Meet Fleetwood Mac (Teen Bag 1980)

[David]

Meet Fleetwood Mac
By Cliff Harrington
Teen Bag 1980 (#366)

"The magic of a band, any band, is in the combination -- the energy that is created by the right group of people."

These are the words Mick Fleetwood uses to describe his own wildly popular group Fleetwood Mac & he couldn't be more correct. When I met the fabulous five at a big bash in far-off Tokyo, Japan, they proved they were just the right musical combination, with energy & magic to spare.

Mick, a 6-foot-6-inch giant of a man, & his friends John McVie, Christine McVie, Stevie Nicks & Lindsey Buckingham were all on hand to talk to TEEN BAG. It was a catch-as-catch-can effort, because I spoke to them at the Ongakusha/Warner-Pioneer Records get-acquainted party in Tokyo's entertainment district & had to share them with other reporters & photographers. Still, it was possible to get comments here & bits of information there & by putting them all together, learn a little about what makes Fleetwood Mac tick.

Big Mick showed that despite the success of their daring double disk "Tusk" album & its two top-ten singles, the five are not resting on their laurels.

"As a band, we still have a long way to go," he told me, "especially in countries such as Japan where we are not so well known as in America. That's why we like to get out to other countries to keep the music going."

Why had Fleetwood Mac run the big financial risk of a costly two-record album?

"We did it for several reasons," Mick said. "We had a lot of songs from three very different songwriters within the band: Christine, Stevie & Lindsey."

The music man chuckled. "It's a good problem to have, but it is a problem."

The two-record combination, he said, "offered an opportunity to get a lot of mileage out of what each songwriter had to offer. It also held out a big challenge for the band."

With so many other good groups breathing down their necks, how do they manage to stay a few steps ahead of the competition? Lindsey Buckingham was happy to provide an answer.

"All you can do is keep abreast of what's going on in the music world & hopefully retain a certain amount of flexibility," he said. "It's very important to keep an open mind."

"I think that you will find that any group that's been around for more than a couple of years & has had more than two or three successful albums will have a certain amount of growth from album to album -- growing & changing to a certain degree. It's something that's a necessity."

Lindsey showed his own openmindedness by expressing a liking for the New Wave techno-pop sound. "It's really kicked the music business in the posterior," he said, "& it's pumped some juice into a style that was getting a bit stale."

Mick pointed out that Fleetwood Mac would have little chance to grow stale, for they would be on tour for the next eight months, traveling in Europe & making two treks across the United States.

I wanted a special message from Mick for you fans out there & he was genuinely surprised that I would ask. "Oh, my goodness!" he exclaimed. But he thought for a second & said, "Say hello & tell the people to come & hear the music." He laughed & added, "I don't like forcing people, but it would be nice if they did come."

John McVie was almost at my elbow & he was happy to leaf through my latest copy of TEEN BAG. "It seems to be a nice magazine," he declared. "Everybody is so pretty!"

The guitarist stroked his scraggly beard, cocked his character-lined face on one side & broke into a sly grin. "But I wouldn't want you to put your faith in looks," he chuckled.

I wished John good luck in the coming performances, but he jokingly reminded me that I was supposed to say "break a leg" to entertainers. "I'm very superstitious," he admitted. "I don't even get out of bed if it's Friday the 13th."

I wondered if he ever did what his horoscope suggested. "No," John answered. "I go my own way."

Before he turned to talk to others, McVie sent out "a happy 1980" to all TEEN BAG readers.

Christine McVie, John's ex-wife, & Stevie Nicks were tucked into a seat nearby, signing autographs & generally having a good time. The ladies were delighted to pose for an exclusive TEEN BAG photo.

Right off, I noticed that Christine's arm was sheathed in a cast & inquired about it.

"You're the first to ask," she said. "It happened in the mountains at Big Bear, California," she said. "It's broken clear across."

Would the break curtail her work at the keyboard? Her response proved how determined she was. "I can play for about 15 minutes," she said. "Then I'll keep on playing with my right."

Christine looked on the bright side, however. Her horoscope had been good for that day & she admitted that she follows it closely.

Stevie joined in the fun & said that she followed her horoscope, but "only the good parts." She had a special message to pass along to TEEN BAG readers, too.

"Just tell them to do whatever it is that takes you away for a minute. But I don't mean escape."

"It should be something that is wonderful enough so that it takes your mind off your problems," Stevie said. Of course, she indicated that the activities must be legal & uplifting. Her own big thing, naturally, is her music.

"If I didn't have that, I don't know what I'd do," Stevie stated. This devotion to her art has produced many delightful songs, including her latest hit, "Sara."

Moving from the ladies, I latched on to the popular Lindsey again. He then let me in on a special fact about the "Tusk" album that I had not been aware of. In the fine print on the back cover is the message: "Dedicated to Morris Buckingham & Wing Commander Fleetwood."

"It refers to Mick's & my fathers," Lindsey said. "They've both passed on & we decided to dedicate the album to them." What a nice gesture, I thought!

I wanted to know what activities Lindsey liked when he was not involved with music.

"I used to go swimming a little," he said. "And I enjoy photography. But, basically, I'm into recording. It's a form of relaxation for me."

I learned that Lindsey's songs "The Ledge" & "Save Me a Place" had been taped in his own home on his home equipment without any special sound-proofing or acoustics ... just raw sound!

"It's sterile in the studios," he said. "These sounded like demonstration tapes, which is really the point. They had a different atmosphere."

Lindsey's hit title song, "Tusk," had an even more adventurous approach. It was recorded by the University of Southern California marching band right in the middle of Dodger Stadium!

Above all I wanted to know what keeps Fleetwood Mac working so well as a musical unit. Both Mick & Lindsey helped answer.

"We don't get too bogged down with any one thing," Lindsey noted. "If things are not going well, we leave the studio & come back the next day for a fresh start. We keep a long-range perspective on everything."

Said Mick, "We love the music we create &, more than that, we love working together. It's for the music that we stay together."

All too soon the friendly five had to move on. As a parting word, I asked Lindsey how he felt about all the girls breaking into rock to become stars like Christine & Stevie.

The popular male singer responded with a big grin & the enthusiastic statement, "More power to 'em!"

***
Photograph captions

1. Fleetwood Mac members Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, Stevie Nicks & John McVie all had kind words for TEEN BAG, & send greetings to all!

2. Guitarist Lindsey Buckingham spends a rare moment of relaxation ... the band is in the midst of a tour.

3. Lindsey happily signed autographs outside the Ongakusha/Warner-Pioneer Records party in Tokyo for his group.

4. Who says girls can't rock? Christine McVie & Stevie Nicks help make Fleetwood Mac special ... & not even a broken wrist can stop Christine from making music!

5. Transplanted Englishman John McVie has boats in California & a home in Hawaii.

6. A fellow Englishman, Mick Fleetwood stands 6 feet 6 inches tall!

7. Mick shows off his drumming skill. He & John formed Fleetwood Mac 13 years ago, & have stuck through good times & bad.

8. Lindsey Buckingham gives his all in concert. He & Stevie Nicks are from California.

9. Stevie Nicks can go from red-hot rock to crooning ballads.

10. Fleetwood Mac onstage in Japan. They have fans all over the world, & no wonder!

[Les]

LOL. I love the teen mag speak. Thanks for posting this David!

[amber]

Thank you! I love catching up on things i had no way of seeing before...love to see the photos...
AMber

[EnchantedSLN]

Originally Posted by David

"Just tell them to do whatever it is that takes you away for a minute. But I don't mean escape."

"It should be something that is wonderful enough so that it takes your mind off your problems," Stevie said. Of course, she indicated that the activities must be legal & uplifting.

... as she uncomfortably slid a mysterious velvet bag out of sight.

Thanks for the transcription, David!

[ThePenguin]

I'd never seen that one, thanks very much, David! Would love to see the pics too.. .

-Lis