As much as I would like to believe in some kind of reunion, it’s hard for me to imagine them ever touring together again (maybe a one-off down the road). Not surprisingly, I think this is nearly all about the SN/LB dynamic (with Mick just the guy who prefers touring to real life, and does whatever to make that happen), and I think it has everything to do with a huge psychological aftershock stemming from the death of Tom Petty. More than ever before, they may really feel their mortality, feel fear, feel protective of the ‘time they have left.’
First, it would seem natural that one might tend to circle the wagons and draw nearer to family and loved ones. Stevie, with no husband or children, might be naturally drawn to her ‘family’ – her songs and her bandmates. But LB’s situation is very different; he has a family of his own, and might not share that feeling; even though he was willing to tour with FM, it could be that he would turn a bit more inward, think on smaller-scale terms – wife, kids, small machine.
Second, it also would seem natural that one might decide to make the most of the time they have left to pursue exactly what makes them happy and fulfilled, and let nothing stand in the way.
So it seems that, unfortunately, SN and LB had different ideas about the latter. SN seemed to want to get on the road with her ‘family ‘and her music right away; that would make her most happy. LB, although I blv he cares a great deal about the band and its legacy, wanted to tour his solo music right away; that would make him most happy.
In the face of dissent between SN/LB about how to work this out – regardless of what those details were – it’s not hard to understand what could have happened. There was no way SN was going to ‘side against’ the band/her family or wait one minute longer than she had to to get on with the tour and music. On the other hand, there was no way Lindsey was going to ‘side with’ any plan that did not allow him space for his solo work, the thing that would make him the most happy right now. I’m sure this was not an easy spot for either of them to be in; I’m not on board with some of the demonization of the parties involved that I’ve read on this and other threads. In the past, these disagreements may have launched arguments, tears and drama, but it could be that Tom’s death caused them each to simply draw a line in the sand, and so something had to give.
Perhaps LB just felt he had no choice but to put his own scheduling desires first; there was no way he was going to compromise (again) for the band – not at the expense of doing what is important for him personally – his own music. Perhaps SN felt that she had no choice either – she wants the tour, now, and wants to keep close to her musical family.
I really do think that this is a significant, terminal split for them. Their relationship had devolved into just a musical/onstage one anyway of course, and with SN huddling with the others and bringing in Neil and Mike so quickly, she has even replaced LB as far as even that relationship, so what’s left? I mean, they never did get married, but with this, I think they finally, finally, got divorced; each one doing what they feel they need to do with their precious time.
It makes me listen to a lot of LB’s lyrics – even earlier lyrics – with fresh ears; some of them resonate in a totally new way, interestingly. Last, it makes me hopeful for whatever he is thinking when he talks about future opportunities – don’t get me wrong, I’m sad about the state of FM, but I’m making lemonade and really looking forward to new solo LB words and music – I want to hear what he has to say next-
(Sorry long post! I've been lurking a bit since the big news - should post more and lurk less
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