No more waiting for the real Lindsey..

[madformac]

I've waited a long time to post this. I waited even longer after the new album and tour to post this too. But now seems the right time.

Way back when Tusk became a commercial failure and a critical success Lindsey decided that to make his own voice heard from within the all consuming beast that was Fleetwood Mac he needed a solo album. And so, Law & Order was completed. A little different from what Mac fans expected. A break from the norm if you will. Lindsey then watered down his efforts for the Fleetwood Mac follow up "Mirage". Despite some great production on songs "Gypsy" and "Hold Me" and inspired writing with "Eyes Of The World", Buckinghams efforts were decidedly weak.

No doubt frustrated by the stranglehold of the band he began work on "Go Insane", his second solo album. A brilliant and erratic performance that was again critically acclaimed. With standout pieces including the title track and "Slow Dancing", the videos to which MTV really took to in its founding years, Buckingham showed his undervalued genius within the Brit/Californian hit making machine.

With no intentions of making another bland "Mac" album Buckingham began writing a collection of tunes to form his third studio album based around a song with the working title of "Big Love". Pressure within the band and label forced Buckingham to give up his project and donate the material to what would become "Tango In The Night", Buckingham's fourth studio album with the group. Lindsey subsequently quit Fleetwood Mac blaming the pressures of touring when I suspect in reality it was more to do with his creative freedom being castrated.

Lindsey enjoyed a period of artistic happiness with the release of his third solo project "Out Of The Cradle". Again the album won critical acclaim despite poor sales. A familiar pattern was emerging. The follow up solo tour was a hit although it was also regarded as a financial blunder.

Lindsey was asked to perform with Fleetwood Mac for President Clintons inauguration, again unable to resist a plea from his fellow bandmates.

Fast forward to 1995. Lindsey was again in his creative stride working on tracks for his next solo release with the working title "Gift Of Screws". Lindsey was asked to produce and perform on a duet with Stevie Nicks for the film Twister, allowing some differences to be settled between the two. At the same time Buckingham was working with Fleetwood and the McVies on his solo album. Warner Brothers took note and the pressure was applied to Lindsey once more. So what does he do? Right, as usual rolls over and takes it.. (again)

Fleetwood Mac reformed to perform on a soundstage for a live album and DVD. This morphed into a full scale American tour with impressive sales figures.

Buckingham then returns to his solo album only for the pressure to continue. He gives up a sizeable chunk of the material for a new Fleetwood Mac album. By now Lindsey, a man that speaks of himself in terms of a creative genius and musical eccentric, has sold out once more. Fans of the man questioning his ethics and if a fast buck happens to be more important than musical and creative integrity..

Finally in 2006 a new Buckingham arrives. A changed man. Perhaps now into the most creative and harmonic phase of his career. A new and brilliant solo album is released, surprising fans that have been waiting nearly 14 years and with it a full on tour of America. But this is not enough. Another tour follows and plans are underway for a follow up album.

Fleetwood Mac are waiting. Fleetwood Mac are nervous. 2007 is the 40th anniversary of the band and the 30th anniversary of Rumours. A major year of significance which the band and Warner would like to exploit financially.

Warners can wait, Fleetwood can wait, Nicks can wait. Lindsey is finally doing what he does best. No longer needing the secure bubble of Fleetwood Mac to perform. I sense if he doesn't record with the band again its no big deal. He is now in charge of his own fate. They can all wait. 2008, 2009? When he is ready they will tour.

The creative and spiritual freedom Buckingham always talked about but never did... Finally its arrived. And all I can see is a healthy future ahead.