Controversial Question

[Total_Agreement]

So, I was wondering: who here thinks that Lindsey Buckingham is/was a narcissistic show-off? I'm not saying that he's a bad person, and, in fact, I'm a huge fan of his, but in his early days he'd have these five minute long guitar solos to _every_ song, and, you know, in my mind, that implies narcissistic show-off. Any thoughts?

P.S. please be gentle. I'm new at this and I don't want you to be offended by the question.

[amber]

So, I was wondering: who here thinks that Lindsey Buckingham is/was a narcissistic show-off? I'm not saying that he's a bad person, and, in fact, I'm a huge fan of his, but in his early days he'd have these five minute long guitar solos to _every_ song, and, you know, in my mind, that implies narcissistic show-off. Any thoughts?

P.S. please be gentle. I'm new at this and I don't want you to be offended by the question.
I've thought that too, and i've known how guitar players can be that way. I didn't really care, though. I just kind of laugh and roll my eyes at Lindsey's guitarsturbation. But, also, of course, I love to watch him play guitar. :shrug:
so, Yes - but it all works out. :laugh:

[strandinthewind]

Perhaps, but it is also called sellin' it to the back row - a time honored tradition in theatre :cool:

ALso, welcome.

[Miss Vicky]

So, I was wondering: who here thinks that Lindsey Buckingham is/was a narcissistic show-off?

Of course he's a narcissistic show-off, as well he should be. I've found that (for me personally, at least) the show-offs make the best concert performers. I don't know about everyone else, but I attend concerts as much to watch the musicians as to listen to them, if not more so. A musician can be the most talented artist in the world, but if all he or she does is stand there on the stage and play the song straight as it is on the album, I get bored.
It's this show-off trait coupled with his breathtaking talent that makes Lindsey so mesmerizing to watch on the stage.

[wondergirl9847]

Hey, if ya got it, flaunt it. ;)

If I were as good a guitar player as he is, I'd be up there, screwing my guitar too. :laugh: You can't say that Lindsey is boring on stage. Who wants to pay out the nose to be bored.

Oh, and welcome to the Ledge! :)

[Nico]

I think that's probably the best part about him, to be quite honest. I can't speak for anyone else, but I have to say he totally won me over as a fan when I saw that Live in Boston concert on PBS. Having read over this board, I think the (maybe) common consensus is people didn't care much for that DVD, but I LOVE it!!! Well, mainly him. He kicks so much ass and I could watch him do his solo thing for Come over and over and over. Plus he just strikes me as a bit of an eccentric, but in a really beautiful and extremely gifted way. Hard to explain really. He's probably a narcissist, I don't know. But I dig him anyway.

Also: I would really, really like to see some early footage of (Buckingham-Nicks) Fleetwood Mac. Where would I find that? Do they have a DVD out or something? I'm telling you, I am new to this whole FM thing and I'd soooooo appreciate any pointers. :nod:

[Hawkeye]

I don't think his live performances were narcasistic and show offy, BUT his performing entire albums on his own is. And that's not a bad thing. In fact I think Lindsey's one of the few people who make a "Solo" album and really really mean it :laugh:

[sunmaiden]

I think it's SEXY. Yes, he is a narcissist, and I think he just gets so much energy, and gives into the crowd:lol:

[David]

So, I was wondering: who here thinks that Lindsey Buckingham is/was a narcissistic show-off? I'm not saying that he's a bad person, and, in fact, I'm a huge fan of his, but in his early days he'd have these five minute long guitar solos to _every_ song, and, you know, in my mind, that implies narcissistic show-off. Any thoughts? My initial thought is that you don't know your Fleetwood Mac history well. In Lindsey's early days with the band, he'd solo only occasionally & only then for a minute or two (listen to a 1975 performance of "I'm So Afraid").

Also, citing Lindsey (or anyone in Fleetwood Mac) as a narcissistic showoff in rock -- particularly during the 1970s, the era of blatant narcissism -- is a bit like attending a WWII veterans' convention & pointing to the DJ as an example of courage.

Everything's relative.

[WelshWitchPMD]

I don't think that he really is BUT he does have the talent to back it up! I can think of plenty of artists who are, however and have zero talent. They have to resort to performing half naked, etc.

At least LB gets the energy going at the shows. I mean it is a rock concert and not the Lawrence Welk show. :lol: I actually think that LB is quite shy and introverted. He lets his inner beast (or demon) loose on stage.

Here is a quote from Lindsey that I found on Madness Fades :thumbsup:

I'm a very reserved person, and not too outgoing. But in the same way that the album [Law & Order] is kind of crazy - the other side comes out on stage. You know, you put a little something on the eyebrows, and it just comes out...all that manic energy. So, people probably think I'm a maniac, judging from what I do on stage sometimes. But it's just the opposite. I think you'll find a lot of people like that. I was real surprised when I met Elton John. He was just a little mouse! And he gets up on stage and starts standing on the piano and jumping around. He's getting all that alter-ego out on stage.
Interview, 1982

[Kelly]

In my opinion, you sort of have to be to be a rock star. Lindsey is so completely different offstage than he is on, it is hard to even believe. He is so shy, quiet, insecure. All of the walls come down when he is performing, probably because it is something he feels confident doing, he knows he is good so he works it. Does this make him narcisstic? Pehaps, but it is an interesting dynamic. I do not know that he is necessarily narcisstic offstage. Demanding yes. A perfectionist..yes. Difficult..yes. For me this quality makes him extremely interesting. He is so mind blowing when he plays, when he lets down all those walls. I enjoy it immensely. I guess for a casual fan his Come or I'm So Afraid solo could be a bit long, but I love watching him so they are not for me. If you really think about it, all of the members seem narcisstic onstage, with the exception of John. Some of them even seem narcisstic offstage..and that does not include Lindsey, imo. (but hey, I don't know him personally or anything..)

[seteca]

LEAD guitarists are, by definition, narcissistic show-offs........

;)

Welcome to The Ledge.:cool:

[Lindsey Jr.]

DON'T SAY THOSE THINGS ABOUT MY FATHER :eek: (seriously: about one of the best guitarists in the world)

You see, there's a difference between him & guys like Steve Vai, John Petrucci from dream theater, Joe Satriani... He doesn't solo all the time because I think it's not right for Fleetwood Mac's music. Hey, there are three songwriters in that band! And yes, he knows that he can play and so what? If you have a talent, you gotta show it. Furthermore, I know that he has made some terrible things, but at least he tries to do something different. E.G. you cannot compare "fleetwood mac" (1975) to "tango in the night" (1987), which is a good thing!

And the part where you say that he's narcisstic: you know what that is ? That means that he would love himself and that he looks in the mirror all the time (ok, that's a bit too much to say, but that's what it's all about). He just knows that he's good at something, and as you may know, he has a lot of fans who think the same.

And uh... he's not Yngwie Malmsteen. HE is narcisstic, egocentric... you name it.

Finally, the rest of Fleetwood Mac:

Christine is the cool, gentle one
Stevie the gypsy ;)
Mick the..., well the great funny drummer ;)
John... the great, quiet bass player

Has anyone ever told you that this is a band of personalities ?
Greetings from a music lover.

[shackin'up]

I understand what you mean but I think he's always been a guitarist that does NOT put his skills in front of everything. He puts the song in first place. Even during liveshows. But to communicate on stage there's a showelement, too. And then...sometimes he lets the dog out. Fortunately.


eh...welcome to the ledge! :wavey:

[Lindsey Jr.]

I understand what you mean but I think he's always been a guitarist that does NOT put his skills in front of everything. He puts the song in first place. Even during liveshows. But to communicate on stage there's a showelement, too. And then...sometimes he lets the dog out. Fortunately.


eh...welcome to the ledge! :wavey:

Ja je hebt absoluut gelijk :nod:

[Miss Vicky]

If you really think about it, all of the members seem narcisstic onstage, with the exception of John.

Maybe I'm alone in this, but it sometimes it seems to me that John is so un-narcissitic onstage that it's almost as if he doesn't even want to be there.

[wondergirl9847]

Finally, the rest of Fleetwood Mac:

Christine is the cool, gentle one
Stevie the gypsy ;)
Mick the..., well the great funny drummer ;)
John... the great, quiet bass player


I know you didn't mean it negatively, but I can't help but comment. Why do the rest of FM get nice things said about their personalities as in Christine is the cool mom of the group, Mick is the funny dad, John is the quiet brother, and Stevie is the gypsy sister....but Lindsey is the narcissicist, show-off a$$? I'm not picking on ya, newbie, this type of thing comes from lots of fans. It just irks, is all, and I wanted to say something.

From what I've seen and heard of Lindsey, he's one of the most humble musicians around. I believe he craves respect from the music industry, and that's something he's not gotten, sans some awesome album reviews.

I wish I could tell him how terrific he is face to face. Someday....:)

[ThePenguin]

Maybe I'm alone in this, but it sometimes it seems to me that John is so un-narcissitic onstage that it's almost as if he doesn't even want to be there.

I think he wants to be there...but I'm not sure he cares for the 'theatrics' of the performance. To me, LB is very different from the other 4 in one odd way-- whereas Mick and Stevie are pretty much always 'extroverted'-- onstage and off-, John and Chris are/were more 'introverted' both onstage and off-- however, Lindsey seems to be an enigma in that he's introverted offstage and extroverted onstage. Does this make any sense?? I don't know how else to explain it. That's just the impression I always got of him.

-Lis

[Lindsey Jr.]

Hey read my entire post, I'm not saying at all that he's narcisstic :lol:

I said: "he's not Yngwie Malmsteen, HE is narcisstic" etc.

[wondergirl9847]

I know you weren't, it just irks me when people bring up his ego and don't use positive remarks, but do for the others.

I'm just being pi$$y today. LOL

[Lindsey Jr.]

I know you weren't, it just irks me when people bring up his ego and don't use positive remarks, but do for the others.

I'm just being pi$$y today. LOL

Ok you're forgiven :thumbsup: :wavey: but you're right, and besides: all great bands are made out of personalities I think.

[Lindsey Jr.]

I think he wants to be there...but I'm not sure he cares for the 'theatrics' of the performance. To me, LB is very different from the other 4 in one odd way-- whereas Mick and Stevie are pretty much always 'extroverted'-- onstage and off-, John and Chris are/were more 'introverted' both onstage and off-- however, Lindsey seems to be an enigma in that he's introverted offstage and extroverted onstage. Does this make any sense?? I don't know how else to explain it. That's just the impression I always got of him.

-Lis

I think he's a bit like Joe Perry... introverted off, extroverted on...

Let the music do the talking...

[Brwn_eyes0511]

I know you didn't mean it negatively, but I can't help but comment. Why do the rest of FM get nice things said about their personalities as in Christine is the cool mom of the group, Mick is the funny dad, John is the quiet brother, and Stevie is the gypsy sister....but Lindsey is the narcissicist, show-off a$$? I'm not picking on ya, newbie, this type of thing comes from lots of fans. It just irks, is all, and I wanted to say something.

From what I've seen and heard of Lindsey, he's one of the most humble musicians around. I believe he craves respect from the music industry, and that's something he's not gotten, sans some awesome album reviews.

I wish I could tell him how terrific he is face to face. Someday....:)

That is true! But what can we call Lindsey then? Seriously...it seems all the other titles are taken....ideas?

[golddustwoman77]

So, I was wondering: who here thinks that Lindsey Buckingham is/was a narcissistic show-off? I'm not saying that he's a bad person, and, in fact, I'm a huge fan of his, but in his early days he'd have these five minute long guitar solos to _every_ song, and, you know, in my mind, that implies narcissistic show-off. Any thoughts?

P.S. please be gentle. I'm new at this and I don't want you to be offended by the question.


I think genius can come off as narcissistic show-off in any field. If you are the best, you have eaten, slept, and breathed it. Therefore, it is SOOO much a part of you that it just oozes out of you when you perform or even when you talk about it. It is passion, not narcissism. I wouldn't want to see someone who didn't have passion for what he/she is doing. All I can say is, thank God for Lindsey's passion for guitar!!!!! :nod:

[wondergirl9847]

But what can we call Lindsey then?

Lindsey....the guitar genius (self explanatory)

Lindsey....the proud producer (proud in a good way, like he's proud of his work)

Lindsey....the magic man (in that he works magic with music)

[sunmaiden]

I know you weren't, it just irks me when people bring up his ego and don't use positive remarks, but do for the others.

I'm just being pi$$y today. LOL


I have noticed that people pick Lindsey apart much more than any of the other band members. I love everything he does. I don't quite understand how people see negative things in Lindsey. But I guess he is the easiest one to pick on because he is so different than most rock musicians, and he kinda does his own thing.

[GODDESS6]

So, I was wondering: who here thinks that Lindsey Buckingham is/was a narcissistic show-off? I'm not saying that he's a bad person, and, in fact, I'm a huge fan of his, but in his early days he'd have these five minute long guitar solos to _every_ song, and, you know, in my mind, that implies narcissistic show-off. Any thoughts?

P.S. please be gentle. I'm new at this and I don't want you to be offended by the question.
he is & should b, & i 4 1 LUV every minute of it!!! :blob1: ~ DELISH!!!!!! :nod: ~

[Lindsey Jr.]

Lindsey....the guitar genius (self explanatory)

Lindsey....the proud producer (proud in a good way, like he's proud of his work)

Lindsey....the magic man (in that he works magic with music)

the underrated, but oh so great one...
the beautiful guitar-man... (His Rick Turner guitar is amazing)
the ass kicking solo player...
the fingerpick god...

My personal mentor
My little demon

Sorry if my english is a bit strange :sorry:

[shackin'up]

Sorry if my english is a bit strange :sorry:

Don't put on the short pants jr., I did that in the beginning too. They'll get used to it ;) .

gerald

[Lindsey Jr.]

Don't put on the short pants jr., I did that in the beginning too. They'll get used to it ;) .

gerald

Bedankt ;)

[mondaymornin1]

I actually think that LB is quite shy and introverted. He lets his inner beast (or demon) loose on stage.

Here is a quote from Lindsey that I found on Madness Fades :thumbsup:

I'm a very reserved person, and not too outgoing. But in the same way that the album [Law & Order] is kind of crazy - the other side comes out on stage. You know, you put a little something on the eyebrows, and it just comes out...all that manic energy. So, people probably think I'm a maniac, judging from what I do on stage sometimes. But it's just the opposite. I think you'll find a lot of people like that. I was real surprised when I met Elton John. He was just a little mouse! And he gets up on stage and starts standing on the piano and jumping around. He's getting all that alter-ego out on stage.
Interview, 1982

Exactly And this is why I love him!! And why I must actually meet him to see the shy introvert for myself. **sigh** Maybe someday :thumbsup:

[dissention]

So, I was wondering: who here thinks that Lindsey Buckingham is/was a narcissistic show-off? I'm not saying that he's a bad person, and, in fact, I'm a huge fan of his, but in his early days he'd have these five minute long guitar solos to _every_ song, and, you know, in my mind, that implies narcissistic show-off. Any thoughts?

P.S. please be gentle. I'm new at this and I don't want you to be offended by the question.

I've thought the same thing of Stevie for years, so no offense taken. :laugh:

[Johnny Stew]

I think the most compelling performers are always the ones who could also negatively be described as "self-involved."

But self-involvement doesn't equal arrogance... many truly self-involved people are actually quite insecure. Most of the best performers are insecure in some way, and they feed off of that energy in order to put on the best show they can.

Besides, you have to "show off" to some degree... it helps to make the performance even more interesting.
I don't think Tina Turner, for example, is "showing off" when she dances all over the stage, and I don't think Lindsey is "showing off" when he launches into a guitar solo.

If you have a talent that people are paying money to see, you should play it up.

[flyfirefly]

Aren't all entertainers narcisstic show-offs?

[Lindsey Jr.]

Aren't all entertainers narcisstic show-offs?

uhu :rolleyes:

[PenguinHead]

LEAD guitarists are, by definition, narcissistic show-offs........

;)

Welcome to The Ledge.:cool:

Well said! You can say the same for certain singers too! :)

[gldstwmn]

a narcissistic show-off

Couldn't all performers, in some way, be considered narcissistic show offs?
Your question isn't controversial, it's flame bait. :shrug:
Do you really mean to say that you came here and got registered to ask that kind of a question?
Enjoy your stay. :wavey:

[gldstwmn]

Maybe I'm alone in this, but it sometimes it seems to me that John is so un-narcissitic onstage that it's almost as if he doesn't even want to be there.

Watch the footage of him from the late 60's, early 70's. He did that trip and moved on. More power to him. :)

[Total_Agreement]

Couldn't all performers, in some way, be considered narcissistic show offs?
Your question isn't controversial, it's flame bait. :shrug:
Do you really mean to say that you came here and got registered to ask that kind of a question?
Enjoy your stay. :wavey:

Didn't mean it as a flamebait; just wanted to know if anyone shared the opinion. I like him anyway, you know.

About me registering just to ask that kind of question: someone's got to try to keep the threads interesting. I would have done "what are you listening to right now," but it's been done already.

[gldstwmn]

Didn't mean it as a flamebait; just wanted to know if anyone shared the opinion. I like him anyway, you know.

About me registering just to ask that kind of question: someone's got to try to keep the threads interesting. I would have done "what are you listening to right now," but it's been done already.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[Kelly]

I am sure the lurkers are lining up to join the fun around here. Welcome and thanks for the interesting topic.

[glitter_fades]

My initial thought is that you don't know your Fleetwood Mac history well. In Lindsey's early days with the band, he'd solo only occasionally & only then for a minute or two (listen to a 1975 performance of "I'm So Afraid").

Also, citing Lindsey (or anyone in Fleetwood Mac) as a narcissistic showoff in rock -- particularly during the 1970s, the era of blatant narcissism -- is a bit like attending a WWII veterans' convention & pointing to the DJ as an example of courage.

Everything's relative.

What he said.

:laugh:

[Lindsey Jr.]

Exactly And this is why I love him!! And why I must actually meet him to see the shy introvert for myself. **sigh** Maybe someday :thumbsup:

Amen. Need we say more ?

[Lindsey Jr.]

Maybe I'm alone in this, but it sometimes it seems to me that John is so un-narcissitic onstage that it's almost as if he doesn't even want to be there.

I think he's a typical rock bassist. Kinda like Gary Tallent from the E-street band. You don't see him, but you sure do hear him.

[Gwillaker]

So, I was wondering: who here thinks that Lindsey Buckingham is/was a narcissistic show-off? I'm not saying that he's a bad person, and, in fact, I'm a huge fan of his, but in his early days he'd have these five minute long guitar solos to _every_ song, and, you know, in my mind, that implies narcissistic show-off. Any thoughts?

P.S. please be gentle. I'm new at this and I don't want you to be offended by the question.
Inthe 70's 15 minute guitar solos were the norm (and I quite enjoy a good solo, thats just good craftsmanship). So no, I'd say he's a guitar player :rolleyes:

[estranged4life]

if he solo's for 5 minutes, As long as it is interesting is all I ask (What can I say, I have a guitarist mentality! :nod: )

[Lindsey Jr.]

if he solo's for 5 minutes, As long as it is interesting is all I ask (What can I say, I have a guitarist mentality! :nod: )

Amen bro :nod:

[Brwn_eyes0511]

Inthe 70's 15 minute guitar solos were the norm (and I quite enjoy a good solo, thats just good craftsmanship). So no, I'd say he's a guitar player :rolleyes:

O.T.
Hey just letting you know...I followed your link and signed Bob Welch petition!

[Total_Agreement]

Also, citing Lindsey (or anyone in Fleetwood Mac) as a narcissistic showoff in rock -- particularly during the 1970s, the era of blatant narcissism -- is a bit like attending a WWII veterans' convention & pointing to the DJ as an example of courage.


I don't think that's a good analogy.
Since, I suppose, you're implying that Lindsey, among rock stars, is like the DJ at a WWII convention, then either
1) the DJ is also a WWII veteran, and my opinion is that the bravery of a WWII veteran, whether he became a DJ later on in life, should not be discounted. Just because he's not writing books on WWII or something, doesn't mean that he wasn't brave. Similarly, just because Lindsey wasn't the most narcissistic guitar player, doesn't mean that he wasn't narcississtic at all.
or 2) the DJ was not a WWII veteran, meaning that Lindsey was not a guitar playing rock star. If that's the case, I have no idea what you're talking about.

[David]

I don't think that's a good analogy.Just because you misinterpreted the analogy doesn't mean it isn't any good.
Since, I suppose, you're implying that Lindsey, among rock stars, is like the DJ at a WWII convention,I'm implying no such thing. The analogy I drew linked the act of your citing him as a showoff to the act of citing the DJ as a man of courage. You were the implied subject of the gerund. In other words, pointing to Lindsey as a narcissist is akin to pointing to that hypothetical DJ as a brave man; my analogy was one of comparative relationship, not a description of absolutes. Lindsey may very well be a narcissist (as that DJ may very well be a courageous hero). Whether he is or not is immaterial to my point.

What the analogy implies is that it is absurd to consider Lindsey's alleged narcissism precisely because rock is filled with far more blatant narcissists -- swaggering cock-rockers against whose showoffiness Lindsey pales in comparison -- in exactly the same way that it would be absurd to consider the hired DJ at the veterans' convention as the standout example of bravery.

So, your SAT-style analogy thread elsewhere is misstated: Instead of

Lindsey: FM :: the DJ: a WWII convention
(Lindsey is to FM what the DJ is to a WWII convention)
you should have framed it more like this

Lindsey: most rock stars :: the DJ: WWII vets at a convention
(In terms of swaggering narcissism, Lindsey is to most rock stars what the DJ is, in terms of heroism, to WWII vets at a convention)

[Highway Woman]

Just because you misinterpreted the analogy doesn't mean it isn't any good.
I'm implying no such thing. The analogy I drew linked the act of your citing him as a showoff to the act of citing the DJ as a man of courage. You were the implied subject of the gerund. In other words, pointing to Lindsey as a narcissist is akin to pointing to that hypothetical DJ as a brave man; my analogy was one of comparative relationship, not a description of absolutes. Lindsey may very well be a narcissist (as that DJ may very well be a courageous hero). Whether he is or not is immaterial to my point.

What the analogy implies is that it is absurd to consider Lindsey's alleged narcissism precisely because rock is filled with far more blatant narcissists -- swaggering cock-rockers against whose showoffiness Lindsey pales in comparison -- in exactly the same way that it would be absurd to consider the hired DJ at the veterans' convention as the standout example of bravery.

So, your SAT-style analogy thread elsewhere is misstated: Instead of

Lindsey: FM :: the DJ: a WWII convention
(Lindsey is to FM what the DJ is to a WWII convention)
you should have framed it more like this

Lindsey: most rock stars :: the DJ: WWII vets at a convention
(In terms of swaggering narcissism, Lindsey is to most rock stars what the DJ is, in terms of heroism, to WWII vets at a convention)

The analogy is an acceptable one, but not a very effective one, because 1) The DJ at a WWII vet convention, unless he's a veteran, is far more disassociated from his relative group than Lindsey among other rock stars would be. 2) There is a positive implication in Lindsey's half of the analogy (he is not as narcissistic as other rock stars, and therefore not a good exemplar for narcissism in relation to them) but a negative implication in the DJ half of the analogy (he is not as brave as the vets, and therefore not a good exemplar for bravery in relation to them).

Just thought I'd contribute my two cents. But hey, this is just a Lindsey forum, not an SAT testing ground! So perhaps we should go easier on David. :)

[Gwillaker]

I don't think that's a good analogy.
Since, I suppose, you're implying that Lindsey, among rock stars, is like the DJ at a WWII convention, then either
1) the DJ is also a WWII veteran, and my opinion is that the bravery of a WWII veteran, whether he became a DJ later on in life, should not be discounted. Just because he's not writing books on WWII or something, doesn't mean that he wasn't brave. Similarly, just because Lindsey wasn't the most narcissistic guitar player, doesn't mean that he wasn't narcississtic at all.
or 2) the DJ was not a WWII veteran, meaning that Lindsey was not a guitar playing rock star. If that's the case, I have no idea what you're talking about.
To quote Nigel Tufnel "Thats nitpicking, innit?" :rolleyes:

[Gwillaker]

if he solo's for 5 minutes, As long as it is interesting is all I ask (What can I say, I have a guitarist mentality! :nod: )
Hell yeah! Anyway, he's a guitar player, he gets paid to play guitar! What do people expect him to do, an armpit-fart solo?

I'd say, take a look at Lindsey's soloing on "So Afraid" on "The Dance" DVD, or the "Live" album. Its not just guitar-bation, its full of emotion. He's not just blasting out 10,000 notes a second for the sake of it, in fact he is quite economical with the notes he plays, but he makes each note mean a lot. For me the emotional peak of the song is his trademark bent note which he sustains forever. When your playing is that expressive and emotive, I dont care if you solo for 3 days! :cool: