L.A. Story by Lindsey Buckingham

[elle]

http://www.lamag.com/laculture/lastory/2013/05/23/lindsey-buckingham

Lindsey Buckingham

The Fleetwood Mac member on humble beginnings, Bel-Air bachelor pads, and digging in

Posted on 5/23/2013 10:39:00 AM by Julia St. Pierre
Photograph by Jeremy Cowart


I grew up in Atherton, right near Stanford. Stevie [Nicks] and I were in a band that bottomed out, but there was interest in us as a duo. We came up with enough material for an album, and we intuited that if we were going to make things happen, we needed to move to where the action was. We lived right off Coldwater—it wasn’t a dirt road, but it was close. L.A. was an adjustment, for sure—it’s big, it’s random.

Less than six months after we moved, we got a record deal. We had one album, Buckingham Nicks, and it didn’t sell, so we lost our deal. We had to make ends meet, so we did a lot of shows to get extra money. I remember playing a club with Stevie called the Starwood on Santa Monica. We also played the Troubadour. At Sound City studios the owner was very gracious to let us use Studio B when there was nobody booked to work on a second album. It was there that we ran into Mick Fleetwood, who was really just looking for a studio. He didn’t know [guitarist-vocalist] Bob Welch was going to quit Fleetwood Mac. I walked into Studio A, and the band was listening to our song “Frozen Love” at top volume and Mick was completely grooving to the guitar solo. A couple of weeks later Mick called and said, “Do you want to join Fleetwood Mac?” and I said, “You have to take my girlfriend, too.” That was a very lucky moment for us.

I had a house up in Bel-Air for a long time. It was not a family house; it was a bachelor house. So we bulldozed it. My wife was quite happy because there was a lot of symbolism to having everything that went before bulldozed. We are in Brentwood now. We needed to come down off the hill.


QUE 'EM UP

Gift of Screws
(2008)
On this solo effort, "Time Precious Time" shows off Buckingham's guitar chops, while "Did You Miss Me" is pure, perfect pop.

Tusk
(1979)
Yes, Rumours was the breakout Fleetwood Mac hit, but this double album, initially deemed a failure, was Buckinham's creative magnum ops and became a band favorite.

Buckinham Nicks
(1973)
The lesser-known album that started it all, this early LP may (finally) be re-released on CD for the first time this year.


I’ve thought about whether it would be advisable or possible to move out, but this is the thing about Los Angeles: People come here and they stay. It’s not just because there is an illusionary carrot, although that is part of it. You could probably find actors or musicians who are not much younger than myself who still haven’t caught their break. So that’s part of what drives Los Angeles. If you do happen to get lucky, as Stevie and I did, then there are reasons to stay. Unless you want to be Neil Young and live up in the mountains, there’s not a lot of motivation to move. Whatever there may be about the city that you could take to task, it’s a pretty great place.

RELATED
The California Canon: The Best of Lindsey Buckingham


I don’t think I would’ve wanted to raise my kids elsewhere, but it is a mixed bag. Growing up in Atherton, you could just get on your bike, go to school, and come home. You had a level of autonomy that doesn’t exist for kids today. Some of that has to do with L.A. and some of it has to do with the times. I grew up in one place. Stevie, on the other hand—her dad was a businessman who uprooted his family regularly, so she learned how to make a splash everywhere they went. It took its toll on her in other ways, and that’s not something I want for my kids. We’re dug in here, and we’re happy.

[Lindsfan]

I like this :nod: Nice to hear him (well, read him) in his own words...just talking.

[michelej1]

Yes, he paints a very nice picture. That illusionary carrot that Hollywood dangles at you.

Michele

[elle]

We had one album, Buckingham Nicks, and it didn’t sell, so we lost our deal. We had to make ends meet, so we did a lot of shows to get extra money. I remember playing a club with Stevie called the Starwood on Santa Monica. We also played the Troubadour. At Sound City studios the owner was very gracious to let us use Studio B when there was nobody booked to work on a second album. It was there that we ran into Mick Fleetwood, who was really just looking for a studio.

i thought it was interesting to read another tidbit about what they were doing to make ends meet after BN bombed.

[michelej1]

i thought it was interesting to read another tidbit about what they were doing to make ends meet after BN bombed.

Yes, clearly they had sources of income we don't know about. Stevie said they were offered gigs, but they didn't take them, because Lindsey didn't want to play steakhouses.

Michele

[elle]

Yes, clearly they had sources of income we don't know about. Stevie said they were offered gigs, but they didn't take them, because Lindsey didn't want to play steakhouses.

Michele

yeah one way ticket to palucaville or whatever he said in the interview from the dance, when he said their manager wanted them to take steakhouse gigs. but obviously they got offered some a bit better ones too. ;)

[WildHearted]

I just find it amusing that this article comes out right when Stevie says in San Jose that she and Lindsey will both end up living there again someday because they love it so much. :lol:

[vivfox]

It was there that we ran into Mick Fleetwood, who was really just looking for a studio. He didn’t know [guitarist-vocalist] Bob Welch was going to quit Fleetwood Mac. I walked into Studio A, and the band was listening to our song “Frozen Love” at top volume and Mick was completely grooving to the guitar solo.


This is a new version of the old story. The way it was originally told was that Keith Olsen played Mick the song Frozen Love to demonstrate the studio sound. Lindsey was never in the room. He didn't even know anything about it until Keith made that fateful phone call to him on New years Eve.

[michelej1]

This is a new version of the old story. The way it was originally told was that Keith Olsen played Mick the song Frozen Love to demonstrate the studio sound. Lindsey was never in the room. He didn't even know anything about it until Keith made that fateful phone call to him on New years Eve.

Oh, Lindsey has been talking about that a lot lately, saying how he remembered thinking Mick was tall and everything. I think Stevie says she doesn't remember seeing Mick at all, though.

Michele

[chiliD]

I remember playing a club with Stevie called the Starwood on Santa Monica. We also played the Troubadour.

If those clubs operated in the mid '70s anything like they did in the '80s (and even today, from what I hear), there was no money playing there. In fact, it was a "pay to play" situation. You paid the club (or more accurately, the promoter) X # of dollars up front for "tickets" that you sold yourself (for whatever price you wanted to charge). If you sold them all, you would either break even or make a pittance. Most of the time, the artists would just give the tickets away (to industry insiders) to try to entice prominent people to show up. Most of the tickets would go unused.

[sodascouts]

This is a new version of the old story. The way it was originally told was that Keith Olsen played Mick the song Frozen Love to demonstrate the studio sound. Lindsey was never in the room. He didn't even know anything about it until Keith made that fateful phone call to him on New years Eve.

In the Studio City documentary, the story is that Keith played it for Mick without Lindsey in the room at first, but then Lindsey happened to come down a few minutes later and poked his head in when he heard their music being blasted. Maybe doing that doc jogged Lindsey's memory and that's why he's modified his story.

[elle]

In the Studio City documentary, the story is that Keith played it for Mick without Lindsey in the room at first, but then Lindsey happened to come down a few minutes later and poked his head in when he heard their music being blasted. Maybe doing that doc jogged Lindsey's memory and that's why he's modified his story.

yeah i enjoyed that clip of the documentary, how they had a guy with curly haired wig impersonating lindsey walking into studio A. it was kinda funny they felt the need to reenact the scene.

Lindsey has been saying this exact same story in every interview i heard, for years now. about him poking his head in studio A and this giant skinny man grooving to his guitar solo.

Mick told very similar story in his book. that Lindsey poked his head in and that Mick thought that not only he can play the guitar, but he also looked good, which is important for your front man.

[vivfox]

Mick told very similar story in his book. that Lindsey poked his head in and that Mick thought that not only he can play the guitar, but he also looked good, which is important for your front man.


I read that book a long time ago but don't remember that quote. So for the part I highlighted, that could be the first moment of lust Mick had toward Lindsey. As Chris and Stevie have said, "there have been many loves in Fleetwood Mac."

[michelej1]

I read that book a long time ago but don't remember that quote. So for the part I highlighted, that could be the first moment of lust Mick had toward Lindsey. As Chris and Stevie have said, "there have been many loves in Fleetwood Mac."

I've heard Mick say that Lindsey looked good, but not when he first saw him listening to Frozen Love. I recall him making that remark after they met LB and Stevie. Mick said you don't want someone with an ugly mug up there fronting your band, which I found amusing.

Michele

[michelej1]

For this article, Lindsey should have pointed out that he was in the I Love L. A. video too. Proof of his local passion.

Michele

[elle]

I've heard Mick say that Lindsey looked good, but not when he first saw him listening to Frozen Love. I recall him making that remark after they met LB and Stevie. Mick said you don't want someone with an ugly mug up there fronting your band, which I found amusing.

i thought i read that in Mick's book, but i might not remember it right. same as you i found that amusing... but also realistic. Mick is not afraid to say what he thinks and i like that about him. of course so many people feel the need to jump on him (for not holding back about caring about the money, for example).

i always tried to imagine how LB looked at the time for Mick to come to that conclusion. (since i personally don't like lindsey's white album/rumours era look... but i guess when you see him up close he has always been and still is extremely handsome man).

on a different but related note, and that may be my personal bias, i can't help but have tons of respect for entertainers who succeed despite not looking too hot, since you know that those people had to be so much more talented and persistent to make it through than pretty people.

[WildHearted]

i always tried to imagine how LB looked at the time for Mick to come to that conclusion.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2hi6kDj5Q1qcaugio1_500.jpg

[elle]

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2hi6kDj5Q1qcaugio1_500.jpg
thanks! Mick has weird taste in men :laugh: ;)

[michelej1]

i always tried to imagine how LB looked at the time for Mick to come to that conclusion. (since i personally don't like lindsey's white album/rumours era look... but i guess when you see him up close he has always been and still is extremely handsome man).

on a different but related note, and that may be my personal bias, i can't help but have tons of respect for entertainers who succeed despite not looking too hot, since you know that those people had to be so much more talented and persistent to make it through than pretty people.

I don't find Lindsey attractive with the big hair, mustache and beard. But like you say if you saw him in person back then, maybe it was obvious that he was good looking. It's not apparent to me from the pictures, but it was a different era. If all men looked that way (and they did), it altered the perception of what was handsome. Frankly, I'll see old pictures of all of those guys, Richard, Ken, Keith, etc. and it's hard for me to say that any of them look better than the other. Once Lindsey got his haircut though :thumbsup:

As far as what you're saying, I think I'm going to see Star Trek this afternoon, but what I haven't liked beforehand is all the talk about how good-looking Benedict Cumberbatch is. I love him in Sherlock because he's not particularly good-looking, to me. He's rather weird and unusual looking. But his magnetism comes from within. Now, people are talking about him like he's an ordinary "hunk" and to me that's kind of distancing.

Michele

[michelej1]

Mick is not afraid to say what he thinks and i like that about him. of course so many people feel the need to jump on him (for not holding back about caring about the money, for example).



I don't mind Mick being mercenary, but I mind the times that I think he's been a backstabber. But I like the way he's held people together and his tolerance.

Michele

[sodascouts]

yeah i enjoyed that clip of the documentary, how they had a guy with curly haired wig impersonating lindsey walking into studio A. it was kinda funny they felt the need to reenact the scene.

I love that part too, but I remember it being a cut-out of a photo of him that they kind of used as a paper doll. It was adorable!

For this article, Lindsey should have pointed out that he was in the I Love L. A. video too. Proof of his local passion.

I didn't know that! Now I have to go find it.


As far as what you're saying, I think I'm going to see Star Trek this afternoon, but what I haven't liked beforehand is all the talk about how good-looking Benedict Cumberbatch is. I love him in Sherlock because he's not particularly good-looking, to me. He's rather weird and unusual looking. But his magnetism comes from within. Now, people are talking about him like he's an ordinary "hunk" and to me that's kind of distancing.

I think he must have worked out for the role. I won't give any spoilers, but the character calls for him to be a bit more muscular than in Sherlock (one of my very favorite shows). Regardless, I still don't consider him a "hunk."

[michelej1]

I didn't know that! Now I have to go find it.



He and Christine. Michele

[fairydust75]

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2hi6kDj5Q1qcaugio1_500.jpg

Yummy! No wonder Stevie was so jealous of that guitar at the time...

[Nico]

See, Lindsey with the fro and beard just does it for me. I just think that was probably his most interesting look, even though I have found him more attractive with other looks. I think it's the combination of that 1970's style, his gorgeous eyes and hair, and just that attitude and the way he carried himself.

His style was soooooo much more interesting/unique then as well.

But I love all Lindseys, are you kidding?:xoxo:

[CADreaming]

See, Lindsey with the fro and beard just does it for me. I just think that was probably his most interesting look, even though I have found him more attractive with other looks. I think it's the combination of that 1970's style, his gorgeous eyes and hair, and just that attitude and the way he carried himself.

His style was soooooo much more interesting/unique then as well.

But I love all Lindseys, are you kidding?:xoxo:

I'm right there with you on this! :nod:

[WildHearted]

I'm partial to fro/bearded Lindsey as well. His hair was beautiful and I feel like it really brought out his eyes.

However, I still find him attractive with short hair and everything in between.

[elle]

Nico!! you know i love you and your taste, but you disappoint me with your partiality towards fro/beard LB. :xoxo:

can't stand that period. his eyes don't pop during that time, you can't even see them buried in all that facial hair!

[WildHearted]

Nico!! you know i love you and your taste, but you disappoint me with your partiality towards fro/beard LB. :xoxo:

can't stand that period. his eyes don't pop during that time, you can't even see them buried in all that facial hair!

It's funny because I find it the exact opposite. The contrast of his dark facial hair with his blue eyes makes them really stand out - especially when he wore eyeliner.

Just look at the footage from the '78 Grammy's.

[elle]

It's funny because I find it the exact opposite. The contrast of his dark facial hair with his blue eyes makes them really stand out - especially when he wore eyeliner.

Just look at the footage from the '78 Grammy's.

oh i've seen it. he looked like some weird bird! ;):sorry:

[michelej1]

oh i've seen it. he looked like some weird bird! ;):sorry:

I agree with you. I don't see his personality with all the hair and he looks interchangeable with all the other men of that day.

I don't think his eyes pop at all during that phase, although I will concede that I am usually not looking at sharp, color pictures. The ones we have that are of high quality do show a rather startling contrast between his bright eyes and dark hair and that's attractive, but generally: no.

With the hair gone, I like to read his emotions through his countenance. I love the way his cheeks tauten or relax, expressing humor, or derision or a flash of anger, showing that he's in a zone. I like to see his lips compress or widen in a smile. The hair obscures so much of that for me. It's like looking at him through a veil.

Also, it doesn't look clean to me. It may have been, probably was. I don't know. But it does not look clean or appealing to me. I see him more in the high school photos before he grew the hair than I do when he became a hippie.

Stevie goes on about how beautiful he was and I just think, "How in the world would you know?" Carol says Christine and Stevie were mad when he came in with a haircut, I would have been enraptured. It would be like my blindness had been cured and I was looking at him for the first time. If Carol Ann was really responsible for that, I would have kised her.

Michele

[HelloMonster]

I'll take him in any way I can get him! :D:thumbsup:.

[Lindsfan]

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2hi6kDj5Q1qcaugio1_500.jpg

thanks! Mick has weird taste in men :laugh: ;)


Not weird at all! He looks great, and that was the look back then. Mick knew what he was doing.

I'm partial to fro/bearded Lindsey as well. His hair was beautiful and I feel like it really brought out his eyes.

However, I still find him attractive with short hair and everything in between.


can't stand that period. his eyes don't pop during that time, you can't even see them buried in all that facial hair!

I prefer his current look best (from about SYW on...), but he did the fro/beard look better than most, if not all, of his contemporaries, and whether you like the look or not, it was hot in the day.

Elle, I see his eyes fine :wavey: and they're beautiful!

http://i40.tinypic.com/2rw5f07.jpg


I'll take him in any way I can get him! :D:thumbsup:.

Now, you're talkin' :nod:

[michelej1]

Not weird at all! He looks great, and that was the look back then. Mick knew what he was doing.



I'd have to know more about Mick's taste in men. Lindsey could have been a fluke. Mick might think that all of his guitarists have been good looking and . . . I wouldn't agree. Michele