No more waiting for the real Lindsey..

[madformac]

I've waited a long time to post this. I waited even longer after the new album and tour to post this too. But now seems the right time.

Way back when Tusk became a commercial failure and a critical success Lindsey decided that to make his own voice heard from within the all consuming beast that was Fleetwood Mac he needed a solo album. And so, Law & Order was completed. A little different from what Mac fans expected. A break from the norm if you will. Lindsey then watered down his efforts for the Fleetwood Mac follow up "Mirage". Despite some great production on songs "Gypsy" and "Hold Me" and inspired writing with "Eyes Of The World", Buckinghams efforts were decidedly weak.

No doubt frustrated by the stranglehold of the band he began work on "Go Insane", his second solo album. A brilliant and erratic performance that was again critically acclaimed. With standout pieces including the title track and "Slow Dancing", the videos to which MTV really took to in its founding years, Buckingham showed his undervalued genius within the Brit/Californian hit making machine.

With no intentions of making another bland "Mac" album Buckingham began writing a collection of tunes to form his third studio album based around a song with the working title of "Big Love". Pressure within the band and label forced Buckingham to give up his project and donate the material to what would become "Tango In The Night", Buckingham's fourth studio album with the group. Lindsey subsequently quit Fleetwood Mac blaming the pressures of touring when I suspect in reality it was more to do with his creative freedom being castrated.

Lindsey enjoyed a period of artistic happiness with the release of his third solo project "Out Of The Cradle". Again the album won critical acclaim despite poor sales. A familiar pattern was emerging. The follow up solo tour was a hit although it was also regarded as a financial blunder.

Lindsey was asked to perform with Fleetwood Mac for President Clintons inauguration, again unable to resist a plea from his fellow bandmates.

Fast forward to 1995. Lindsey was again in his creative stride working on tracks for his next solo release with the working title "Gift Of Screws". Lindsey was asked to produce and perform on a duet with Stevie Nicks for the film Twister, allowing some differences to be settled between the two. At the same time Buckingham was working with Fleetwood and the McVies on his solo album. Warner Brothers took note and the pressure was applied to Lindsey once more. So what does he do? Right, as usual rolls over and takes it.. (again)

Fleetwood Mac reformed to perform on a soundstage for a live album and DVD. This morphed into a full scale American tour with impressive sales figures.

Buckingham then returns to his solo album only for the pressure to continue. He gives up a sizeable chunk of the material for a new Fleetwood Mac album. By now Lindsey, a man that speaks of himself in terms of a creative genius and musical eccentric, has sold out once more. Fans of the man questioning his ethics and if a fast buck happens to be more important than musical and creative integrity..

Finally in 2006 a new Buckingham arrives. A changed man. Perhaps now into the most creative and harmonic phase of his career. A new and brilliant solo album is released, surprising fans that have been waiting nearly 14 years and with it a full on tour of America. But this is not enough. Another tour follows and plans are underway for a follow up album.

Fleetwood Mac are waiting. Fleetwood Mac are nervous. 2007 is the 40th anniversary of the band and the 30th anniversary of Rumours. A major year of significance which the band and Warner would like to exploit financially.

Warners can wait, Fleetwood can wait, Nicks can wait. Lindsey is finally doing what he does best. No longer needing the secure bubble of Fleetwood Mac to perform. I sense if he doesn't record with the band again its no big deal. He is now in charge of his own fate. They can all wait. 2008, 2009? When he is ready they will tour.

The creative and spiritual freedom Buckingham always talked about but never did... Finally its arrived. And all I can see is a healthy future ahead. :)

[strandinthewind]

Tusk was not commercial failure :shrug:

But, cool art. and thanks for posting :wavey:

[chiliD]

Fleetwood Mac are waiting. Fleetwood Mac are nervous. 2007 is the 40th anniversary of the band and the 30th anniversary of Rumours. A major year of significance which the band and Warner would like to exploit financially.

Warners can wait, Fleetwood can wait, Nicks can wait. Lindsey is finally doing what he does best. No longer needing the secure bubble of Fleetwood Mac to perform. I sense if he doesn't record with the band again its no big deal. He is now in charge of his own fate. They can all wait. 2008, 2009? When he is ready they will tour.

Disgraceful...the selfish bastard.

[estranged4life]

They can all wait. 2008, 2009? When he is ready they will tour.

but can the fans wait is the real question?

[shackin'up]

Hooray! You can stay!!!:laugh:

:xoxo: :xoxo:

[madformac]

Tusk was not commercial failure :shrug:

But, cool art. and thanks for posting :wavey:

Aa a follow up to Rumours and with so much hype from Warner Brothers? What was it, five million sales? A masterpiece by most artists standards but not by a supergroup, which they had become.

[madformac]

Hooray! You can stay!!!:laugh:

:xoxo: :xoxo:

No kisses Gerald or I'm going! :lol:

[shackin'up]

No kisses Gerald or I'm going!

:xoxo: :xoxo: :xoxo: :xoxo: :xoxo: :xoxo: :xoxo: :xoxo: :xoxo:

:]

[madformac]

Disgraceful...the selfish bastard.

Maybe they can replace him with two guitarists? ;) :laugh: :laugh:

[SuzeQuze]

Why do you suppose now he is doing so well on his solo tour when in the past his shows did not sell so well?

Also, I can tell this was written by a maverick. ;)

[SuzeQuze]

Aa a follow up to Rumours and with so much hype from Warner Brothers? What was it, five million sales? A masterpiece by most artists standards but not by a supergroup, which they had become.

It was 5 following up on 26. But it was a double album so can we call it 10? Or is the 5 already adjusted for that. Even at 5 it wasn't a "failure". It is only relative to the astronomical success of Rumours that it appears to be so.

[strandinthewind]

Aa a follow up to Rumours and with so much hype from Warner Brothers? What was it, five million sales? A masterpiece by most artists standards but not by a supergroup, which they had become.

Well, that is really 10 million sold :shrug: But, I get that they were judged by Rumors.

[madformac]

Well, that is really 10 million sold :shrug: But, I get that they were judged by Rumors.

You are only as good as your last album in this business. thats why most artists have no more than a two album deal now. Nothing is certain anymore.

[strandinthewind]

You are only as good as your last album in this business. thats why most artists have no more than a two album deal now. Nothing is certain anymore.

Oh I agree - but even back then, they would not have been dropped for 5 M in a double record sale. Interestingly, I think Tusk did better than Mirage and TITN.

[madformac]

Why do you suppose now he is doing so well on his solo tour when in the past his shows did not sell so well?

Also, I can tell this was written by a maverick. ;)


I suppose its coming off the back of a Fleetwood Mac album and tour. His name is still in the public attention.

Going back to Brian's point, if he leaves it too long before returning to Mac for a tour then his familiarity with the public will reduce and he will possibly be back to the point of having to justify himself to the record company.

He's damned either way.

p.s. Yes I am a maverick, but you know this.. :laugh:

[BTFLCHLD]

Buckingham then returns to his solo album only for the pressure to continue. He gives up a sizeable chunk of the material for a new Fleetwood Mac album. By now Lindsey, a man that speaks of himself in terms of a creative genius and musical eccentric, has sold out once more. Fans of the man questioning his ethics and if a fast buck happens to be more important than musical and creative integrity..
I did not question. :D
Finally in 2006 a new Buckingham arrives. A changed man. Perhaps now into the most creative and harmonic phase of his career. A new and brilliant solo album is released, surprising fans that have been waiting nearly 14 years and with it a full on tour of America. But this is not enough. Another tour follows and plans are underway for a follow up album. I was not surprised. :D

[BTFLCHLD]

I suppose its coming off the back of a Fleetwood Mac album and tour. His name is still in the public attention.

Going back to Brian's point, if he leaves it too long before returning to Mac for a tour then his familiarity with the public will reduce and he will possibly be back to the point of having to justify himself to the record company.

He's damned either way. I disgree.

[madformac]

I disgree.

Its a matter of public perception. Lindsey's fans (of which I'm one of the hundreds of thousands) believe he will be fine for as long as he wants. I would rather he enjoy a creative solo career than do more fakery with Mac.

But the general public in their millions are not bothered about Lindsey unless they are still familiar with Fleetwood Mac. He cannot turn his back totally and he knows it. But he is now putting himself first which is great.

For instance last year we had a tour advertising David Gilmour (The voice and guitar of Pink Floyd) and a tour with Roger Waters (The creative genius of Pink Floyd).

No matter what he does he cannot break entirely from that fact.

[strandinthewind]

^^^

I also think that the time of all of them saying - enough, we are retired and limiting ourselves to smalls gigs in LA or NYC is approaching. I know at 60 I would like to take it easy :shrug:

[BTFLCHLD]

No matter what he does he cannot break entirely from that fact. naturally...but I disagree when you suppose the tour is going so well due to SYW. I believe it is going well due to UTS and the fact that it is Lindsey Buckingham...not Lindsey Buckingham, member of FM. I also disagree that he should open the door for FM sooner rather than later before "public familiarity wears off" or he would "possibly be back to the point of having to justify himself to the record company."

All in my opinion of course as you have yours. Thanks for posting an interesting read...I respect your opinion.

[shackin'up]

And let's be fair: the man is doing an intense tour. It'll be close to a hundred shows on his own in about 9 months. It's SYW-tourintensity but in an almost two hour show on his own. And the intensity of the performances overrule the SYW-shows. And I only judge from the boots. The tour is HUGELY successfull. Again: not in sales, but my lord, have you read the reviews??

That goes for the CD reviews too. This man is in total perfect place now: he doesn't want to go out for the buck, but for critical and showattenders' acclaim. He's finally living and acting out how he always said he wanted to be perceived. Let's party and cheer about a new lindsey-album and tour in 2008. The rest can wait. And is basicly unimportant. To him. And to me.

cheers

[BTFLCHLD]

Let's party and cheer about a new lindsey-album and tour in 2008. The rest can wait. And is basicly unimportant. To him. And to me. cheers :woohoo: :woohoo: :thumbsup:

[estranged4life]

For instance last year we had a tour advertising David Gilmour (The voice and guitar of Pink Floyd) and a tour with Roger Waters (The creative genius of Pink Floyd).

as an example of how the solo career to some fans matter compared to the larger well known groups a musician belongs to:

(The following was an exchange before the performance of the song "Smile" during David Gilmour's June 22,2001 show in London, England at the Royal Festival Hall)

Fan-"When's the next Floyd Album?"

David-"Who give's A f**k!" (David was obviously annoyed)


Would the average fan prefer to see Gilmour solo-wise or on stage with Pink Floyd? The same could be said of Lindsey Buckingham - the average (bka 'the non-diehard') would rather have him playing with FM than on his own.

[chiliD]

. Let's party and cheer about a new lindsey-album and tour in 2008. The rest can wait. And is basicly unimportant. To him. And to me.s

Then he should make "the phone call" to Mick saying that he's quitting Fleetwood Mac and let the band carry on without him. Not like they haven't done it before.

[#1LiddyBuckFan]

Then he should make "the phone call" to Mick saying that he's quitting Fleetwood Mac and let the band carry on without him. Not like they haven't done it before.

What's so wrong with Lindsey finishing up his solo stuff over the next year or year and a half? :shrug: Why does he have to make "the phone call" and quit? Seems a bit extreme.

[BTFLCHLD]

uh my comment that only UTS is what has the tour blazing was totally incorrect...see, I can admit my mistakes! :laugh: Of course Lindsey's contributions to SYW have been taken into account by the fans!

[shackin'up]

Then he should make "the phone call" to Mick saying that he's quitting Fleetwood Mac and let the band carry on without him. Not like they haven't done it before.

NO. he WANTS to be in the Mac again. After he finished what have been neglected for a thousand reasons for a long time. Some left-palette soloalbums. He deserves that.

[madformac]

That goes for the CD reviews too. This man is in total perfect place now: he doesn't want to go out for the buck, but for critical and showattenders' acclaim. He's finally living and acting out how he always said he wanted to be perceived. Let's party and cheer about a new lindsey-album and tour in 2008. The rest can wait. And is basicly unimportant. To him. And to me.

cheers

Which is what I said.. In a round about sort of way. :nod:

[madformac]

Then he should make "the phone call" to Mick saying that he's quitting Fleetwood Mac and let the band carry on without him. Not like they haven't done it before.

If Lindsey quits then the band is finished doing arenas and stadiums. They are pushing 60 and the moneymen ain't going to promote a new line up and we both know it. Lindsey knows this too and for the first time he is in a position of being able to call the shots. Its too late in the day to start over yet again.

There will be one more tour and that will be it I think. There will be guest appearances on albums but I think only Lindsey has enough creativity to be able to continue in a solo sense. With the greatest of respect to Stevie I don't think she can or maybe wants to continue into her 60s doing the same routine. I still think she will continue to write but her career will change and move into different areas.

[shackin'up]

Which is what I said.. In a round about sort of way. :nod:

I didn't kiss a guy all over for fun, dude.:lol:

[chiliD]

If Lindsey quits then the band is finished doing arenas and stadiums.


You say that like its a BAD thing. :shrug: Personally, I've had enough of arena & stadium concerts...the sound is bad, the sight lines are bad.

They could play concert halls & auditoriums for all I care (Beacon Theatre in NY, Wiltern Theatre in LA, etc)

[chiliD]

What's so wrong with Lindsey finishing up his solo stuff over the next year or year and a half? :shrug: Why does he have to make "the phone call" and quit? Seems a bit extreme.

There's no respect for the legacy of the band in him whatsoever (outside of his own contributions)...this is a year that ends in a "7"...those are "magic" years for Fleetwood Mac. He's ignoring that for his own purposes.

[shackin'up]

There's no respect for the legacy of the band in him whatsoever (outside of his own contributions)...this is a year that ends in a "7"...those are "magic" years for Fleetwood Mac. He's ignoring that for his own purposes.

True as a cow.

But he's been ignoring his own purposes for years to contribute for FM. (yes those choices brought him wealth too). Not YOUR choice ChiliD, but a fact alas.

[strandinthewind]

You say that like its a BAD thing. :shrug: Personally, I've had enough of arena & stadium concerts...the sound is bad, the sight lines are bad.

They could play concert halls & auditoriums for all I care (Beacon Theatre in NY, Wiltern Theatre in LA, etc)

I wonder if at this age, Mick, and perhaps to a lesser extent John, would do a tour less than an all out first class FM circus. Maybe they would :shrug:

[chiliD]

Why wouldn't it be possible to still go "all out first class" in smaller venues? Just reel in some of the "largesse" to fit the smaller places. If they can stage Broadway-style plays (like Lion King & Phantom) in theatres the size of the Pantages or Kodak Theatre, why couldn't Fleetwood Mac play THOSE type places instead of hockey/basketball arenas? At least the acoustics would be good and there's usually not a bad seat in those theatres.

[BTFLCHLD]

FM in smaller venues would certainly be my preference. :shrug:

[estranged4life]

Why wouldn't it be possible to still go "all out first class" in smaller venues? Just reel in some of the "largesse" to fit the smaller places. If they can stage Broadway-style plays (like Lion King & Phantom) in theatres the size of the Pantages or Kodak Theatre, why couldn't Fleetwood Mac play THOSE type places instead of hockey/basketball arenas?

because there's not enough room onstage for their 'accompanying' backing musicians :rolleyes:

[Gene]

[QUOTE=madformac;675445]Lindsey then watered down his efforts for the Fleetwood Mac follow up "Mirage". Despite some great production on songs "Gypsy" and "Hold Me" and inspired writing with "Eyes Of The World", Buckinghams efforts were decidedly weak.

Respectfully disagree, I've always enjoyed Book of Love, Can't Go Back, Empire State and even the ultra poppy Oh Diane along with EOTW...
Kept me going during a rather dry imo period of music...

Gene

[PenguinHead]

because there's not enough room onstage for their 'accompanying' backing musicians :rolleyes:

;) A very astute observation! lol

[PenguinHead]

A nice thesis on Lindsey's career. Yet I don't go along with some of the theories. While Tusk didn't sell as well as Rumours (most albums, by any artists don't reach that level, so saying it was a commerical failure is a dubious statement. Most groups would love to have that kind of "failure." It's only deemed that because it was compared to the sales of Rumours. Did it not have three fairly big hits -- Tusk, Sara and Think About Me?

Also, how can you confirm that his Out Of The Cradle tour was a financial blunder? I attended several shows from that tour. It's not like he was playing to a sparse crowd. The places were packed with frenzied fans! Perhaps the cost of touring with a huge band (He had an army of guitar players!) had an impact.

And the whole thing about him comprimising himself for Fleetwood Mac. Well, without the initial commercial success of Fleetwood Mac, there's always the likelihood that he would have fallen into obscurity...and he knows that. Yes, the band's existance depends on him now, and yes, the band has been restrictive to him at times. But in some ways, it's the band's high profile and legacy that allows him to have a solo career.

He's certainly a lone eccentric when it comes to making his music. I can see why he has a slight contempt for Fleetwood Mac and all the baggage he has to deal with when he's with them. It must be much easier for him to do it alone. But as far as the idea goes that he has comprimised his solo integrity for the band -- I don't see it that way. I'm glad he's (begrugingly) gone back to the band when they needed him. He knows that what put him on the map in the first place...and he's smart to realize that his association with the band does help boost his solo pursuits.

blah blah blah blah;)

[strandinthewind]

Why wouldn't it be possible to still go "all out first class" in smaller venues? Just reel in some of the "largesse" to fit the smaller places. If they can stage Broadway-style plays (like Lion King & Phantom) in theatres the size of the Pantages or Kodak Theatre, why couldn't Fleetwood Mac play THOSE type places instead of hockey/basketball arenas? At least the acoustics would be good and there's usually not a bad seat in those theatres.

True -- but if Mick and John want tens of thousands up front and per show, private jets, hotel suites, limos, etc. - - I am unsure they can do that for $50 a ticket at a 2,500 seat or smaller arena. So, the pay cut would be huge, though there would be no $100,000 or so per performance going to LB and La Nicks each and presumably tens of thousands going to the "extra" band.

I am not saying I do not want them to do it. I am just unsure if they are willing to do without the amenities they have gotten used to, esp. at their age. I say this because I am unsure if I could after decades of having it.

[strandinthewind]

. . . Also, how can you confirm that his Out Of The Cradle tour was a financial blunder? I attended several shows from that tour. It's not like he was playing to a sparse crowd. The places were packed with frenzied fans! Perhaps the cost of touring with a huge band (He had an army of guitar players!) had an impact . . . .

I think he said this. Also, I think one of his guitarists said this in the Q&A section on this site.

As for LB and FM - I agree. It has always been a love hate thing. In an way, LB has always given the appearance that he was too good or artistic for FM -- after all he was hesitant to join and La Nicks says she listened to the FM records and concluded they could add to the sound. At the time, LB's career was going nowhere fast. he had just toured essentially as a back up or stand in for the Everly Brothers and BN flopped and Polydor dropped them - though the one Birmingham concert was a success and who knows where that could have gone - but likely nowhere as it was one concert in a financially irrelevant market. Then, FM gives him the vehicle for mega success, but he considers the artistic price too heavy. But, he likes the lifestyle it affords him and I think he also covets the limelight, despite protesting to the contrary. Finally, I think that at least up until and during the SYW tour, he used FM as a tool to be near Stevie. many may disagree with that, but that is how I see it. They are each other's ying and yang.

Will LB go back to FM? I think one more tour is likely. However, I think the draw of being by Stevie is not longer alluring to him for a variety of reasons (never to be - not you, not me) and he no longer needs FM at his age.

Anyway, my $0.02 and no one should ever get from my comments that I do not think LB is a brilliant musician and artisit. He is.

[#1LiddyBuckFan]

There's no respect for the legacy of the band in him whatsoever (outside of his own contributions)...this is a year that ends in a "7"...those are "magic" years for Fleetwood Mac. He's ignoring that for his own purposes.

So should Stevie call Mick too and quit because she's touring with Isaak this year? :shrug:

[BTFLCHLD]

I am just unsure if they are willing to do without the amenities they have gotten used to, esp. at their age. I say this because I am unsure if I could after decades of having it. Stevie will be thrilled with the accomodations at the Soboba tent...:rolleyes: NOT! I have a feeling she will be sitting in the limo until showtime rather than the tinsweatbox behind stage. :p

[madformac]

I'm talking about Tusk as a relative commercial failure in the eyes of the record company and very much the band too. I know If I'd had a monster hit like Rumours then followed it by what I thought was a better album only for people to frown when it failed to sell as much I'd be pissed.

The fact is Rumours is far more mainstream and this combined with the double LP and its price is what really hurt Tusk. In my opinion the music is much stronger artistically.

Theres no way Mick would go back to playing clubs and slumming it in regular 5 star hotels. John I'm sure would do it. He's always been about the music.

Stevie, as mentioned, is doing her own thing this year with Isaak (Is he supposed to have a speech impediment on Blue Hotel? This song is on a CD at work and I always wonder)

Lindsey owes his solo career to the band as does Stevie. But now I think he is in a great place personally, with his family around him and more financial stability following the SYW tour. He's a lot more confident with the record company too. I think a lot of this is down to the critical success of Under The Skin. He can say "no", or rather "later" now. I think personally there was a lot of pressure from Warners to shelve or cancel the release of Gift Of Screws if Mac had not done SYW. That pressure is off him now and he has taken the chance. Good luck to him. I think he has finally emerged from the shadow of Fleetwood Mac and can deal with the others on his own terms. They really do need him more than he needs them and I think he is somewhat enjoying that fact right now...

[shackin'up]

Mick would play bars. In 95 I saw the Time line-up in Groningen and he had a blast on stage. Even a Lindsey-size theatre tour would fit for John and Mick. There's too much of a stage-animal in these guys.....

[mondaymornin1]

because there's not enough room onstage for their 'accompanying' backing musicians :rolleyes:

:laugh:
Absolute truth. Gi-normous stage/arenas required for that entourage!!

I would love to see FM perform in smaller venues---that's definitely one (minor;) ) reason I've enjoyed Lindsey's solo shows so much. Very intimate settings and really not a bad seat anywhere. I'm afraid that's just a dream for the *big* band, though.

I agree with madformac that John would do it---he just likes to play.

Nice thread, enjoyed reading!

[SteveMacD]

I don't know if I'd want Lindsey out altoghter, but I don't see why his presence in the band would be required for a 40th anniversary tour. Mick, John, and Stevie could get Bob Welch, Rick Vito, and Billy Burnette, with the understanding that the tour was a one-off thing and that Lindsey was still a member of the group. This way, everybody wins! The old/all-era Mac fans get the tour with the pre-1975 songs they've been wanting, and the Lindsey fans get a solo tour.

As for needing huge venues, I'm not buying. All that tour would need is a keyboardist and Stevie's backing vocalists, none of which take up so much room that they couldn't play in the mid-size venues.

[BTFLCHLD]

“I don't really care where we play. Just so long as we're playing somewhere. Unless it's a daytime show I can't see beyond the first few rows anyway due to the stage lighting. I liked playing the clubs when we started out. Much better stage sound and feel.”

“I'm putting all these in a file so when I show up at the First rehearsal, I' ll have something to contribute. There is so much to consider, It blows what's left of my mind. We'll see what happens when we all meet. We can't do the whole ' What has gone before" thing. There has to be feeling of "Moving Forward". Otherwise we'll end up in "Vegas". (Without me).”