Going Their Own Way (Sunday Times, 24th May)

[BigAl84]

While I keep reminding myself of the playboy interview Mick did and what a shock that was, I'd like to take the attitude of this too shall pass...but that was Mick we're talking about. Stevie is entirely different and when she is not happy, she is really not happy and it takes years to fix her kind of unhappiness it seems like....but years is something that this band doesn't necessarily have.

This whole situation baffles me and saddens me. Lindsey and Stevie are nearly 70 years old and as Mick said - they will probably never be able to sit on the amp and enjoy each others company. Nobody will ever know the true extent of the issues between them, but I hope when I'm at that age I will be able to make peace with whatever issues or demons I may have. I don't know what shocks me more, being at that age and not being able to make peace or being that age after a lifetime of spending time with people who are like family, making beautiful music, traveling the world, surviving all of the crap that has happened and STILL not be able to.

I'm not going to dig into Stevie because there is something very "off" about these recent remarks in this interview and now Mojo. I think it's something larger than the usual Lindsey/Stevie friction going on. I think there is an overall unhappiness coming from something/somewhere else she is struggling with, but I don't know what it is. Is it something related to the passing of her mother or possible disappointment with 24K...I don't know. Something is very off, she's dropping four letter words and is about as resentful and bitter as it gets. Maybe I'm reading into it too much, but there always seemed to be that anger that come from a loving place...but I'm not seeing that anywhere from Stevie. That's why I say, there is something else at the core of all of this anger.

[bombaysaffires]

well Lindsey sort of says something similar in his interview in Mojo, that "I think Stevie's a little torn. It has a lot to do with her life in general and trying to figure out what means something to her."

[BigAl84]

right! and I think he's onto something..

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

well Lindsey sort of says something similar in his interview in Mojo, that "I think Stevie's a little torn. It has a lot to do with her life in general and trying to figure out what means something to her."

To me, this refers to writing new material. I could be wrong, but we write about things that are important to us. Perhaps, the well run dry from writing about her past relationship. Or, she doesn't want to write about LB, anymore.

[gssmith]

They should take a vacation after the tour. They will probably take 6 months off. People including band members that were talking about releasing the album in 2016 were so unrealistic. 2017 is more likely. I still think we will see an album in 2017.

[sue]

Originally Posted by gssmith

They should take a vacation after the tour. They will probably take 6 months off. People including band members that were talking about releasing the album in 2016 were so unrealistic. 2017 is more likely. I still think we will see an album in 2017.

Agree, they need 6 months away from each other. Go and spend some of the millions they've earned, spend some time with their friends and families..
Anything but see each other and think about ---getting into the studio---.

[MikeVielhaber]

Originally Posted by sue

Agree, they need 6 months away from each other. Go and spend some of the millions they've earned, spend some time with their friends and families..
Anything but see each other and think about ---getting into the studio---.

But it would be a forced vacation for 4 of them. Only one of them is claiming to be tired and in need of a break.

[tabruns]

What comes through to me in this is just utter exhaustion from most of them, but particularly Nicks. Given some time off and rest I think the perspective could be different, maybe. I also think that whatever went down on Say You Will has apparently turned off Nicks from working under Buckingham-produced Mac for a long time.

In a way, from the way she sounds - and again, its clear she's really just very tired of the touring right now - I could see Nicks actually quitting Fleetwood Mac after this tour. She sounds that exhausted, Christine back or no. And if Mick is being honest about no Mac if not this Mac then what a shame, they'd be done.

Hopefully they'll finish the tour, take time off, let Nicks recuperate, and then pull it together for one great last double album.

[elle]

Originally Posted by MikeVielhaber

But it would be a forced vacation for 4 of them. Only one of them is claiming to be tired and in need of a break.

exactly.

i'm amused how so many people keep reading the article with interviews from 5 people are extrapolating how they are all tired and exhausted even though 4 of them appear reinvigorated and want to forge on.

perhaps SN being tired of 4 of them has led to her giving a green light they can all talk about what is actually going on?

[sue]

Originally Posted by MikeVielhaber

But it would be a forced vacation for 4 of them. Only one of them is claiming to be tired and in need of a break.

I agree, Stevie is the only one who sounds to be exhausted, but I still think they need a break from each other........haven't these people got homes to go to?

[gssmith]

Originally Posted by MikeVielhaber

But it would be a forced vacation for 4 of them. Only one of them is claiming to be tired and in need of a break.

John just had cancer. I'm pretty sure he needs a break too. 2017 is more realistic. It's not that far away. We've waited since 1997 or 1987 depending on how you look at it. One more year won't kill us

[elle]

Originally Posted by BigAl84

Nobody will ever know the true extent of the issues between them, but I hope when I'm at that age I will be able to make peace with whatever issues or demons I may have. I don't know what shocks me more, being at that age and not being able to make peace or being that age after a lifetime of spending time with people who are like family, making beautiful music, traveling the world, surviving all of the crap that has happened and STILL not be able to.

yes, that's what Lindsey seems to baffled with too. he said many times he feels like FM are a family in a sense. and also this:

Originally Posted by BigAl84

I think it's something larger than the usual Lindsey/Stevie friction going on. I think there is an overall unhappiness coming from something/somewhere else she is struggling with, but I don't know what it is. Is it something related to the passing of her mother or possible disappointment with 24K...I don't know. Something is very off, she's dropping four letter words and is about as resentful and bitter as it gets. Maybe I'm reading into it too much, but there always seemed to be that anger that come from a loving place...but I'm not seeing that anywhere from Stevie. That's why I say, there is something else at the core of all of this anger.

so who knows, you may be right. although she may be just purely annoyed by someone in the band who rubs her the wrong way (and maybe even all of them), it may be something else entirely.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by BigAl84

While I keep reminding myself of the playboy interview Mick did and what a shock that was, I'd like to take the attitude of this too shall pass...but that was Mick we're talking about. Stevie is entirely different and when she is not happy, she is really not happy and it takes years to fix her kind of unhappiness it seems like....but years is something that this band doesn't necessarily have.

It reminds me of Lindsey's explanation of his song, Under the Skin. He eventually conceded it was about Stevie and said it was about someone who was having trouble getting from point A to point B.

I know it's hard, being so hard to find. Your passion swallows you whole, deaf dumb, and blind ... Lay your head down. No one will see. Cry me a river of new dreams; float yourself free.

I'm also reminded of her telling Jim Ladd in 1979:

I love to be miserable. I love to walk around in the passion of the throes of miserability. I made that word up years ago: miserabilty. I don't like to suffer. I hate pain. But I do like to suffer to the point where I can get to my typewriter and write down my wonderful philosophy on why I'm suffering. I love that part of it.

Michele