Lindsey's arrogance...?
 

I guess at this point there's no real argument about Lindsey having a bit of an ego. I say it goes with the territory and, quite frankly in most cases, his extreme confidence in his own abilities is right on spot. However, when reading this review from the recent LA show, the one fan named Kevin appears to be an insider on Lindsey and claims that he has let it all go to his head.

So all I want to know is, as Kevin claims, prior to 2003 was Lindsey somehow less of a (as the fan puts it) "self ed egotistical showoff?" I thought he had somehow always showed off his guitar prowess and had incredible stage presence, but now that I think of it he was quite, quite mellow/calm on The Dance dvd.

Granted, I never saw Fleetwood Mac properly live prior to 2003. I basically became all about LB in that year thanks to his amazing-ness on the SYW tour. He just seemed to have such command, of his instrument and of the stage.

To those who have sort of been there for many years...has Lindsey changed in terms of his live performances? If so, how? And would you boil it down to arrogance or just the gift of having honed his craft for so many years? I want to hear what anyone has to say about this because I always feel more educated on a topic once it's been discussed a bit.:)

Lindsey wasn't even as mellow and calm on the Dance tour as he was on that Dance DVD. He was always confident, always commanding and always a little crazy. But you had Christine there, so with the 3 of them you couldn't say it was the Lindsey show, as they're saying now. You had 3 focuses.

But he'd certainly have guitar solos on his songs, Stevie's and Christine's. And he'd be all over the stage. He was never standing quietly in the shadows and never really not showing off. He may not have been raising his guitar over his head in victory like the writer said recently, but he was certainly dominating attention with it and no one spent a lot of time not letting him do whatever he wanted.

Actually, if I had to describe how he's different now I'd say that he seemed to be more direct and forward before. To me, he does things in a roundabout, reverse-psychology, falsely humble way today which he didn't bother with in the past. He used to be more brooding. He'd be as likely to scowl on stage then as he is to smile now. He might be more confident in his life and in his talent today, but I think he's less arrogant and much more diplomatic now than he used to be.

Michele

Not that this addresses your point exactly Nico, but here's an October 16, 1997 review in the San Francisco chronicle talking about LB's performance that is so much like the reviews we get today.

http://fleetwoodmac.net/penguin/archive/chronicle1.htm

This band's enormous appeal has always been based in a delicate chemistry -- three entirely different lead vocalists switching places at the front of the powerhouse rhythm section. While vocalist Stevie Nicks has usually served as the main focus -- with McVie offering a more earthy foil -- it was Buckingham who edged the massive sound toward any kind of intensity in the 2 1/2-hour show.

Nicks looked tired, a fatigue that her heavy layer of cosmetics couldn't disguise, but the crowd's adoration appeared to energize her as the proceedings progressed. Behind his drums, bug-eyed, mugging and grinning, Mick Fleetwood was obviously thriving. But, time and again, it was Buckingham who put the fire in the music.

The carefully orchestrated guitar choruses he tagged to the end of his first solo number, ``I'm So Afraid,'' synched with Fleetwood and bassist John McVie, built toward an explosive climax that drew a standing ovation. His solo acoustic reworking of ``Big Love'' was a wrenching, driven performance. Whether whipping the edge of the music with his big guitar sound or pumping passionate vocals into the mellifluous harmony blend -- his ``bom-bom-bom-bom'' vocals on ``Second Hand News'' throbbed with the feeling -- Buckingham pushed the band to its boundaries.

This from a Memphis Review in November 1997:

Thanks so much Michele. All these reviews are very interesting to read. I really appreciate your posting them as well as providing some insight. So he let loose on the Dance tour? Hmm...so it may be that shack'n up (I hope I spelled his name right) was right in saying he stiffens up before the camera because, no matter how amazing he was on that dvd (and he was so, so amazing) it's like a completely different person. He's all reserved and kind of, uh, a little nervous at points. How cute...:xoxo:

I really love the way he performs. He has no reservations and so much audience interaction. I love that he is the way he is, but I also have to agree that some stuff- as you put it- could be "falsely humble."

Those reviews are a great read, thanks Michelle.

And OP, let me just say, if I was as skilled a guitarist and as amazing a showman as Lindsey, I would be arrogant too. :laugh:

He most definitely HAS got something to be arrogant about! :thumbsup:

In my first live experiences with the Mac, LB, and Stevie (this year and last year), my observations surprised me. First, Stevie seemed like she would rather be somewhere else, or severely preoccupied. Also, it seemed as if she was a bit turned off by the fan adulation, although not ungrateful.

Lindsey's solo show, he definitely gave off the "false humble" vibe...which is a ton more palatable than the arrogant, egotistical attitude he possessed at the Mac show. Honestly, as much as I love him, it made me cheer louder for Stevie. I can't stand that.

Although, I was swept off my feet with everyone else during ISA. Then, he went back to being falsely humble to receive his applause, which was nice.

I can't blame LB for it though...it's really Stevie's fault. She's the one who told him he was "beautiful" and a "genius" who "could play anything"...she totally created that monster we see today. ;)

my thoughts exactly! at least he as something to back it up with!!


I didn't pick up on the "falsely humble" vibe....
and he IS a beautiful, genius, who CAN play anything!
am I letting my bias show? :D

It's been so long since the heyday days, but the thing I remember the most is that none of them -- Chris or Lindsey or Stevie or even Mick -- ever seemed nervous. When I watch them perform on TV or YouTube these days, they all seem nervous, or twitchy, or not completely confident, & so they seem to overcompensate for that with unusual masks, which might make them seem aloof or self-trumpeting or something negative. Maybe when you're a big rocker standing in front of thousands of people & you're not really much of an extrovert, age will make you nervous. In 1980, for example, the last trait you would ever see in any of them was nerves, in either their singing or their speaking. They were coasting in those days on so many things: youth, good bodies, popularity, money, etc. Time & change wreak havoc on everyone. So I think the big difference in their performances is nerves.

Honestly, those 2 performances on Leno they seemed so uptight and nervous I actually hurt for them. It was almost pitiful. I mean, I hated them looking like they felt they had so much to prove because, of course, I think they own everything. So, it made me nervous to see them seemingly so insecure.

Michele

Without knowing much about Lindsey's home life, except that he was the youngest of 3, I just get the impression that all 4 of the people in his family must've spoiled him rotten, before Stevie got to him. Michele

I should say that what I think about what Lindsey does in concert -- which has turned at least 2 reviewers off -- to me is something other than arrogance. When he is stomping around, waving his guitar after one of his songs going, "Whoa!" I don't think he is saying, "I'm so wonderful." I think he is saying to the audience, "I'm excited that you're excited."

On the other hand, when people are telling him he's a guitar god (like Little Big Town did) I think he is thinking, "Well, yes. In fact, I am."

Michele

Oh, very true. Being the youngest in my family, I can understand.

LOL! :nod:

Thanks everyone for your responses! I still have to come to terms with the fact that showing arrogance doesn't necessarily mean a person is arrogant nor is it always a bad thing. It could always be an appearance, but I still kinda think LB knows he's great and, as Michele says, is apt to agree in his mind with the assessment of his greatness from others. ;)

David, thanks for the response. I think you are spot on because I would say Stevie and Lindsey from The Mirage concert are a different kind of wild and crazy than today. Especially Stevie, obviously, because I wouldn't even use those adjectives to describe her these days.

Also, a lot of what they did back then, and that extra coat of confidence, was easily produced by their love for all things white and powdery. It can be said about a lot of people...and I do find it endearing that they get all nervous these days...

Incidentally, without sounding too mean, I've always felt their "Today Show" performance where Lindsey was wearing a shirt and a leather jacket in the middle of, like, 32 degree temperature one of the most AWFUL things I have ever heard. I'm pretty sure Lindsey forgot the song he was playing, started late, and was singing off-key in the most screeching voice ever. Yet, a girlfriend of mine was there in the flesh and said they were great.:shrug: Go figure.