Getting back to the thread title, I’d say it’s 50/50. Lindsey was the one the band originally wanted because they could hear in his playing something that persists even to this day, a palpable, tense energy and creativity wrapped in a concise and potentially commercial package. We all know what he’s done—and could still do— for the FM sound.
But for all of that (and that is a lot) it’s Stevie's voice and presence that lured people in. I admit it: “Gypsy” put a spell on me, and though it was LB who transformed the song from a mere scrap of a demo into a full and unique orchestration, it was SN whose flash and charisma originally attracted my attention.
Once I was hooked on the band, I quickly assessed the reality: that SN needs LB more musically than he needs her. At the same time, SN’s celebrity (which is now a weapon) is so strong, the band’s continued popularity (as opposed to musical accomplishment) is tied to it.
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