Bob Welch/Fleetwood Mac ignores him

[MrStevie]

Originally Posted by WildHearted

Well, I certainly believe Bob regarding his experience in Fleetwood Mac. There is no reason not to.

However, nothing I've ever heard or read would lend me to believe that his experience was the experience that Stevie and Lindsey also had, so I find that whole quote from him is strange, in context. Lindsey and Stevie may have been hired help at first, but Stevie herself has said that if Christine ever thought anything she did on stage was over the top or silly, she never let on. She was probably thinking it, but Stevie never knew. I'm also not sure I would ever describe Mick Fleetwood as reserved.

Nothing personal to you WildHearted but I have read many things that lead me to believe Stevie and Lindsey went through similar ordeals with the British triumvirate. I just think they have chosen to keep quite about it, as continuing members of the band. As far as the inner workings of the band, it doesn't matter if it's about the making of Rumours, Tusk, Say You Will, or the EP, fans assume every comment about band infighting is Stevie and Lindsey not getting along. Yeah, they even like to fan those flames themselves, but every comment Stevie has ever made about being put down or not being given much respect as an equal member of the band wasn't always a direct reference to Lindsey mistreating her or not respecting her work. She hasn't always specified who did what when. She's too smart for that. Sure she has said some things about Lindsey's misdeeds, but even when she hasn't named names, he is the one everyone assumes mistreated her during most of her career in Fleetwood Mac. I know that's not true. I can read what people like Bob have said and make different assumptions. I'm not saying your perceptions are wrong, just that fans can come to different conclusions drawing inferences from other's comments, rather than taking every word the bandmembers say as the only view. I don't give Chris a pass just because she has chosen to speak less than the others except John. It gives her a more neutral appearing character than the more colorful Buckingham and Nicks, but I wouldn't put it past her to be as jealous, spiteful, and egotistical as everyone thinks they are. They wear it well, but on Chris it seems like a bad fit to the fans who have read very little about her bad side. Wendy, I am really looking forward to Bob's unique perspective. He has both an insider and outsider view that needs to be shared. I hope you publish his book as soon as you can. God Bless you on your loss.

[seekerj]

Originally Posted by MrStevie

Nothing personal to you WildHearted but I have read many things that lead me to believe Stevie and Lindsey went through similar ordeals with the British triumvirate. I just think they have chosen to keep quite about it, as continuing members of the band. As far as the inner workings of the band, it doesn't matter if it's about the making of Rumours, Tusk, Say You Will, or the EP, fans assume every comment about band infighting is Stevie and Lindsey not getting along. Yeah, they even like to fan those flames themselves, but every comment Stevie has ever made about being put down or not being given much respect as an equal member of the band wasn't always a direct reference to Lindsey mistreating her or not respecting her work. She hasn't always specified who did what when. She's too smart for that. Sure she has said some things about Lindsey's misdeeds, but even when she hasn't named names, he is the one everyone assumes mistreated her during most of her career in Fleetwood Mac. I know that's not true. I can read what people like Bob have said and make different assumptions. I'm not saying your perceptions are wrong, just that fans can come to different conclusions drawing inferences from other's comments, rather than taking every word the bandmembers say as the only view. I don't give Chris a pass just because she has chosen to speak less than the others except John. It gives her a more neutral appearing character than the more colorful Buckingham and Nicks, but I wouldn't put it past her to be as jealous, spiteful, and egotistical as everyone thinks they are. They wear it well, but on Chris it seems like a bad fit to the fans who have read very little about her bad side. Wendy, I am really looking forward to Bob's unique perspective. He has both an insider and outsider view that needs to be shared. I hope you publish his book as soon as you can. God Bless you on your loss.

Great points. You can't draw conclusions (that happen to suit your opinions) from things that were NOT said.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by MrStevie

Nothing personal to you WildHearted but I have read many things that lead me to believe Stevie and Lindsey went through similar ordeals with the British triumvirate. I just think they have chosen to keep quite about it, as continuing members of the band.

Maybe initially. There are two sides to that coin, though. The Brits had every right to pull rank.

Why Stevie and Lindsey worked well with the Brits I suspect is that they had that same sense of grandiosity, that sense of being on a "mystical quest...or appointment to Her Majesty" that the Brits had, to quote Bob. Also, they had each other for a little while. Like with any new situation, they needed time to adjust to each other.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

Maybe initially.

Certainly, after the White album. As Stevie says they had never made that much money before and I'm sure the Brits were letting them know, "if you want this good thing to continue, you better stay in line."

But by the time Rumours hit, I don't think they were pushing Lindsey and Stevie around. Well, they were pushing Stevie, but not threatening her with being fired.

That's how Lindsey was able to get Tusk, because they valued him so much and they knew that he knew it. As for Stevie by then they knew she was a concert draw and that her songs were hits, so they valued her too, but she has said that they treated her like the little sister and I think that's true. They were always telling her to be quiet and stop pestering them, so to speak. I mean, that's how she ended up in Sly's bedroom, more than likely. Someone probably said to her, "oh my goodness! Can't you just go somewhere and be quiet for like 10 minutes." I don't think anyone here ever thought that Christine didn't boss Stevie around just like everyone else. We've seen and heard her do it. So, it's no surprise it was going on when there was no recording or video as well.

Actually, I don't think most people think of Christine as perfect because she is an angel or saint. I think they think she is perfect, because she jams with the guys, sings like a starling, has a sarcastic sense of humor and a brusque streak. In most cases, she's not loved because she's good, she's loved because she's BAD. I don't think anyone ever thought she wasn't a drunk given to throwing drinks in peoples' faces back then. It's part of her legend.

As for Stevie, when she found her solo success, she enjoyed the power she had over all of them. That's why she said things like they were all like nervous cats on a hot tin roof, scared that her solo career would jeopardize FM. Even though she had FM hits from the very beginning, until Bella Donna came out, I don't think she or the rest of the band realized she could make it without FM.

Michele

[iamnotafraid]

Redcoats vs Blue coats it seems.

We know who won in the end.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by michelej1

Actually, I don't think most people think of Christine as perfect because she is an angel or saint. I think they think she is perfect, because she jams with the guys, sings like a starling, has a sarcastic sense of humor and a brusque streak. In most cases, she's not loved because she's good, she's loved because she's BAD. I don't think anyone ever thought she wasn't a drunk given to throwing drinks in peoples' faces back then. It's part of her legend.

Agreed. Obviously Chris and John weren't saintly. Far from it.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

Agreed. Obviously Chris and John weren't saintly. Far from it.

Well, at least as far as their Halloween costumes, that was 35 years ago, and should be taken with a grain of salt. Everything was about 25% as PC as it is now.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

Well, at least as far as their Halloween costumes, that was 35 years ago, and should be taken with a grain of salt. Everything was about 25% as PC as it is now.

I know. I was just making a joke.

[becca]

There is no U.S. vs. England as the British members moved to California with encouragement from Bob well before crossing paths with Buckingham-Nicks, but whatever...

Why do some go to simplistic extremes of someone being either a saint or a demon? It seems that way with the current president and all, and that sort of thinking is getting pretty tired.

[jbrownsjr]

I have never thought of Christine McVie as a saint or an angel. I believe part of her appeal to me was that she found a niche in FM during all of the incarnations.

I remember her saying she would get a bit cheesed that Stevie got most of the attention at first. But then she admitted that it helped her find her role in the band. Afterward, she admitted she wouldn't really want that much attention anyway.

Musically, I think she is very complimentary to most of the musicians she'd ever played with. She has a fantastically unique voice and a very quirky key style.

I think she was a bit more uppity than even Stevie was perceived to be. But then again, so was Bette Davis.