Bilboard Article - Mick Fleetwood Opens Up About Lindsey Buckingham's Departure

[David]

Originally Posted by JohnL

I truly believe you would change your mind if you ever had the chance to see them live. One of the best concerts I have ever seen...and I have seen hundreds.

I guess there's no accounting for tastes. If they don't think the Heartbreakers had anything special, what can you do? The Heartbreakers are one of the great American bands. Their sound from their heyday with Ron Blair and Stan Lynch was enormously satisfying and influential; they got ripped off by dozens of other American rock bands (John Mellencamp, anyone?). They were tight, sinewy, tough, in-the-pocket musicians. They invented their slinky style and they played that style better than anyone else. Blair, Lynch, Tench, Campbell, Petty . . . what's not to like and admire? Have the naysayers played "Refugee" or "What Are You Doing In My Life?" recently? The Heartbreakers laid down classic tracks like these over and over and over. They're the Mt. Olympus of American rock (with a few other bands).

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by David

I guess there's no accounting for tastes. If they don't think the Heartbreakers had anything special, what can you do? The Heartbreakers are one of the great American bands. Their sound from their heyday with Ron Blair and Stan Lynch was enormously satisfying and influential; they got ripped off by dozens of other American rock bands (John Mellencamp, anyone?). They were tight, sinewy, tough, in-the-pocket musicians. They invented their slinky style and they played that style better than anyone else. Blair, Lynch, Tench, Campbell, Petty . . . what's not to like and admire? Have the naysayers played "Refugee" or "What Are You Doing In My Life?" recently? The Heartbreakers laid down classic tracks like these over and over and over. They're the Mt. Olympus of American rock (with a few other bands).

My favorite Tom Petty song is...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKDYErlu5Kc

[jwd]

So many posts to respond to here so I'll just sum it up here.

TP and The Heartbreakers is one of the most amazing bands ever! So many classic tunes. And how anyone can find them boring is beyond my comprehension. Have you ever seen them LIVE? PUUUUHLEASE!

Mike and Tom were the closest of friends. If there was anything Mike could have done to save Tom he would have. The closest of friends can't necssarily save someone hooked on drugs. There's only so much one can do.

God bless the USA!

And Germany, what positive light do you have to show the world? I wouldn't be too preachy considering you started TWO WORLD WARS!

[BombaySapphire3]

Originally Posted by jwd

So many posts to respond to here so I'll just sum it up here.

TP and The Heartbreakers is one of the most amazing bands ever! So many classic tunes. And how anyone can find them boring is beyond my comprehension. Have you ever seen them LIVE? PUUUUHLEASE!

Mike and Tom were the closest of friends. If there was anything Mike could have done to save Tom he would have. The closest of friends can't necssarily save someone hooked on drugs. There's only so much one can do.

God bless the USA!

And Germany, what positive light do you have to show the world? I wouldn't be too preachy considering you started TWO WORLD WARS!

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers are one of the greatest American rock bands to emerge in the last 50 years no question. No other U.S. band that I can think of during their time had that level of consistency .In fact most were done after a few years . about the Germany comment . I'm precisely half German and half Irish but usually just mention that Irish part.

[Hawkeye]

Tom Petty is easily the only band that I can say truly got better with age. Many bands say that about themselves and a lot of fans of certain bands (including this band) and while many are/or have made great music in their later years, All of my favorite stuff by atom Petty is primarily 1993 to his death. And of courses there’s some amazing stuff in the first 20 years. And the live versions of old songs just kept getting better. Tom Petty’s Sirius station is the thing I’ve listened to most in the past 3 years (equal amounts befor and after his death) it’s never ending perfection. It’s also only 75 percent his stuff. The other 25 percent is like the Fleetwood Mac station’s in every way except Tom Petty’s introduces you to incredible unknown new artists and forgotten songs that inspired him, and they’re always very good. Tom Petty was not only great himself, he had an incredible ear for other music. So the exact opposite of the “influences” the FM station played.

[Sugar Mouse]

Originally Posted by BombaySapphire3

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers are one of the greatest American rock bands to emerge in the last 50 years no question. No other U.S. band that I can think of during their time had that level of consistency .In fact most were done after a few years . about the Germany comment . I'm precisely half German and half Irish but usually just mention that Irish part.

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers were an incredible band with literally dozens of incredible songs especially if you also include TP's solo albums. I find that a ton of folks only know the "hits" and don't know how many phenomenal "deep cut" songs there are. I still remember doing my first Tom Petty deep dive and being astounded by how many great songs I kept finding. "Walls" is just one example I can think of of a world class song by a world class songwriter. What a masterful song. And, of course, there's the Wildflowers album which stands as one of the greatest albums of all-time; a true masterpiece. And, of course, there is their live version of "Oh Well" which has got to be the best version of the song ever recorded ... TP and The Heartbreakers were a world-class band led by a world-class songwriter.

[bombaysaffires]

Ironically Walls is a song that Lindsey worked on with Tom.

[Sugar Mouse]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

Ironically Walls is a song that Lindsey worked on with Tom.

Yes - Lindsey sang the background vocal on "Walls". The song was written by Tom Petty and produced by Rick Rubin. Would be a great choice for the new Mac to perform the song this tour.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

Ironically Walls is a song that Lindsey worked on with Tom.

The vocal arrangement on Walls is killer. I love that song.

[iamnotafraid]

Originally Posted by jwd

...

And Germany, what positive light do you have to show the world? I wouldn't be too preachy considering you started TWO WORLD WARS!

Germany after declaring two wars against the world,
you'd think the world would have said "hey Germany,
you don't get to be a country anymore".