprised at all. That's why I said that phrase always makes me quite upset.

But it's interesting to read Finn's perceptions of being there and the band was managed.

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by Villavic

Not surprised at all. That's why I said that phrase always makes me quite upset.

But it's interesting to read Finn's perceptions of being there and the band was managed.

I think Neil’s going to be forced to walk back his comments with a statement saying how amazing Stevie was and such a team player who thought Mike was the best guitar player to be in Fleetwood Mac with her.

Mick always said we had to part ways but I think he said that “out of respect for Lindsey.”
It seems the band was reading social media to see “No LB, No FM” but the answer to that is “highest grossing tour”…. Since On With The Show

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by UnwindedDreams

I think Neil’s going to be forced to walk back his comments with a statement saying how amazing Stevie was and such a team player who thought Mike was the best guitar player to be in Fleetwood Mac with her.

Mick always said we had to part ways but I think he said that “out of respect for Lindsey.”
It seems the band was reading social media to see “No LB, No FM” but the answer to that is “highest grossing tour”…. Since On With The Show

Nah, Neil knows Fleetwood Mac is toast and he wont be working with them again.

Can I just say (again) what a joke it was when Mick said Neil and Mike were not "replacement" guitarists and were permanent members of the band to tour and make new music with.
I think Mick was trying out his new standup routine with that one

What a sad ending.
But they all made big money because $tevie stayed and toured. THAT'S what matters!

These statements dont mean anything to me. I want the juicy stuff like WHO Fleetwood Mac auditioned but did not make the cut. How did Billy know about Lindsey's firing before it was public?
Its just my opinion but I believe the Mac would not hire Billy without Rick. That would be such an odd thing to do. Stevie already hired Mike so that only left room for 1 replacement. Billy knew the songs so I want details!!!!

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

Can I just say (again) what a joke it was when Mick said Neil and Mike were not "replacement" guitarists and were permanent members of the band to tour and make new music with.

When I learned Lindsey was fired I was so upset I started a several months "embargo against Fleetwood Mac". Actually I was angry with the whole band. For few 2018 months I even stopped listening FM music, but the embargo lasts until 2019, I avoided reading news and watching videos of the tour.

Having said that, I allow myself to be surprised and ask MICK SAID THAT???

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by Villavic

When I learned Lindsey was fired I was so upset I started a several months "embargo against Fleetwood Mac". Actually I was angry with the whole band. For few 2018 months I even stopped listening FM music, but the embargo lasts until 2019, I avoided reading news and watching videos of the tour.

Having said that, I allow myself to be surprised and ask MICK SAID THAT???

2018 was the first tour I ever missed. F*ck Old Goatsy.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

Can I just say (again) what a joke it was when Mick said Neil and Mike were not "replacement" guitarists and were permanent members of the band to tour and make new music with.

I think Mick thought there was a chance of new music with Lindsey out. He still mentioned them when asked about the band’s future at the Grammy’s, although he also said Fleetwood Mac was done.

These statements dont mean anything to me. I want the juicy stuff like WHO Fleetwood Mac auditioned but did not make the cut. How did Billy know about Lindsey's firing before it was public?

A lot of us knew within a week after MusiCares that there had been some type of falling out with Lindsey and that Mike was the new guy. I think it was a photographer who leaked the information. It was all over a Tom Petty Facebook fan page. I’m sure someone asked Billy about it and he talked to Mick, but he wasn’t considered for the tour. Brett indicated that the band auditioned John Paul White from Civil Wars.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

I think Mick thought there was a chance of new music with Lindsey out. He still mentioned them when asked about the band’s future at the Grammy’s, although he also said Fleetwood Mac was done.



A lot of us knew within a week after MusiCares that there had been some type of falling out with Lindsey and that Mike was the new guy. I think it was a photographer who leaked the information. It was all over a Tom Petty Facebook fan page. I’m sure someone asked Billy about it and he talked to Mick, but he wasn’t considered for the tour. Brett indicated that the band auditioned John Paul White from Civil Wars.

So this is what we would have gotten?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RbFsHMqnSQ

[David]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

I think Mick thought there was a chance of new music with Lindsey out.

Probably so. He must have thought that Stevie could be convinced to record with Lindsey out of the picture and her old writing partner Mike Campbell working with her again.

I also think that both Mike Campbell and Neil Finn assumed they would be recording, not just touring. They both must have been disappointed that their new band wasn’t recording with them. They both keep an active recording schedule and both seem to enjoy that. If they had known beforehand that Mac was only going to tour every couple of years and nothing else, they may have had second thoughts about joining (unless the tour pay was just too compelling).

At the time, I bet Christine wanted to record again, even more so than doing these ridiculously big tours. I would venture to say that everybody in two configurations of Fleetwood Mac wanted to record, except Stevie. In that regard, she prevented a very fine recording band from doing its thing. Nice work, Stevie. And how’s that Rhiannon studio project coming along?

[bwboy]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

These statements dont mean anything to me. I want the juicy stuff like WHO Fleetwood Mac auditioned but did not make the cut. How did Billy know about Lindsey's firing before it was public?
Its just my opinion but I believe the Mac would not hire Billy without Rick. That would be such an odd thing to do. Stevie already hired Mike so that only left room for 1 replacement. Billy knew the songs so I want details!!!!

Billy said Mick told him over the phone that FM recruited Neil and Mike, and that really hurt Billy’s feelings they didn’t ask him to rejoin. That was why Billy blurted it out on social media before anyone else that Lindsey had been fired.

[WatchChain]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

These statements don't mean anything to me. I want the juicy stuff like WHO Fleetwood Mac auditioned but did not make the cut. How did Billy know about Lindsey's firing before it was public?
It's just my opinion but I believe the Mac would not hire Billy without Rick. That would be such an odd thing to do. Stevie already hired Mike so that only left room for 1 replacement. Billy knew the songs, so I want details!!!!

Do we have an actual list of guitarists who were "auditioned" as Lindsey's replacement?

Neil Finn, Mike Campbell, John Paul White? Are there any other names?

Do we have confirmation whether or not Billy "been there/done that" Burnett was flown to Hawaii to also "audition"?

Also - it's laughable that Billy Burnett would think, even for a moment, that he would be considered as the replacement. It's likened to Van Halen reforming and calling back Gary Cherone to fill the lead singer spot.

In my opinion, there was no need to audition anyone - Mike Campbell already had the job. Next, since Mike Campbell doesn't sing well, the band needed a second guitarist to function as a vocalist. Enter Neil Finn.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by WatchChain

Do we have an actual list of guitarists who were "auditioned" as Lindsey's replacement?

Neil Finn, Mike Campbell, John Paul White? Are there any other names?

In my opinion, there was no need to audition anyone - Mike Campbell already had the job. Next, since Mike Campbell doesn't sing well, the band needed a second guitarist to function as a vocalist. Enter Neil Finn.

Mike was offered the job outright. They listened to a bunch of singers, but only auditioned John Paul White and Neil Finn for vocalist/guitarist. Billy was definitely not auditioned. He only learned about it after Neil was already in the band.

[sleepless child]

I read an article Ricky Peterson did during the 2018-19 tour. He confirmed that Mike was asked first and he and Mike were in on the auditions. That tells me Stevie had Mike planned all along. But Mick told the press it was his idea. I call Bull****

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by WatchChain

Do we have an actual list of guitarists who were "auditioned" as Lindsey's replacement?

Neil Finn, Mike Campbell, John Paul White? Are there any other names?

Do we have confirmation whether or not Billy "been there/done that" Burnett was flown to Hawaii to also "audition"?

Also - it's laughable that Billy Burnett would think, even for a moment, that he would be considered as the replacement. It's likened to Van Halen reforming and calling back Gary Cherone to fill the lead singer spot.

In my opinion, there was no need to audition anyone - Mike Campbell already had the job. Next, since Mike Campbell doesn't sing well, the band needed a second guitarist to function as a vocalist. Enter Neil Finn.

Why would you think its laughable Billy would think he would get the job? He replaced Lindsey before and knows the songs. He also was friends and worked with pretty much everyone even before joining. There had to be a reason why and I want to know. There could be some issue with Billy we don't know.
Or the band has really bad memories of the Rick/Billy era?

[bwboy]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

Why would you think its laughable Billy would think he would get the job? He replaced Lindsey before and knows the songs. He also was friends and worked with pretty much everyone even before joining. There had to be a reason why and I want to know. There could be some issue with Billy we don't know.
Or the band has really bad memories of the Rick/Billy era?

I agree, Billy was probably considered for replacing Lindsey. As for why he wasn’t hired, SteveMacD had a pretty good idea as to why he wasn’t chosen- he posted a picture of Billy around that time, and Billy did not look well. Between his health issues and surgeries, he looked unhealthy, even bloated. It pains me to say that, but I’m sure his looks and health were issues that may have contributed to their decision.

Despite a throwaway comment by Christine where she lumped the Billy/Ricky years with the Time lineup, I remember several interviews with both Stevie and Christine where they raved about the new guys, and I remember Casey Kasem in his top 40 countdown describing a joke the band played on John McVie where they put hay and chickens in his hotel room or something like that. And Billy and Stevie spoke about how, after they finished a show, they would still play in their hotel room together, because they enjoyed each other that much.