Picture from 1996

[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.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by 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.

Yep. It is so strange.
Lindsey was not happy in 1987 but did Tango for the benefit of the band especially Mick. Christine was not happy in 1997 but did 40 shows for the benefit of the band especially Mick. Cant believe how miserable she was that she would not even do a few shows in her native England.
Oh well, we must appreciate what we got I guess.

[AnthonyMI]

the Eagles has Hell Freezes Over in 1994 and it rolled over into 1995 successes. No doubt Mick was counting zeros as soon as he saw there was a market for old 70's bands. Around 1996 the 20th anniversary of Rumors was coming up and Vh1 started filming interviews for Classic Albums. Lindsey was busy with Tom Petty working on the She's All That soundtrack and his album with Christine. Stevie had just come down off of Klonapin but was as big as a house. She spent 1995 and 96 slimming down and testing her voice at the festivals. A reunion was coming. there just needed to be meetings with all the managers and the record companies. A little nip and tuck here, an injection of filler there.

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by AnthonyMI

Lindsey was busy with Tom Petty working on the She's All That soundtrack and his album with Christine.

Did Lindsey contribute to a Petty/HB studio album too? Echo maybe?

[Nicks Fan]

Originally Posted by UnwindedDreams

Did Lindsey contribute to a Petty/HB studio album too? Echo maybe?

He played on the Last DJ track "The Man Who Loved Women"

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by UnwindedDreams

Did Lindsey contribute to a Petty/HB studio album too? Echo maybe?

He’s all over “Walls.”

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by Nicks Fan

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.

Except that they were playing arenas, not state fairs or small amphitheaters.

Hypothetical. Stevie plays a 20,000 arena show that’s half full and only half the crowd is there to see Stevie. That’s 5000 people paying to see Stevie. LBCM headline a 4000 seat arena down the road that’s 3/4 full. That’s 3000 people for 2/3 of Fleetwood Mac’s vocalists.

That’s the reality with Fleetwood Mac.

[Nicks Fan]

My point is that many acts including SN can only fill an arena if they have an act from classic rock era opening up. When they go it alone they play ampitheaters, Casinos, theaters state fairs. People have tried to argue with me on social media that SN can fill an arena on her name alone these days and I say she can't. There is no question she still sells tickets but if she did a tour next year with say Vanessa Carleton or Michael Grimm opening she wouldn't be playing arenas. She would need a strong opening act like The Pretenders to fill up the arenas. Look at her 2011 and 2012 tour. She played the 5,000 seat Fox Theater in Detroit, The Seneca Falls Casino in Niagara Falls NY, one of the Casinos in OK. Not all but most of the big USA venues she played were opening up for Rod and not headlining herself. If I am not correct most of her tours have been in outdoor sheds and not primarily in arena's. In Toronto the first time she played an arena there was in 2011 opening up for Rod and then her 24 Karat tour brought her back to the same venue. Every other time she has played the CNE, RBC Budweiser Stage, or the old Kingwoods Music Theater an outdoor venue at Canada's Wonderland.

Both her and Lindsey played the 5,000 seat Casino Rama in Rama Ontario. She in 2007 and 2008 and he in 2012.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by Nicks Fan

People have tried to argue with me on social media that SN can fill an arena on her name alone these days and I say she can't.

Completely agree, there.

I’m no longer convinced that Fleetwood Mac, even if Lindsey was there, could be viable beyond the small shed/casino circuit without Stevie, but she’s absolutely not bigger than the band if she’s in it.

[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.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

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.


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.

I regret so much for not going. I wanted to and then passed because of exactly what you said. What in the world were they going to play?
The following year in 1995 they were one of the big acts to headline "Sunfest" which is a HUGE 3 day art festival in West Palm Beach. This was May 1995 and Time was still being recorded. Bekka was there and Billy was in the band and they closed with Go Your Own Way. At that time, I never thought I would hear that song live ever again.