So, In Regard To This New EP......

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by Ulpian

It was a former member of the rhythm section who conveyed those sentiments, and I think she was being playful but was also stating what we all know. Sure, Mick and John (especially John) are important to the sound in the studio, but the artistic direction and the thrust of the band is so much Lindsey now, even more than in the past. He's untempered by Christine's caution now, for better or worse. It may as well be BN.

I don't think Christine ever cautioned Lindsey that much in the first place. She didn't restrain him. She brought another dimension that had to be incorporated into what he was otherwise doing. It's not like she said, "don't do that." It's more like they also had to find a way to fit what she was doing in. She may have limited his quantity, because there were 3 songwriters, but not so much his content.

During the Dance interview (for Best Buy) Christine said that she, John and Mick form a bed on which Lindsey can roll around and do whatever he wants.

In saying that, I don't think she exactly meant that the rest of the band is subservient to Lindsey. I think that she meant that he set the direction and they all followed, not mindlessly though. Each bringing their own unique talents, strength, and creativity as they marked the path together, but taking independent strides. When Lindsey works alone, he is responsible for the sound of everything. When he works with FM, he knows that even though he can tell Mick and John where he wants the drum and bass, he can't really micro-manage what they're going to do there.

I know it may have looked like Stevie was directing Mick in IYD, but Lindsey has often talked about Mick not being able to do what Lindsey wanted on a particular song or Mick not being able to do the same thing twice, even. Mick does his own thing and that's even more true of John, who probably doesn't try to cooperate with Lindsey half as much as Mick does. So, FM is never going to be just a backing band for Lindsey or anyone else. They're always going to provide a sound that's different from what Lindsey envisioned in his head and, hopefully, better.

Michele