New Billy Burnette interview in Rolling Stone

[bwboy]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

I think Billy doesn’t say much about Rick because Rick is intensely protective of his privacy and Billy respects that. They’ve played together since Fleetwood Mac a few times. I don’t think there’s any bad blood between them.

I think you’re 100% right, and your explanation makes total sense. Another reason to like Billy so much.

I found it so interesting that Mick (and maybe John) made the call to invite someone other than Billy to join FM. I’m beginning to realize how much of the final decision making seems to depend on Mick. When it comes to the band, he’s pretty ruthless- not in a cutthroat way, but how he separates the band from his personal life. Billy is a good friend of his, yet Mick didn’t cave and let him rejoin. Ouch. Yet maybe that was a good decision, I don't know. Just very telling to me.

I want to hang out and have a beer with Billy!

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by bwboy

I want to hang out and have a beer with Billy!

I've peed next to him, and didn't find him that friendly.

[bwboy]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

I've peed next to him, and didn't find him that friendly.

That was because he had to say to you “dude, my eyes are up here”.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by bwboy

That was because he had to say to you “dude, my eyes are up here”.

Eww, totally wrong, ma'am.

[Macfan4life]

Its so sad the Zoo got fired from a Beach Boys tour because of their drunken antics. This was just 2 years before Tango sessions. No wonder Lindsey hit the escape hatch after the record was complete.
Was this why Mick's management prevented Billy from rejoining the band in 2018. They feared Mick lapsing into the abyss again?
In Mick's second book he does write how he and Billy drank excessively during all their tours together.
Its just crazy to think one member can fire a guitarist. The rest of the band wants a certain guitarist yet the management of the drummer prevents the hiring. Its so dysfunctional.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

Was this why Mick's management prevented Billy from rejoining the band in 2018. They feared Mick lapsing into the abyss again?
In Mick's second book he does write how he and Billy drank excessively during all their tours together.

Its just crazy to think one member can fire a guitarist. The rest of the band wants a certain guitarist yet the management of the drummer prevents the hiring. Its so dysfunctional.

Do you really believe it was Mick’s management and not Irving Azoff? Irving wasn’t about to put two guys who are best remembered for replacing Lindsey Buckingham on a tour of that magnitude. Just look at The Eagles. Fleetwood Mac was getting two guys with “calling cards.”

At most, Billy’s name came up in passing, but he and Rick were never in serious consideration for Fleetwood Mac. Remember the stack of tapes they talked about?

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

At most, Billy’s name came up in passing, but he and Rick were never in serious consideration for Fleetwood Mac. Remember the stack of tapes they talked about?

Rick and Mick weren't speaking in 2018. Rick said in a Peter Green tribute that he and Mick went their own ways in 2016.
Per Rick's social media, it seems 2016 meant his support of the right wing. And Mick is not right wing.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

Do you really believe it was Mick’s management and not Irving Azoff? Irving wasn’t about to put two guys who are best remembered for replacing Lindsey Buckingham on a tour of that magnitude. Just look at The Eagles. Fleetwood Mac was getting two guys with “calling cards.”

At most, Billy’s name came up in passing, but he and Rick were never in serious consideration for Fleetwood Mac. Remember the stack of tapes they talked about?

We have huge differences of opinion. I dont know what you mean by "a tour of that magnitude." Would not the 1987 tour (first without Lindsey and promoting a new album he had no part of) be a much bigger event than some golden oldie cash grab tour of them in their 70's?
I have to trust Billy on some of his observations since he is not a pathological liar like Mick. If Billy thought Irving blocked him, he would have known and said so. He said Stevie and Chris wanted him but not Mick's management. I would think Stevie and Irving would be on the same page.
Billy jumped in with both feet and did well in 1987. He could have done it with eyes closed in 2018.
God bless Billy for forgiving Mick after 2 years. IMHO Billy had a right to be pissed. Very disrespectful. But hey, what he did to Lindsey was worse.

[Macfan4life]

oh Wow. This interview was off the chain. I wanted so much more!!!!!! He remembers so much even the first bad review from Pittsburgh. We all want to know how Rick was picked so its interesting he was in the studio with him when Mick asked him to join. Maybe Billy lobbied Rick to join? I wish Billy was asked that.
Its nice to know and comforting to know that Stevie and Chris wanted Billy back but not Mick's management. How odd. 2 year fight with Mick. No sh*t. No doubt.
I am floored Stevie's management let her only take 1/6 of tour proceeds. WTF did Irving allow this? So her bigger cut only came on Mirage?
SteveMacD - you were right. Billy did find out about a brewing Dance reunion in late 1995.
I want to know why Billy did not tour with Christine in 1984. He must of had another project. I forgot how close he was to Lindsey. Nice of him to speak with Lindsey to get his approval when joining. The Oh Diane words make sense since the song is so bad. Only kidding Billy!!!!!
Fascinating he coordinated the inaugural concert yet was uninvited because of Lindsey.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

We all want to know how Rick was picked so its interesting he was in the studio with him when Mick asked him to join. Maybe Billy lobbied Rick to join? I wish Billy was asked that.

Billy and Rick had been working together for a little while on songwriting demos. Billy played one such demo for Roy Orbison, which is how both ended up on Mystery Girl. Roy specifically requested the lead guitarist on the demo.

I recall reading that Mick met Rick in the mid-80s, probably through Billy, and that Rick was planning on making a blues album with Mick on drums.

Anyway, when Mick made the call to Billy’s manager, it was for both Billy and Rick. The manager called Billy in the studio, and Billy told Rick about it. I also remember Stevie saying she insisted on going to dinner with Mick, Billy, and Rick to discuss joining the band, I think the following night.

How cool would that have been to get asked to join Fleetwood Mac while in the studio recording with Roy Orbison?

[aleuzzi]

This was a very cool interview. A lot of questions, a lot of frank answers. And you know what, it's clear Billy has been successful. You can't play with FM, Dylan and Fogherty and NOT be!

I wish I could get my hands on the Becca and Billy album. I've tried before.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

This was a very cool interview. A lot of questions, a lot of frank answers. And you know what, it's clear Billy has been successful. You can't play with FM, Dylan and Fogherty and NOT be!

I wish I could get my hands on the Becca and Billy album. I've tried before.

Yeah, but he never seemed to have much success solo. Almost always a side man.

I've got a copy of that album somewhere. A Ledgie sent it to me years ago.

[Nicks Fan]

Originally Posted by bwboy

I think you’re 100% right, and your explanation makes total sense. Another reason to like Billy so much.

I found it so interesting that Mick (and maybe John) made the call to invite someone other than Billy to join FM. I’m beginning to realize how much of the final decision making seems to depend on Mick. When it comes to the band, he’s pretty ruthless- not in a cutthroat way, but how he separates the band from his personal life. Billy is a good friend of his, yet Mick didn’t cave and let him rejoin. Ouch. Yet maybe that was a good decision, I don't know. Just very telling to me.

I want to hang out and have a beer with Billy!

I wonder if that had more to with Billy not being a big enough name these days though one could argue Neil Finn isn't exactly a big name either. CH had some hits years ago but what have they done since? I knew of CH but didn't know the members names so when Neil was announced I had no idea who he was.

[SteveMacD]

I mean, I didn’t want to say it, but aside from the fact Neil Finn had one of the great songs of the ‘80s, there’s this…

[UnwindedDreams]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

I mean, I didn’t want to say it, but aside from the fact Neil Finn had one of the great songs of the ‘80s, there’s this…

Oh wow.

Is that picture from 2014? Mick looks heavier (in a good way) there. Mick looked thinner in 2018.