Happy birthday TUSK

[Villavic]

Fleetwood Mac's twelfth studio album was released as a double album on October 12, 1979

I just found this picture from 1980

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/f5/08/ea/f508ea3fc1ceeae3fb1428855cf84f2e.jpg

[Macfan4life]

Thanks for remembering and posting! Love the photo. As the 1970s were ending it was the end of an era for so many things including Fleetwood Mac. The last album before solo careers. The last time Mick managed the band. Tusk is celebrated today but it was not embraced by many. People yelling at Lindsey in the front row complaining he and the band sold out. I salute all of you that got to see the band on the Tusk tour. It must have been so good. No doubt Tusk changed the band forever. It caused a change in management and the blowback the band got caused an over-reaction for future albums. As much as Tusk was running away from commercial and corporate music but it had them running the other way for future albums.

[Villavic]

Happy 46 birthday!

[bombaysaffires]

Who are the guys in the front row of that pic? I only recognize John Courage.

[Villavic]

And today marks 47 years. A whole lifetime.

I have not read Ken’s book Get Tusked, but after asking Google it answered about the (already known by us) decision of Lindsey about a different sound far from Rumours; it also said Ken wrote about “Buckingham’s aggressive stance derailed any chance of recording a safe follow-up to Rumours”. And “how the band members behaved like adolescents in the studio amid internal soap operas, drug use (including heavy cocaine and pot culture), and general dysfunction”. If anyone has read the book, please share whether Ken said it that way or in what context.

Then I found this 2019 interview where Ken talks about the dichotomy between the distortion, anger and rebellion of Lindsey’s songs, and the most beautiful guitar work he’s ever done… on the girl’s songs.

I guess when Ken said Beautiful Child and Sisters of the Moon background vocals are very Beach Boy-esque, he doesn’t mean the songs sound like the BB, but they were recorded in a similar technical way to Pet Sounds.

It’s a long and interesting interview. For those who has not read Get Tusked, there is a lot of information here.

https://smashinginterviews.com/interviews/authors/ken-caillat-interview-fleetwood-mac-producer-says-lindsey-made-the-making-of-tusk-a-nightmare

[sleepless child]

Very interesting interview with Ken. I never saw that before. I did read his book, but I think this interview delves a bit deeper and more honestly about some things than the book does. It seems Carol was a bigger influence on his look and musical direction than I first thought. And he confirms her cocaine abuse. In her book, she definitely downplays her drug use. Makes you wonder if a lot of what she said is even true. And I'm not sure if I agree with Ken on how Lindsey was fired. I don't think Lindsey asked for a whole year. But there certainly was a lot of tension between the two of them over the years. Loved reading this. Thank you

[Macfan4life]

And today marks 47 years. A whole lifetime.

I have not read Ken’s book Get Tusked, but after asking Google it answered about the (already known by us) decision of Lindsey about a different sound far from Rumours; it also said Ken wrote about “Buckingham’s aggressive stance derailed any chance of recording a safe follow-up to Rumours”. And “how the band members behaved like adolescents in the studio amid internal soap operas, drug use (including heavy cocaine and pot culture), and general dysfunction”. If anyone has read the book, please share whether Ken said it that way or in what context.

Then I found this 2019 interview where Ken talks about the dichotomy between the distortion, anger and rebellion of Lindsey’s songs, and the most beautiful guitar work he’s ever done… on the girl’s songs.

I guess when Ken said Beautiful Child and Sisters of the Moon background vocals are very Beach Boy-esque, he doesn’t mean the songs sound like the BB, but they were recorded in a similar technical way to Pet Sounds.

It’s a long and interesting interview. For those who has not read Get Tusked, there is a lot of information here.

https://smashinginterviews.com/interviews/authors/ken-caillat-interview-fleetwood-mac-producer-says-lindsey-made-the-making-of-tusk-a-nightmare
I find the Tusk era more fascinating than the Rumours era yet its not talked about that much. For Rumours their dysfunctional relationships were ending. For Tusk each of them were in far more dysfunctional relationships that came and went. We get verses in songs about affairs with other band members. They were elite superstars and their egos were huge. It was the last album before solo careers. It was the last album for the 70s decade. Drugs still overflowing and about to be a bigger problem for the band especially Mick and Stevie. Stevie also had so many hook ups and short term relationships during this era.

Interesting that Ken thinks releasing Tusk as a single was a huge mistake. I have always believed Think About Me should have been the lead single. It sounds like Fleetwood Mac and it would have been a top 10 hit. But I dont think Tusk would have charted being the third single but who knows. Not only was Tusk a double album but they released the second oddest song from the album as a single. Even though it went top 10 you never hear it on radio. But Lindsey was not really going for commercial sales. I cannot imagine Sisters of The Moon as a lead single as Ken suggested. I think the band got lucky the demand for new Fleetwood Mac songs dragged Tusk into the top 10. The only song I dont care about on Tusk is The Ledge. I wish Beauty and The Beast would have made the album. Its brilliant.

[Villavic]

And I'm not sure if I agree with Ken on how Lindsey was fired. I don't think Lindsey asked for a whole year. But there certainly was a lot of tension between the two of them over the years.

I agree. I don't remember reading articles back then that he asked for a year. But I always had the feeling that there were details we don't and will never know.

I don't think Ken has that much detail about what happened in 2018, either. Although, if he’s still in touch with Mick, it’s possible he told Ken things in a way that suited him, or to justify the decision.

Smashing Interviews Magazine: What is your relationship with the rest of Fleetwood Mac?

Ken Caillat: Well, I have a relationship with Mick. The band was not really high tech, so they don’t keep their same phone numbers and emails, and I don’t have any way of connecting with Stevie. Stevie’s got a big entourage of people that are paid to protect her from strangers, and I would be considered a stranger in their eyes. The last time I talked to Christine, we were good. I produced a record for her in 2005. But I talk to John. I talk to Mick. I wish John a happy birthday every year, so I think I’m fine with everybody.

I’d probably be fine with Lindsey if I ever saw him. But he’s just got so much hatred now with the band for firing him when he’s the one that brought it on himself. He again demanded that they would delay their world tour for a year or a year and a half while he finished his solo record, and his solo records never sell anything. He gave them the ultimatum that he would quit, so the band talked and said, “You know what? Why don’t we just fire you? You’ve pulled that trick one too many times. We don’t care.”

Does anyone know if there’s an interview with Ken from 2005 where he talks about In The Meantime? I couldn't find it.

[BLY]

It seemed like eternity waiting for this release after Rumours. (It was like only 2 1/2 years) I remember hearing Tusk ( the song) for the first time and I thought YES! This is going to be a great album. To this day the song is in my all time top ten songs by the MAC.