Doesn’t the music work best for you..?

when you know the band members get along? Because I didn’t like Soul Man anymore after I found out Sam & Dave hated each other and Simon & Garfunkel feud turned me off from them a bit.

Well, while I would usually agree with you about that for the most part, I’m going to throw in a curve ball…

As most people here know, one of my favourite bands is Fleetwood Mac {1967-}.
They have always been a bit all-over-the-place ~ lead guitarists going missing mid-tour, others being fired, but by 1975, with the relocation to America and the recruitment of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, they thought they were on a more even keel. Ha!

Their biggest, most infamous album {still topping the British album chart as the album with most weeks on chart}, was of course 1977’s “Rumours”. And there is the exception that proves the rule. During writing and recording, the band’s fronting couple, Stevie and Lindsey, were going through a venomous split, married couple Christine and John were getting divorced {whilst Christine took-up with a new boyfriend, the band’s lighting director}, and Mick Fleetwood was divorcing his wife because she had an affair with his best friend.

Stevie and Lindsey were writing all their songs at one another, because they weren’t talking! Christine, meanwhile, was writing about moving on with new boyfriend Curry Grant, wishing John all the best, and a little, beautiful tribute for Mick.
Oh, and John gave the album it’s title, after commenting about all the music industry rumours that were surrounding the fragmenting band.

Second Hand News {LB}
Lindsey’s belief of how Stevie viewed him.

Dreams {SN}
Stevie trying to soothe Lindsey’s anger.

Never Going Back Again {LB}
Lindsey’s comment that he wasn’t getting into a relationship like that again.

Don’t Stop {CMcV}
Christine’s optimism for the band, and especially for John.

Go Your Own Way {LB}
Lindsey’s venomus opinion of his relationship with Stevie.

Silver Springs {SN} {cut from the album, b-side to GYOW single}
Stevie’s comment of just how special Lindsey was to her, with a sharp-edged promise that he would never get over her {apt choice for the b-side to ‘that’ song!}.

Songbird {CMcV}
Another Christine blessing, for everyone around her.

The Chain {SN ; LB ; CMcV ; JMcV ; MF}
The only song they all contributed to. You can hear the venom between Stevie and Lindsey, especially in live performances.

You Make Loving Fun {CMcV}
Christine’s upbeat song for the new man in her life.

I Don’t Want to Know {SN}
Stevie commenting again on life with Lindsey. The replacement for ‘Silver Springs’.

Oh Daddy {CMcV}
Christine’s song for Mick, the ‘Daddy’ of the band.

Gold Dust Woman {SN}
Stevie wrote this about the groupies who would fawn over the boys, and turn nasty as soon as she and Christine appeared. The first line referenced cocain, and the end adlib is full of anger, partially directed at Lindsey.

And yet, from this mess was born a musical triumph…

The band managed to stay together, but their disjointedness continued into their following albums.

1979’s “Tusk” has frequently been described as sounding like a band album with someone else’s solo album {Lindsey’s} popping up throughout it. The subsequent tour took it’s toll on them, and on one occasion Lindsey aped Stevie on stage, and kicked her.

After spliting briefly for a rest and a couple of solo albums, they reconviened for 1982’s “Mirage”. There were tensions throughout, with the album really only spawing one hit, Stevie’s song ‘Gypsy’.
Much of the tension may have been caused by the fact that Stevie was the one that audiences loved {she had unintentionally become the band’s on-stage focus}, and that her solo career had really taken off, unlike Lindsey’s {though it is worth noting that Stevie cut-short her highly successful solo tour so FM could make the new album}.
The tour for “Mirage”, which was taped at one point, shows some distinct animosity between Stevie and Lindsey.

Another few solo albums, and the band were back in the studio for 1987’s “Tango in the Night”. Lindsey put his solo album on hold to make this album, and Stevie’s contributions were limited, as she was in the midst of kicking the cocaine habit. And yet, the album works as a whole, and is still a fan-favourite.

But, this time was the last time. Lindsey had finally had enough, and after a violent row with fellow band members, he quit.

Despite this devestating {and seemingly final} split, they managed to recruit two new guitarists for the rest of their tour, and for another album in 1990. But the new album could never live-up to the best of Fleetwood Mac, and Stevie quit. The following 1995 album included a new female singer {Bekka Brammlett} and another classic rock singer-guitarist {Dave Mason}, but it was an absolute flop.

Ah… but time is a healer, and come 1998’s presidential whatsit, the classic “Rumours” line-up agreed to reform. Not only that, but they went on tour, releasing a live album and DVD.

But, fragmentation is never far behind Fleetwood Mac. Christine, a tour veteran ever since her 1967 days as a member of Chicken Shack, was just too tired for another FM tour. So, she said goodbye. Though, not before contributing keyboards and backing vocals to the title-track of 2003’s “Say You Will” {a song Stevie had written to beg Christine to stay}. The album was good {the Stevie and Lindsey show ~ an unexpected follow-up to the original “Buckingham Nicks” album?}, but not a patch on “Rumours”.

And so, then there were 4, with a new tour and album planned for next year.
While Fleetwood Mac have never been the most harmonious of bands when it comes to personal relationships, it seems, rather peversely, that their most magnificent album was the product of total utter dischord…

Whitney Houston – Greatest love of all

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