buckingham nicks mcvie

You can be essential without being a leader.

I dunno if the band has a leader so much as a person shouting loudest at the moment

The McVie songs on BTM, the only ones I've heard, stick to her tried-and-true and don't sound particularly tacky but no special touches either. I do remember "Save Me" getting airplay.

i doubt anyone's said "guys fleetwood mac needs to do something" more than mick, the other 3 show their power by saying they DON'T need to do something.

and then there's john.

and then there's john

...who has a ton to do with what makes them sound so great. i've always heard fm as very much mick and john's band; the name of the band is no accident. without 'em, the others would just be three very good singer-songwriters, all of whom benefited as much if not more from the rhythm section as the rhythm section benefited from them.

I've always thought the distance between the B/N album and the s/t/ FM record to be not so great. I love the Mick and John rhythm section, but not least because they adapted so well to Bucky's vision. And probably got even better because of it.

i doubt anyone's said "guys fleetwood mac needs to do something" more than mick

No doubt, says the only member of FM who spent a considerable time bankrupt. Either way, this was a good read: http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/30/business/talking-money-with-mick-fleetwood-there-s-no-stopping-tomorrow.html

sister stopped by this place on her money, said it was pretty surreal - lots of paintings of himself

http://www.fleetwoodsonfrontst.com/

on her honeymoon, i meant to write. gah