I remember back when I used to read old interviews with the band, one of the first questions that always seemed to be asked of either Nicks or Christine McVie was how it was having another woman in the band, was there jealousy, etc. - the big assumption being, of course, that women just can't get along. The most frustrating thing was that Nicks and McVie never just told the 'journalist' to f*** off, but would answer like it was a reasonable question (McVie often 'admitting' that it had been a concern when Nicks first joined whether or not she'd cope with another woman on board)! *Sigh* I like to think Nicks, at least, would know better by now, but obviously Buckingham - however much I'm a fan of his - is stuck in the dark ages.

 

oy. it's not a matter of sexism, it's about personality, musicality, and most importantly, balance. stevie has an extreme stage presence that begs to be balanced out by someone more grounded than she. fleetwood mac needs a female foil not because stevie can't stand on her own as the only woman in the band but because the vast majority of the songs FM plays on tour demand two female voices and one male voice, and frankly, frank, i'm sick of the backup singers. it would be nice to have another female singer who is also a musician so they can get rid of a backup instrumentalist or two or ten.

as for this:

Would they hire a dude to be Lindsey's "foil," or would he simply be an accomplished musician in his own right?

this would be a fair question if stevie were or ever had been an accomplished musician, but she's not. ever heard her play the piano? check out rhiannon on disc 3 of her box set. or the video from 1989 of her playing "doing the best that i can" on her ridiculous, fabulous bosendorfer that is floating around youtube.

"but she's a singer!" i hear many say. yes, she sings. or did, before she ruined her voice with coke, weed, and cigarettes - not to mention one too many searing renditions of rhiannon in the mid-70's. YES she had a fantastic instrument. there are performances from 75-81 that i would sell my mother to see in person. but as she has proven in the last 20 years, her ability was fleeting and based on happenstance alone. she has never used her voice with any attention to control, phrasing, or logic - and it's because of this that she has lost it. her continued popularity is based on an appearance and mythology she has crafted, not on her enduring legacy as a musician. one needs only to look at skilled, thoughtful singers such as natalie maines, trisha yearwood and, indeed, crow herself to know this is true.

Nice picture. Oooh, look! Someone with bad teeth, let's all laugh at them. Nice. :-( It's one of my pet peeves when people do that. I had to save for years to finally get mine fixed, and I can remember what it was like to always be worried about people noticing. Never smiling, especially in a job interview. Whose going to hire someone who needs ten grand in dental work? Forget about bennies. Those who've never had to deal with it have no clue how bad it sucks. I doubt you would have showed a picture of another singers fat ass as a reason she would have made Stevie look better. At least you can diet and work out to fix that yourself . At home dental work isn't a great idea. You are right though in that Stevie doesn't need anyone else, and if I managed to make it to an FM concert I would be bummed to see someone else up there "playing off" Stevie.

Is it just me being a little suspicious today, but this has the feeling and smell of an April Fool to me!

Karman, takes one to know one.....

My jury is still out on this whole Crow idea.

Yes, the band could use another female member as a vocalist. Like Frik wisely pointed out it would be nice to ditch the army of backup vocalists. But is Crow really that person? The truth is, she has a tendency to be shrill. Especially live. And the last thing this band needs is more shrill. What with Lindsey screeching to hit the high notes, and one backup vocalist who tends to go sharp, its already a bit trying on the ears at times.

On the other hand, anyone to get up there and stop that heavy handed fake romance crap that Stevie and Lindsey keep trotting out would be welcome. That sorry act is as old as Stevie's shawls and far mustier and motheaten by now. It really grates. I go to a concert to hear a band, not to be emotionally manipulated by that ridiculous star crossed lovers act that they have flogged to death. Its humiliating to watch them do that schtick. A third singer and writer might drive a stake in the heart of that clown show for once and for all and I for one would heave a sigh of relief that could counteract Stevie's hot flashes. 

Another problem with Crow is that she has a marked lack of stage presence. Yeah, she is kinda sexy and she is thin, but she is physically awkward and doesn't have a lot of charisma live. And that whole tall and thin thing isn't gonna do Stevie any favors.

At this point, however, any change would be welcome. Another member might shake up their setlist some. I, for one, lifelong fan though I may be, am not hacking up 150 bucks ever again to see the entirety of Rumours played again. If they ever hope to move past this nostalgia act jukebox money grab thing, they need some new blood. 

 

no way to natalie maines. that would be a joke. sheryl crow should be a no as well. Fleetwood Mac is not Fleetwood Mac without Christine McVie... and they shouldn't attempt to replace her or hire some fill-in. If Christine won't tour, then Stevie should sing her songs. Don't f*** it up by adding someone not worthy... and someone who ISN'T Christine McVie. bad idea... very very bad. www.eyeslikealeopard.com

You're kidding. Amy Winehouse? Are you serious? She's sooooo overated. As for Eve, Lil Kim, and Britney, that's gotta be a joke too.

I'm a luddite, so I don't have the link, but go to youtube, and search for "winehouse bourbon". No it isn't a vid of Amy downing a shot. It is a sober young Miss. Winehouse doing a version of Back To Black that will tear your hair back. She IS that good.

To the pipe and whatever other type of narcotic she can get her hands on. If Winehouse was clean and sober, she could rock the house.....