"Got a Hold on Me" single released 40 years ago

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

It was a bit baffling the hit maker from Fleetwood Mac had a hit solo record but did not pack the house.

I think it is the star effect. Stevie is talented, but mostly she is or was a star. Christine was a great artist. It's like Alec Guiness, who was a GREAT actor, but Rock Hudson was a star.

Besides I don't know how much Christine wanted to be a star. I guess she was fine with the kind of popularity she got.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by Villavic

I think it is the star effect. Stevie is talented, but mostly she is or was a star. Christine was a great artist. It's like Alec Guiness, who was a GREAT actor, but Rock Hudson was a star.

Besides I don't know how much Christine wanted to be a star. I guess she was fine with the kind of popularity she got.

No doubt. I think Stevie's insecurities about not being a musician forced her to develop a character on stage. It was shtick and it created a huge following. She was brilliant to do that just like Madonna did in the mid 80s. She developed her own look and persona. Stevie has more talent than Madonna has in her little toe but the concept was the same. Stevie is one of the best song writers and at one point was one hell of a singer. Madonna's insecurities about not having talent to write and sing made her develop a similar shtick that really worked for her. It made her a star. Paul Fishkin also was very smart in marketing a solo Stevie. She would not be taken seriously as some airy fairy with sugary pop songs. They marketed her as a full rock artist. By doing so gave Stevie even more credibility. Sadly as the albums drifted on, she lost that concept. I don't think people expected Christine to sell out arenas. But when a legend comes to town with a hit solo album performing all the Mac's hits you would think would at least fill a small theater. This is what annoyed Lindsey and I am sure got to Chris when the shtick was more powerful than the music.

[bombaysaffires]

Originally Posted by Villavic

I think it is the star effect. Stevie is talented, but mostly she is or was a star. Christine was a great artist. It's like Alec Guiness, who was a GREAT actor, but Rock Hudson was a star.

Besides I don't know how much Christine wanted to be a star. I guess she was fine with the kind of popularity she got.

That's a really key difference between Stevie and all the other members of the band. Sure, Stevie had a more flamboyant stage persona, but she also chased being a "celebrity" in ways the others didn't. She actively chose to hang out with and be seen with other celebrities, to date other big stars, to do all these outside collaborations with other rock stars.... she was tremendous fodder for the gossip columns. The others got mentioned when out doing promo stuff and maybe for showing up at awards ceremonies and such, but when they were off duty they were pretty much gone from the tabloids. Even though Chris dating Dennis got some mentions in the tabloids we were not bombarded with pics of them out to dinner, out shopping, etc. The first I personally recall seeing any pics was in the People mag article about the band as they were gearing up promoting Tusk. Stevie absolutely CRAVED fame, and made it her goal; the others did not. She may be the only one (certainly of the 3 songwriter/singers) whose name is recognized by most people without adding "of Fleetwood Mac" after it. But that's not by accident. She deliberately made herself famous for more than just her music. So when she cries about not being able to go out, or no personal life etc etc etc.... well, be careful what you wish for.