Volume 6: Year of the Mac: 1992/1993

[MacShadowsBall]

This is double-dose in the "Year of the Mac" series. Since this time was kinda strange with the different and changing incarnations of the band, I thought this would be interesting.

Post youtube videos, news articles, demos, photos, comments, etc pertaining to Fleetwood Mac in the years 1992 and 1993.

[MacShadowsBall]

Fleetwood Mac, 1992 CNN interview

[SteveMacD]

1992-1993

December


January


February


November

[chiliD]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

1993November

Quite the rare photo of Christine McVie & Dave Mason being in the same room at the same time...both coming out alive & unbloodied.

[wetcamelfood]

Originally Posted by chiliD

Quite the rare photo of Christine McVie & Dave Mason being in the same room at the same time...both coming out alive & unbloodied.

Wonder if this is the old "split screen" effect?

John

[MacShadowsBall]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

]

Sometimes I wonder why this wasn't enough for the Fab 5 to get back together. I guess it took another 4 years for everybody's feelings to be right again.

Back in 1992/1993 , what did you guys think of this performance and of Fleetwood Mac in general? Did you think this would turn into more than what it was?

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by MacShadowsBall

Back in 1992/1993 , what did you guys think of this performance and of Fleetwood Mac in general? Did you think this would turn into more than what it was?

Yes, I did and I was disappointed when nothing came of it. But even when Lindsey showed up in 1990, I was hoping that that meant they might record again. So, I was sad then too. Michele

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by MacShadowsBall

Sometimes I wonder why this wasn't enough for the Fab 5 to get back together. I guess it took another 4 years for everybody's feelings to be right again.

Lindsey was in the process of putting his first solo tour together and establishing himself as a solo artist. He had spent five years trying to distance himself from the band and wasn't about to rejoin. Stevie was super pissed at the band as it was, and really had no interest in being in it anymore. The other three were game, though Christine had retired from the road by that point.

Back in 1992/1993 , what did you guys think of this performance and of Fleetwood Mac in general? Did you think this would turn into more than what it was?

When 1992 started, the band was in shambles. Stevie and Rick had already quit the band, and Christine was off the road. I thought it was over, but I wasn't too upset. With a new Zoo album (that featured a Bramlett), a John solo record, and the long awaited first post-Fleetwood Mac album from Lindsey, things were looking up. Lindsey's album was brilliant, but sterile. John's album had a few great pop gems, but was somewhat bland at times, though Billy's contributions were amazing. The Zoo were too bar band metal for my tastes, but there was potential. I got to see the Zoo at a bar here in town, and actually got to sing with Bekka for a sec. I thought Bekka was an amazing performer. I thought that the Zoo would be an acceptable substitute for Fleetwood Mac if the latter was no longer around. It was at this show that Mick got me hip to Dave Mason. (I kid you not, the next day I put on "Alone Together" and thought this guy needed to be in Fleetwood Mac.)

When Clinton used "Don't Stop," I thought there was a chance there would be a new Fleetwood Mac. I didn't see Stevie or Lindsey coming back. Mick, John, Burnette, Bekka, and maybe Thorpe, Lola, Mick Taylor, or even Dave Mason. When the box set came out, I remember not really wanting it. A friend said that there were a few unreleased game changers on it, so I had to get it. Good call. It seemed as if anything was possible for the band.

I thought the Inauguration performance was horrid. Stevie looked and sounded bad. Lindsey playing through a Marshall seemed goofy. Having EVERYBODY up on stage, including Jacko being front and center, killed their rock cred (which had already taken a beating with "Alternative" rock). It hurt all of them for a few years. I was also pissed that Billy Burnette, who was still a member of the band, was not allowed to play. Yeah, I know he wasn't in the "Rumours" band, but he was still in the band at that moment.

I was glad that Stevie was out of the band. I thought her look and performances were hurting the band. It was getting in the way at that point. I was happy when they announced that she wouldn't be playing the Super Bowl pre-show. I was hoping the band would just announce that Bekka Bramlett was the new singer (since it was obvious she was going to be the new girl).

I was shocked to see Rick Vito at the Super Bowl pre-show. He had quit the band. Since this was just a one-off, I thought it was cool that he got a swansong. I really wish he hadn't quit the band, but I understand how frustrating it had to be dealing with band/label politics, and having the best material left off the record.

A few weeks later, I remember being sad to learn that Billy Burnette quit the band. I thought he was a good fit with Mick, John, and Christine, and had hoped to hear more from him.

I saw Lindsey with an army of guitarists in July, and it was awesome. You could tell he was enjoying not having to deal with band politics, but was frustrated that he couldn't shake the "ex-Fleetwood Mac" tag.

Billy's country solo album was a pleasant surprise. With a few tweaks, there were some gems that would've sounded great with Fleetwood Mac. He's another one they let get away too easily.

I remember reading in Rolling Stone that Bekka had officially replaced Stevie. A few weeks later, I found out that Dave Mason had also joined. I really couldn't wait to hear what they would come up with.

[MacShadowsBall]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

I was also pissed that Billy Burnette, who was still a member of the band, was not allowed to play. Yeah, I know he wasn't in the "Rumours" band, but he was still in the band at that moment.

I completely agree. That's part of the problem when a band's "original" lineup get back together, the ones that joined later on are sent away.

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

I was glad that Stevie was out of the band. I thought her look and performances were hurting the band. It was getting in the way at that point. I was happy when they announced that she wouldn't be playing the Super Bowl pre-show. I was hoping the band would just announce that Bekka Bramlett was the new singer (since it was obvious she was going to be the new girl).

Interesting. Coming from the perspective of having a healthy Fleetwood Mac, I can understand your opinion. Though too I can imagine a lot of Stevie's fans would have liked to seen her.

Excellent point made about everybody joining them on stage and the whole rock cred thing!

[aleuzzi]

Stevie was the only one who really looked bad at the Inauguration performance. Everyone else looked and sounded pretty solid. But then, everyone else seeming pretty solid was often taken for granted. It was devastating to see their frontline attraction (aka: Stevie) so deteriorated at that point. She is not necessarily my favorite member of the group (I'm a HUGE Christine and Lindsey fan) but if you're going to drag out the Rumours lineup, she has to be in good form since she is such a visual focal point.

The vocal outro went on way toooooo long. I'd have preferred jam out--a bluesy Christine solo or a blistering Lindsey riff. Instead, they just sand "Don't you look back" 400 times.

..........

I remember the box set coming out and feeling deflated. To me it signaled the end of the band. But when I looked at the track list and saw a handful of new and unreleased songs, I bought it and loved it. It was then that I discovered Kirwan's "Trinity," which is such a great song! Why it never made it onto Bare Trees is a mystery. I also loved the two new Christine songs. She sounded fantastic. "Paper Doll" and "Make Me a Mask" were near-disasters, but by that point I was glad to have anything--anything.

[MacShadowsBall]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

I remember the box set coming out and feeling deflated. To me it signaled the end of the band. But when I looked at the track list and saw a handful of new and unreleased songs, I bought it and loved it. It was then that I discovered Kirwan's "Trinity," which is such a great song! Why it never made it onto Bare Trees is a mystery. I also loved the two new Christine songs. She sounded fantastic. "Paper Doll" and "Make Me a Mask" were near-disasters, but by that point I was glad to have anything--anything.

I think the box set idea was a good one, but it came just 4 years after the '88 GH album. The sequencing/song choices were a little strange. For example, all of Stevie's Tusk songs was on it, but her TITN songs are missing.

Definitely agree about Paper Doll and Make Me a Mask being near-disasters.

Perhaps this energy should have been put into another studio album instead of the box set?

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

.

The vocal outro went on way toooooo long. I'd have preferred jam out--a bluesy Christine solo or a blistering Lindsey riff. Instead, they just sand "Don't you look back" 400 times.

On the contrary, "Dont' you look back" was the line they omitted. They just kept repeating the chorus.

I agree that they should have finished the song as it is, and then do an extended jam -- that would have been the more proper thing to do. I don't think they thought that one out. It was really awkward, especially when Christine invited the Clinton family on stage, and Stevie gave Bill her tamborine. And then Michael Jackson jumped in, then the entire stage was flooded with people. Just a bizzare event!

Stevie didn't seem as bad as I remembered; perhaps I'm more forgiving now. She just looked a little bloated.

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

On the contrary, "Dont' you look back" was the line they omitted. They just kept repeating the chorus.

I agree that they should have finished the song as it is, and then do an extended jam -- that would have been the more proper thing to do. I don't think they thought that one out. It was really awkward, especially when Christine invited the Clinton family on stage, and Stevie gave Bill her tamborine. And then Michael Jackson jumped in, then the entire stage was flooded with people. Just a bizzare event!

Stevie didn't seem as bad as I remembered; perhaps I'm more forgiving now. She just looked a little bloated.

Oh, wow, you're right! How could I have forgotten that? I remembered it one specific way. Odd, the mind.

What stayed with me, however, is that there was no instrumental jamming, like they used to do--or that they did on the Dance.

We'll agree to disagree about Stevie's appearance there. I think she never looked worse.

[jbrownsjr]

haha, LB started off key and shook himself into tune.. lol..

I've done that in recitals.. it's not a good feeling starting on the wrong note..

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

haha, LB started off key and shook himself into tune.. lol..

I've done that in recitals.. it's not a good feeling starting on the wrong note..

It's such a shame that the whole performance was so off, because they had the whole world watching it!