Trouble in Fleetwood Mac.......

The thing about a long-lived, different-membered band like Fleetwood Mac, is that comparing different line-ups is an apple-to-oranges comparison. The original Peter Green-lead version was a pure Chicago Blues Band, while the Kiln House album is heavily 1950's Rock 'n' Roll-infused. When Buckingham and Nicks joined, Fleetwood Mac became a Pop Group, and I mean that in the positive sense (Pop is often used in a pejorative manner. Not I---I love Pop music. Sophisticated chord sequences, beautiful melodies, harmonies, and counterpoint---Brian Wilson, Bjorn & Benny---the B & B of ABBA, the Soul music of the 1960's, etc.). Buckingham & Nicks are about the songs, first and foremost---Pop.

I would think it could be weird for Neil and Mike to sing and play Lindsey's parts, and even just to be in Fleetwood Mac. It's not that much different to being in a Fleetwood Mac tribute band! Neil's a fine songwriter, and now he'll be performing someone else's compositions. I wonder if the gig is just for touring, or if Neil and Mike are permanent members and will be recording new material with the group. Fleetwood Mac's fourth incarnation?! Or is it the fifth? Still my favorite lineup is that of the Kiln House album era. For guitar players it's the original, Peter Green lead version. I have been wondering what Mike Campbell would do post-Petty, and now have the answer.

Talk about old.....I saw Lindsey and Stevie in their San Jose garage band---Fritz---at the 1968 Santa Clara County Folk-Rock Festival, opening for The Electric Flag and the doors (lower case intentional---that's how they printed it). I don't remember what they sounded like, but I remember the name. It had originally been The Fritz Reiner Memorial Band; I didn't at the time know who Fritz Reiner was.