Don McLean's wife files for divorce

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 23 Jul 16 - 02:00 PM

If you don't like "American Pie" then, well...you're fools.

Deaf fools at that.

It's not just a matter of personal preference. It's do you with recognising quality. Recognising a beautifully crafted song.
Recognising the ability to compose one of the most iconic songs of the 20th Century.

McLean is a wonder. His talent should be cherished.

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: alex s
Date: 23 Jul 16 - 12:08 PM

Well said, Dave H.
Not a music thread (or even a valid one)

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 23 Jul 16 - 10:12 AM

I fail to understand why Don McLean's divorce or not is of any concern or interest to anyone else.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: Greg F.
Date: 23 Jul 16 - 08:46 AM

Nothing to see here folks, move along.

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: The Sandman
Date: 23 Jul 16 - 06:48 AM

JACK ,its not my favourite but it is imo opinion . not as distateful tiptoe through the tulips or the birdie song, or the last good bye

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: Jack Campin
Date: 23 Jul 16 - 05:06 AM

The Guardian's story of a few months ago reports his wife as implying that the law had got out of control and the case shouldn't have got to court.

I find "American Pie" one of the most loathsome songs in existence and I'd be happy for it to be erased from history and its composer locked up and the key thrown away (I've no idea what else he may have written or performed). But that's got nothing to do with his private life.

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: Will Fly
Date: 23 Jul 16 - 03:19 AM

I saw Don McLean in Brighton - must have been about 1980 or so - at the Dome concert hall, which was packed. He came on, stepped up to the mic and said, "I like playing love songs and old rock'n roll" - and then played non-stop for over two hours to rapturous applause. His stage presence was superb - warm and funny - his playing and singing second to none. He played guitar and did some banjo frailing.

One of the best concerts I ever attended in those days - around 35 years ago. I've no idea what he's like now. What were we all like 35 years ago?

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Jul 16 - 08:10 PM

According to People Magazine and other sources, McLean pleaded guilty to a domestic violence offense.

But I think I recall a message somewhere in our 159,000 threads, that described McLean's performance in a concert as "creepy." What he does in his personal relationships may be irrelevant here, but what is he like in a concert? I like his studio recordings, but what's he like in a live performance?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: keberoxu
Date: 22 Jul 16 - 05:13 PM

Well, it's an Associated Press feature story now. Actually the divorce is not the story, it gets a sentence or two. What the media reported on was the guilty plea entered by Don McLean in court -- I presume this is criminal court, not a civil suit? So McLean has entered a guilty plea to domestic abuse, and he has to behave himself for one year if he doesn't want his fines increased.

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 16 Mar 16 - 05:02 PM

Well, there's a really valuable contribution to the thread to be sure, GUEST.

Why don't you just go off and take a shit!

≈M≈

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Mar 16 - 02:19 PM

Couldn't give a shit.

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: keberoxu
Date: 16 Mar 16 - 01:12 PM

I'm with Allan Conn and MGM Lion on this one.

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 16 Mar 16 - 01:05 PM

Allan Conn's conditionally formulated comments {"if one thing, then another"] seem to me among the most intelligent and germane contributions to this discussion. Why the unworthily aggressive and pejorative tone of Rodge's foolish derogation, for heaven's sake! What does he find remotely voyeuristic about Allan's posts?

≈M≈

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: GUEST,Rodge
Date: 16 Mar 16 - 11:30 AM

We could do without voyeurs like Allan Con (pardon my French)

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Mar 16 - 10:07 AM

Fans can get over defensive to the point of mass hysteria when their idols show themselves up to be sleazy criminals.

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: meself
Date: 16 Mar 16 - 10:02 AM

I'll say this while this unseemly thread is sitting at the top: let's let it slide to the bottom and into oblivion.

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 16 Mar 16 - 09:48 AM

Sorry but where have I put the rope out for him? I said several times that it is alleged and that he hasn't been found guilty of anything. My comment was over the suggestion that it (ie domestic absue) was nobody's business but his and her's. I would disagree strongly with that idea. Obviously it is also the Court's business and if it was indeed domestic abuse, which has yet to be proved in court, then it is something that society as a whole should frown upon. The days of it being ok to slap your wife about as long as it is behind closed doors are surely long gone? That is all I am saying. Struggling to see why you have an issue with that?

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: Greg F.
Date: 16 Mar 16 - 09:38 AM

Yes, Allan - He's been ACCUSED - and you already have the rope out to lunch him.

This when you know absolutely bugger-all about the facts of the case.

So put a sock in it, eh?

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 16 Mar 16 - 02:14 AM

Not a great tabloid reader either but this isn't just a tittle tattle story about a couple splitting up anyway. It is a story where a guy has been accused of domestic abuse. Actual physical assault as well as seemingly further charges of misdemeanor, charges of terrorizing, criminal threatening behaviour, criminal restraint, criminal mischief and obstructing the reporting of a crime. The story made the main media and not just the celeb magazines etc. He has of course as yet not yet been found guilty of anything.

Again my point though was that the idea that domestic abuse is only the business of the abuser and the person being abused is wrong. That is an attitude from another century.

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: GUEST,Marianne
Date: 15 Mar 16 - 08:03 PM

To Greg F.

"Ain't nobody's business but his- and hers."

THEN WHY THE HELL DID YOU ANY BOTHER TO READ THE THREAD WHEN YOU READ THE SUBJECT LINE?

When you are a famous person you do give up some privacy and that goes with the territory.

I can't believe you have never read negative things about famous people's lives ever in your life or never talked about it with your spouse, girlfriend, family members, friend, co-worker, neighbor.

You have never talked/discussed about some private lives of some famous athlete? (about their marriages or crimes they committed or other personal stuff?)

Are you so perfect?   I doubt it!

Donna did not say the charges were true, just "terrible" if they were. Which I agree!

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: GUEST,Rodge
Date: 15 Mar 16 - 07:33 PM

Cheers Greg F!

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: Greg F.
Date: 15 Mar 16 - 02:04 PM

Sorry, Allan, but really, Ain't nobody's business but his - and her's.

If I wanted this crap, I could read the tabloids from the supermarket checkout.

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 15 Mar 16 - 02:58 AM

Donna's original post didn't say the charges were true. She simply stated that 'if they were true it'd be really terrible'. I can't see anything to criticize in that statement. Anyone is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law hence my use of the word alleged. That is the same for McLean as it is for any other alleged criminal. That doesn't mean though that no-one can speculate about or mention criminal proceedings in process.

I totally disagree though with the post further down from another poster which states "Ain't nobody's business but his - and her's"
I don't know what decade or century some people are still living in but the idea that domestic abuse is solely a matter between a husband and his wife is surely long gone. That was the point I was making!

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: meself
Date: 14 Mar 16 - 06:40 PM

Yes, it is clearly our duty to speculate on the marriage of these two people whom none of us seem to know, and to make the appropriate pronouncements .....

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 14 Mar 16 - 06:22 PM

Domestic abuse (alleged at this point I take it?) is not something which is only the business of the victim and the abuser. It shouldn't be tolerated under any circumstances.

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Mar 16 - 06:08 PM

of course his best song was 'vincent'

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: Mark Ross
Date: 14 Mar 16 - 12:15 PM

Jack Campin, that quote, "nobody ever went broke from underestimating the intelligence of the American public". is from H.L. Mencken.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 14 Mar 16 - 11:56 AM

Oh, right. Sorry to have pitched on the wrong one. My comments above still apply; and I'm sure I could think of some even dumber, more overperformed songs than Rule Britannia if put my mind to it. Quite like RB, for that matter: nice to think I never·x3 shall be slaves.

Still -- what all this is to do with Don McC the alleged wife-abuser; or what any of the rather distressing allegations with any of us [as several (Mike Yates et al) remark above]......

So bye-bye -- (tho I drive an old Vauxhall Astra, not a Chevvy)

≈M≈

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: Jack Campin
Date: 14 Mar 16 - 09:11 AM

The Barnum quote I had in mind was "nobody ever went broke from underestimating the intelligence of the American public".

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 14 Mar 16 - 03:16 AM

Actually I never shared in near-universal admiration for the effusion; not sure I ever bothered to listen to it right thru. If I had, I suspect it might have been the day the brain-cells died. Had a sort of grudging respect, tho, for McLean's marathon-style ability to go on & on & on &...

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 14 Mar 16 - 12:58 AM

Oh? But —

'Barnum is widely, but erroneously, credited with coining the phrase "There's a sucker born every minute".' Wikipedia

So Bye-bye Mr American Jack
Drive your chevvy to the levy and don't bother coming back.

≈M≈

Only joking

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: Jack Campin
Date: 13 Mar 16 - 09:33 PM

Pompous old fart who proved PT Barnum right by writing the dumbest, most overperformed song since Rule Britannia.

We're allowed a bit of schadenfreude, surely?

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: maeve
Date: 13 Mar 16 - 06:50 AM

Thus my earlier suggestion. I was outvoted.

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 13 Mar 16 - 06:01 AM

+1 to the previous two posts

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: GUEST,Rodge
Date: 13 Mar 16 - 05:36 AM

Ain't nobody's business but his. And hers.

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: GUEST,Mike Yates
Date: 13 Mar 16 - 05:17 AM

So? Is this really in the public interest? Or are we just too brainwashed to think that the private lives of so-called "celebrities" are now of such importance that the whole world should get involved?

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: GUEST,Cindy
Date: 12 Mar 16 - 08:00 PM

To keberoxu

This is true. This is what happened in John Denver's first marriage to Annie. John always touring and on the road. She had also claimed he had abused her too from what I had read years ago.

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: keberoxu
Date: 12 Mar 16 - 02:46 PM

Aw, expletive deleted.

The only thing that comes to mind about the marriage, from decades ago surely, is that in an interview the subject of pet dogs came up. And McLean confessed that he loves dogs, but his wife is allergic to them, so no dogs.

Watching McLean from a great distance over all these years, the thing that made me stop and wonder, was that he persisted all this time with the touring and being on the road. It's a whole way of life in itself. When one lives that way, things seem normal that to a stick-in-the-mud like me would be untenable. It has to be tough on any marriage.

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: GUEST,DTM
Date: 12 Mar 16 - 06:39 AM

Bye bye, American guy? ;-)

Subject: RE: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: maeve
Date: 12 Mar 16 - 06:35 AM

Life events will always impact touring schedules. This needs to be downstairs, methinks.

---

For years, our general principle for "borderline" threads has been that they should stay where the thread originator put them. This one is about a musician and the thread originator put the thread in the music section, so there it should remain. Similarly, if a BS thread has only ancillary connection to music, it should stay in the BS section. Threads should be moved from music to BS or vice versa, only if they clearly fall into one category or another. Mention of a song or even posting lyrics should not require moving a thread from BS to music, unless the thread includes lyrics that have not been posted here before.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Don McLean's wife files for divorce
From: GUEST,Donna
Date: 11 Mar 16 - 11:48 PM

I have been a long time fan of Don McLean's music and have several of his albums. I have never had a chance to see him in concert though.
I was reading in my local newspaper today that Don's wife, Patrisha McLean has filed for divorce in Maine.

A lawyer for Patrisha McLean says the legal papers filed Thursday cite, "adultery, cruel and abusive treatment and irreconcilable differences. The two have been married for 30 years.
Don McLean was arrested in January 2016 on charges including domestic assault. He has pleaded not guilty.

Sorry to hear this. I guess no one really know what is going on in someone's marriage. I wonder how this will effect any upcoming tours he may have. If any of these charges are true - it's really terrible!