Las Vegas 12-31-1995

[Villavic]

Though the original rhythm section is there, the total absence of the three singers, who probably were the main reason for many people in the late 70s to become Fleetwood Mac fans, makes people (and media, record companies, etc.) not interested in this lineup.

Bekka had a great voice there. But, with all respect, this sounds like a tribute band to me.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by Villavic

Though the original rhythm section is there, the total absence of the three singers, who probably were the main reason for many people in the late 70s to become Fleetwood Mac fans, makes people (and media, record companies, etc.) not interested in this lineup.

Bekka had a great voice there. But, with all respect, this sounds like a tribute band to me.

Yeah. Its tough when famous singers front your band and the drummer/bassist are original and want to go on. Mick has looked back and written regret making the band go on. However you must put it in context. Fleetwood Mac was over and you keep doing what you want to do to keep you busy and make a few bucks. Your other option is to sit home and think of older days. Part of me admires the effort to keep the band relevant. There is that other part that makes you realize you need to stop. For those that flame them for doing classic Mac songs.......this line up needed to. No one was coming to hear songs from Time, an album they never heard of. Some of them realized the singers had changed but they still want to hear those songs. In 1994 I had a chance to see them up close at a nightclub and I passed. You know what, I have regret about that.

[SteveMacD]

So, I was looking at the page dedicated to the OOTC tour and noticed something curious: The first leg of the OOTC tour ended around the same time Billy quit Fleetwood Mac, maybe within a week of each other in April, 1993.

Now I’m wondering how the Time band was even allowed to exist. Why the label didn’t intervene and why Lindsey didn’t reach out is curious. By that point, Warner’s and Lindsey knew he wasn’t viable as a solo artist and it should have been obvious, especially after the inauguration, that a new version of Fleetwood Mac fronted by people who weren’t on Rumours wasn’t going to be viable.

I don’t get how Lindsey could stand by and watch a brand he helped build get dragged through the mud, unless it was a matter of letting them humiliate themselves so he could be a white savior. Ironically, his bassist left the tour after the first leg, so there was even a perfect opening for some type reunion or offshoot. The whole debacle is as much on Mo Ostin, Lenny Waronker, and Lindsey Buckingham as it’s on Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, IMO.

[jmn3]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

So, I was looking at the page dedicated to the OOTC tour and noticed something curious: The first leg of the OOTC tour ended around the same time Billy quit Fleetwood Mac, maybe within a week of each other in April, 1993.

Now I’m wondering how the Time band was even allowed to exist. Why the label didn’t intervene and why Lindsey didn’t reach out is curious. By that point, Warner’s and Lindsey knew he wasn’t viable as a solo artist and it should have been obvious, especially after the inauguration, that a new version of Fleetwood Mac fronted by people who weren’t on Rumours wasn’t going to be viable.

I don’t get how Lindsey could stand by and watch a brand he helped build get dragged through the mud, unless it was a matter of letting them humiliate themselves so he could be a white savior. Ironically, his bassist left the tour after the first leg, so there was even a perfect opening for some type reunion or offshoot. The whole debacle is as much on Mo Ostin, Lenny Waronker, and Lindsey Buckingham as it’s on Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, IMO.

Well I think we’ve all said here many times that this group of people are relatively terrible businesspeople. There are so many instances of missed opportunities that it’s unfathomable they’ve been as successful as they are. It’s as if their success is in spite of their own best efforts to self-sabotage.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

So, I was looking at the page dedicated to the OOTC tour and noticed something curious: The first leg of the OOTC tour ended around the same time Billy quit Fleetwood Mac, maybe within a week of each other in April, 1993.

Now I’m wondering how the Time band was even allowed to exist. Why the label didn’t intervene and why Lindsey didn’t reach out is curious. By that point, Warner’s and Lindsey knew he wasn’t viable as a solo artist and it should have been obvious, especially after the inauguration, that a new version of Fleetwood Mac fronted by people who weren’t on Rumours wasn’t going to be viable.

I don’t get how Lindsey could stand by and watch a brand he helped build get dragged through the mud, unless it was a matter of letting them humiliate themselves so he could be a white savior. Ironically, his bassist left the tour after the first leg, so there was even a perfect opening for some type reunion or offshoot. The whole debacle is as much on Mo Ostin, Lenny Waronker, and Lindsey Buckingham as it’s on Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, IMO.

Wouldn't that be something if they all knew the reunion, in some way shape or form, was coming. I'll give you this much, there are some clues.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

Wouldn't that be something if they all knew the reunion, in some way shape or form, was coming. I'll give you this much, there are some clues.

I am sure they were offered deals but clearly were not ready and rejected them. I dont buy the conspiracy theories because Lindey's solo tour ended the same month as Billy leaving the band? But then Billy came back to the band. With all the fuss over the inaugural the band put out countless statements they were NOT getting back together and it was a one time gig. Lindsey could see the shape Stevie was in 1993 and still wanted no part the madness. Chris did not even want to record Time and had to be forced to do it. I believe no serious talk of a reunion happened until at least 1996 when everyone hit rock bottom. Time flopped and the band saw they could not go on, Stevie almost quit performing, Chris left and wanted out of CA and go back to England. Her house was just finished since renovations started in 1990.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

I dont buy the conspiracy theories because Lindey's solo tour ended the same month as Billy leaving the band?

Billy left Fleetwood Mac sometime in late-March/early-April, 1993 to resume his country career. The last show of the first leg of the OOTC tour was April 10, 1993.

Lindsey knew by then that his creative vision that he saw come to fruition wasn’t connecting and wasn’t viable. Similarly, the label should have known a new version of Fleetwood Mac fronted by people who weren’t on Rumours wasn’t going to be viable.

At that point Fleetwood Mac should have been shelved indefinitely and Lindsey, Mick, and John should have formed an offshoot, allowing them to record music and tour that would be credible and more viable than the alternatives, while keeping the door open for a full Fleetwood Mac reunion.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

Billy left Fleetwood Mac sometime in late-March/early-April, 1993 to resume his country career. The last show of the first leg of the OOTC tour was April 10, 1993.

Lindsey knew by then that his creative vision that he saw come to fruition wasn’t connecting and wasn’t viable. Similarly, the label should have known a new version of Fleetwood Mac fronted by people who weren’t on Rumours wasn’t going to be viable.

At that point Fleetwood Mac should have been shelved indefinitely and Lindsey, Mick, and John should have formed an offshoot, allowing them to record music and tour that would be credible and more viable than the alternatives, while keeping the door open for a full Fleetwood Mac reunion.

Didn't the 4 of them start working together late 1996 and then they called Stephanie?

[David]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

Lindsey could see the shape Stevie was in 1993 and still wanted no part the madness.

This is key to me. Until he opted to work with her in 1996, after she had really cleaned up, he would not have tolerated her. She didn’t even attend the Clinton press conference. She was still Miss Flighty.

The idea that a huge payday in the wake of his commercial solo failure would have pulled him back in is not something I agree with. He obviously was disappointed in the low sales for Cradle, but he was resolved to continue working solo. Even with Mick and John working with him in 1995, that was still a solo album in the making. It wasn’t intended as a Mac project. They were busy at the time playing little gigs (and possibly operating in the red). Mick was trying to make a go of his latest configuration, at least for a time in 1995.

I think what brought Stevie back into the fold was her series of concerts in 1996 and her proposed Lifetime cable concert special (which was ultimately canceled). I think those concerts rejuvenated her and made her possibly think that she would want to join Mac again — still iffy.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by David

The idea that a huge payday in the wake of his commercial solo failure would have pulled him back in is not something I agree with. He obviously was disappointed in the low sales for Cradle, but he was resolved to continue working solo. Even with Mick and John working with him in 1995, that was still a solo album in the making. It wasn’t intended as a Mac project.

However, it’s not like it had to be an either-or proposition. There was a middle option. Hypothetically, something like Buckingham Fleetwood McVie would have been more viable than Lindsey on his own or Mick and John putting together a new Fleetwood Mac and would have kept the door open for a full Fleetwood Mac reunion.

This is why the label should have intervened, which they eventually did after Mo and Lenny left in August, 1994 when they stuck Rob Cavallo on Lindsey, who in turn stuck Mick on Lindsey. If the label had intervened in April, 1993, we would have been spared the Time lineup and two years of Lindsey sulking.