I always had a little different take on them, having been a senior in high school when Tango came out, and techno-pop was threatening the universe.
Lindsey Buckingham quitting the band right before the tour... that was BIG news in 1987. That was the band I knew and liked, but they were who turned me onto the Bob Welch, Danny Kirwan, Jeremy Spencer, and Peter Green incarnations of Fleetwood Mac. I was (and still am) a true fan, and went on to enjoy the next two less successful versions that included Billy Burnette, Rick Vito, then Dave Mason (yeah, *that* Dave Mason) and Bekka Bramlett. I might be one of the very few people to actually own a copy of the Time album from 1995. =)
Having played in bands that had major personnel changes, that's a hard thing to deal with, even more so I imagine, given the level they were already playing in the early 1970's. Buckingham and Nicks coming in... that wasn't an easy gig to walk into, but they did pretty well. And I haven't ever seen them be anything less than respectful of their predecessors.
The endurance amazes me almost as much as the music has... Mick & John just keep on playing. I just try to appreciate all of it.
