Do you think she ever felt Overshadowed?

[dcl1964]

Personally I think she's like most people who do all the grunt work and someone else gets the applause and glory. The majority of the bands' hits were her songs but all people talked about were Stevie and Lindsay. Did Chris ever get any major magazine covers by herself? I don't remember any. It was always Stevie. Chris once said in an interview she considers herself part of the "backline" (meaning with Mick and John) and not part of the "frontline" (with Stevie and Lindsay). She never looked to draw attention to herself. She always considered herself PART of the band.

[David]

Originally Posted by dcl1964

Did Chris ever get any major magazine covers by herself? I don't remember any.

When she had her hit in 1969-1970, she got cover stories in England's Melody Maker. Later in the 1970s, she had a few cover stories, like the one in 1980 for Contemporary Keyboard. In 1984, the year of her solo album, she got a few cover stories, too, like BAM & Songwriter Connection. Some of these zines were just trashy publicity, but others were serious profiles (like the one in Contemporary Keyboard & BAM).

Stevie got a lot more cover coverage, but for the most part not until she started her solo career in 1981. In the late 1970s, Chris & Stevie were buzzed over more in Fleetwood Mac than Lindsey was (although the critics' contingent loved him).

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by David

Chris & Stevie were buzzed over more in Fleetwood Mac than Lindsey was (although the critics' contingent loved him).

I got a kick out of those 1975 Los Angeles Times reviews I posted where they praised Christine and complained about Lindsey's showiness. Thank goodness he grew out of that! Stevie wasn't even a factor for the reviewers at the time, although one did call Lindsey by her name.

Fleetwood Mac's music is predominantly sedate (when not bland) rather than explosive, but the inclusion of some earlier, blues-based material, while adding a bit of fire, spotlights the band's two unreconcilable sides: the stately, purposeful qualities of McVie on one side and, on the other, the rougher, rather ordinary guitar and vocal work of Lindsey Buckingham, whose long turn in the macho rock-star role tends to eclipse his cohorts' more noteworthy elements.

Nicks' lead guitar is competent but unremarkable and is accompanied by incongruously showy moves, a combination whose effect is blustery rather than powerful.

It's fortunate, then, that Christine McVie is on hand to lend dignity and musical dimension to the proceedings. Her rich keyboard work and superb singing imbue all the band's music with a sense of quality which is its real saving grace. On the slightly accelerated ballads that are her forte, the music attains a grace and character which further highlight the mainstream of the Mac's other side.

Michele

[aleuzzi]

Christine wasn't getting a heck of a lot of coverage before 1975--despite respectable reviews that recognized her voice and composition skills. I'm sure when the band became huge, whatever coverage she did get was more than she could have ever imagined possible.

In terms of stage presence, she has said again and again that she thoroughly enjoyed playing with the rhythm section and would prefer this to the role Stevie played on stage.

[jbrownsjr]

I honestly believe Christine was always right where she wanted to be.

I think she got annoyed that people would think she felt jealous or overshadowed. People often like to project their feelings on others.. (not directing this at GoldustWoman) I think reporters and fans alike always assumed she wanted the same adoration that Stevie received. And in retrospect, I believe Christine saw what being famous meant and wanted quite the opposite life.

[Gailh]

I don't think she felt overshadowed by Stevie. I think she was confident in her ability as a musician and didn't consider Stevie to be a threat musically.

Stevie has always said Christine was like her big sister and I think Christine felt the same. Sometimes when you're the little sister your big sister bosses you around and it's really irritating. Equally when you're the big sister your younger sister can be a real pain - always trailing around after you and wanting to do what you do.

I always think Christine is a musician and Stevie is a rock star.

Gail

[~GoldDustWoman~]

Mmmh it all makes sense!

[dcl1964]

[

I always think Christine is a musician and Stevie is a rock star.

Gail[/QUOTE]

I think this pretty much sums it up.

[louielouie2000]

This whole discussion makes me think of the Tusk Documentary, and when Christine was asked what it's like to be a rock and roll sex symbol. She just plaintively answered: "I don't know, ask Stevie Nicks." I don't think there was any bitterness at all in the response, she just kinda laughed and smirked. I almost think she looked down on people who were more about image and less about music.

[golddustdrummer]

Originally Posted by dcl1964

Personally I think she's like most people who do all the grunt work and someone else gets the applause and glory. The majority of the bands' hits were her songs but all people talked about were Stevie and Lindsay. Did Chris ever get any major magazine covers by herself? I don't remember any. It was always Stevie. Chris once said in an interview she considers herself part of the "backline" (meaning with Mick and John) and not part of the "frontline" (with Stevie and Lindsay). She never looked to draw attention to herself. She always considered herself PART of the band.

exactly! she was a musician first and everything else second.