For Blue Letter Archives: Post-Concert Press Conference, Des Moines

[David]

Fleetwood Mac Has “Tusk,” But No Elephant
By Peter Grier
Des Moines Sunday Register
July 27, 1980

In a world of pedestrian rock stars, Fleetwood Mac long has been the top of the line. In the mid-1970s, the five-member group strung a series of hits & lush romanticism spellbound the record-buying public.

Released in 1977, its album “Rumours” became one of the most released records in history, selling 16 million copies nationwide.

Now, as rock music fragments into New Wave & three-chord Beatles nostalgia, Fleetwood Mac seems to defy the struggle of established acts to learn from the new music, & maintain an old identity.

At a post-concert press conference in Boston, Mass., band founder Mick Fleetwood hunches his 6-foot-6-inch frame into a folding chair, squinted at the TV lights & explained yet again why the group abandoned the profitable mellowness of “Rumours” for a leaner sound on its newest album, “Tusk.”

“We felt like it,” he said.

Lead guitarist Lindsey Buckingham was more specific. “The record is an expression of three years’ growth,” he said.

Fleetwood Mac never has been a group to stand still. Originally founded in 1967 by Fleetwood, bass guitarist John McVie & several refugees from John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, the band has since shuffled enough members to staff a small orchestra.

Its latest incarnation dates back to 1975, when Buckingham & lead singer Stevie Nicks joined Fleetwood, McVie & McVie’s then-wife, Christine, to produce an album called, logically, “Fleetwood Mac.”

That album sold 7 million copies, & was followed two years later by “Rumours.” Despite the breakup of the McVies’ marriage, it appears the current Mac lineup will survive into the ‘80s.

If there is a soul to the Mac magic, it lies in Stevie. A beautiful woman with wild hair & delicate porcelain features, she is the band’s centerpiece onstage. Her soaring, starchild voice is largely responsible for their romanticism. The songs she composes are the group’s mellowest material.

In contrast, Christine McVie plays thumping keyboards, writes earthier songs & looks as if she hasn’t been getting enough sleep. Laughing, she commented on the name of the group’s latest album.

“ ‘Tusk.’ It’s just a nice-sounding word,” she said.

Fleetwood tried his best to look like a misunderstood artist. “It’s got nothing to do with elephants,” he claimed.

Still, “Tusk,” the album’s title cut, sounds distinctly tribal. The song features the entire University of Southern California marching band, remixed to sound like Zulu warriors.

“I tend to look over my shoulder when I’m singing it,” Nicks giggled, “like I’m waiting for the cannibals to come.”

[gldstwmn]

Is this the press conference where Mick has the coke induced seizure and Christine massages his shoulder to prevent him from going into complete meltdown? I remember seeing that on tv a long, long time ago and thinking what the hell is wrong with that guy? Or is it just becasue he's artistic? Are they all like that?

[macfan 57]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

Is this the press conference where Mick has the coke induced seizure and Christine massages his shoulder to prevent him from going into complete meltdown? I remember seeing that on tv a long, long time ago and thinking what the hell is wrong with that guy? Or is it just becasue he's artistic? Are they all like that?

According to Mick's book, that press conference was in Dec. 1979 in San Francisco, although Mick attributed his seizure to his hypoglycemia & diabetes rather than cocaine.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by macfan 57

According to Mick's book, that press conference was in Dec. 1979 in San Francisco, although Mick attributed his seizure to his hypoglycemia & diabetes rather than cocaine.

Oh sure, Mick.