LB Says FM: With or Without Sheryl

[michelej1]

March 25, 2008, 2:25 PM ET

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/..._id=1003733037

Gary Graff, Detroit
Fleetwood Mac -- with or without Sheryl Crow in tow -- is planning to be active again.

Singer/guitarist Lindsey Buckingham -- who's just released a new concert DVD, "Live at the Bass Performance Hall," from his 2006-07 solo tour -- tells Billboard.com that the group is "looking at the idea of touring sometime in the first half of 2009," possibly with some new material to play.

In recent weeks Crow, who's friendly with Mac's Stevie Nicks, has talked about joining the band, which Buckingham acknowledges is a possibility, though he adds, "I don't think anything is written in stone yet."

"I think we were all a little surprised (Crow) was announcing that to the world with such certainty," Buckingham says with a laugh. "We have talked about the possibility of bringing another woman into the scene to kind of give Stevie a sort of foil and shake it up a little bit. (Crow) was certainly a name that has come up. We'll have to see."

Nicks has been the group's sole female member since Christine McVie retired from the band in the late '90s. Buckingham says that he has "a ton of new stuff" that could be used for a new Fleetwood Mac album, though he adds that he might want to step back from the production role he's had in the band.


"I don't think I want to produce again 'cause it takes so much," he explains. "Whatever happens we'll all sit in a room and make something work as a group. a little more like we used to, sort of try to open it up and get everyone sharing the activity a little more."

Buckingham, meanwhile, is also planning another solo album -- the follow-up to 2006's "Under the Skin" -- for this summer. Recorded with members of his touring band as well as Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, it "has a little more of a rock feel to it" than "Under the Skin," according to Buckingham. "It's just another group of tunes that hopefully will translate to stage, and hopefully we can get some more (solo) dates this summer."

Formerly signed to Reprise, Buckingham says he's a "free agent" now, without a label deal as a solo artist. "We're gonna figure out who wants to put it out," he says of the as-yet untitled album. "I'm keeping an open mind. People need to hear the music and we'll see what they think and what the best situation for it will be."

[shackin'up]

GROUNDBREAKING NEWS!!!!!

So lindsey steps back to make FM a more democratic environment when it comes to the artistic direction. (holding my breath)

So lindsey puts out a part of the rest of the GOS-tunes as a soloalbum ( because he talks about the fact that Mick and John are on the recordings. (Twist Of Fate! Shuffle Riff, Gift Of Screws!) And some new recorded stuff with - as I hope - the groovin Cuban on it, who I thought sounded spectacular.
That all is, IF he find a label/way to put it out! GO FASTER DUDE!
AND he wants to tour solo this year.

WOW. I couldn't care less if Crow is in yes or no. He has tons of new material for a Mac-album. I say RICK RUBIN produces the next mac-album.

All steviefans have to admit. This guy is an adult at last.

[Sarah]

solo album and tour... cmon!! i don't want to have to wait through a bunch of mac stuff.

and oooh, i wonder what the label deal is. contractual obligations fulfilled? "dropped" ?? hmmm!

[Livia]

He doesn't need no steeeenking label. No one does anymore, especially established artists. He should do what The Raconteurs have just done - make an announcement that the album's done and will be on sale online and all the usual retail outlets in a week.

[trackaghost]

Originally Posted by Livia

He doesn't need no steeeenking label. No one does anymore, especially established artists. He should do what The Raconteurs have just done - make an announcement that the album's done and will be on sale online and all the usual retail outlets in a week.

Except that The Raconteurs have a record label. XL in the UK, I'm not sure about the States, and they were fully behind that move.

I'm glad to hear the subject of the rock album come up again. I'm sure a smaller, independent would love to have him. It would probably suit him better being a big fish in a small pond anyway, at least he'd get some attention that way. Or else have it to buy as downloads on his own site and possibly iTunes. That way he'd get a bigger chunk of the cash he'd make from the sales and we'd get the music. Everybody wins.

[Peestie]

Originally Posted by trackaghost

I'm glad to hear the subject of the rock album come up again. I'm sure a smaller, independent would love to have him. It would probably suit him better being a big fish in a small pond anyway, at least he'd get some attention that way. Or else have it to buy as downloads on his own site and possibly iTunes. That way he'd get a bigger chunk of the cash he'd make from the sales and we'd get the music. Everybody wins.

I think he'd do great on an independent label as well, but will his ego allow him to? I would hope that it will because they'll probably promote it better than any major label would. I just hope he's not so used to being on a major label that he doesn't consider an indie one. As long as it gets released I don't care who does it. I just want to get my hands on it.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by shackin'up

GROUNDBREAKING NEWS!!!!!

So lindsey steps back to make FM a more democratic environment when it comes to the artistic direction. (holding my breath)

So lindsey puts out a part of the rest of the GOS-tunes as a soloalbum ( because he talks about the fact that Mick and John are on the recordings. (Twist Of Fate! Shuffle Riff, Gift Of Screws!) And some new recorded stuff with - as I hope - the groovin Cuban on it, who I thought sounded spectacular.
That all is, IF he find a label/way to put it out! GO FASTER DUDE!
AND he wants to tour solo this year.

WOW. I couldn't care less if Crow is in yes or no. He has tons of new material for a Mac-album. I say RICK RUBIN produces the next mac-album.

All steviefans have to admit. This guy is an adult at last.

I second that emotion. Callait and Dashut?

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by Livia

Callait and Dashut?

I don't see why not. Rubin would be okay with me too.

[Betsy]

Rick Rubin has worked with a lot of people
-rap and hip hop (LL Cool J),
-hardcore rock (Red Hot Chili Peppers, System of a Down),
-legends (Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, Mick Jagger, Neil Diamond)

I even bought Neil Diamond's 12 Songs and was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't the same old, same old.

I'd like to hear his approach.

[louielouie2000]

I personally LOVE the idea of Lindsey relinquishing some control and leaving the producing up to a third party so to speak. IMHO the Mac's best albums (sans Tango) were conceived that way. In my view the less Lindsey has to do producing, the more he can collaborate with the other band members, write songs with Stevie, etc. It will be more of a GROUP again vs seperate parties working under a group name. Perhaps some of that Mac magic will be recaptured if this happens. I'd love to have Dashut and Caillat produce again, but do y'all really think that's feasible? Lindsey has always been the one to want to keep it new and experimental, fresh, etc. Would he really want to have producers whose heyday was in the 70s and early 80s helming this new project? And y'all can say what you will about Ms Crow... but she's a DAMN good producer. Listen to her self titled album from 1996, and the Globe Sessions. Not only did those albums produce some monster radio hits that we're all tired of by now, but they also contained some stellar album tracks, and were just great albums. Say You Will had some good songs but was not a great album because it was truthfully two solo albums spliced together. There needs to be some sort of moderation and cohesiveness, and I think adding Sheryl could possibly be it.

And I agree... Lindsey perhaps has fulfilled his experimentation and control urges with all his solo albums, and the growing rolls he has played within FM since Tusk. Perhaps he's less concerned with doing cutting edge etc and more concerned with just making damn good music again, in whatever form that may take. While I abhor country, FM's newest chapter could be a country flavored album... and I guarantee they'd have a hit from it. Just look at the success Bon Jovi and the Eagles have had with that. Pop and pop/rock has become such a farce that it seems that's where many acts are going (even La Crow is living in Nashville). It's still my two cents that Stevie needs to do that too, or go with an even more niche market that she already has proven recent success with... a dance flavored album. So much for my speculations though .

[Betsy]

^^^

Interesting take -- maybe with his solo work, Lindsey has found satisfaction, control and an outlet for himself and wants to leave the producing of an FM project to a neutral party, thereby not having so much acrimony and stress.

[chiliD]

How about THIS idea...

...get Phil Spector to produce the new album.

Sure, he's a class "A", #1 whack job, but he's one helluva producer.

By the time they start working on the album, Phil's trial will be over...either he'll be wanting to recoup his "defense fund" if he gets off; or, if he's convicted, he could probably get in some work furlough program and get his sentence shortened for "good behavior".

We'd REALLY get a "wall of sound" version of a Stevie Nicks tune in that case.

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by shackin'up

GROUNDBREAKING NEWS!!!!!

So lindsey steps back to make FM a more democratic environment when it comes to the artistic direction. (holding my breath)

So lindsey puts out a part of the rest of the GOS-tunes as a soloalbum ( because he talks about the fact that Mick and John are on the recordings. (Twist Of Fate! Shuffle Riff, Gift Of Screws!) And some new recorded stuff with - as I hope - the groovin Cuban on it, who I thought sounded spectacular.
That all is, IF he find a label/way to put it out! GO FASTER DUDE!
AND he wants to tour solo this year.

WOW. I couldn't care less if Crow is in yes or no. He has tons of new material for a Mac-album. I say RICK RUBIN produces the next mac-album.

All steviefans have to admit. This guy is an adult at last.

StevieFan Checkin in and THIS sounds VERY promising. All of them sheryl or no back as a team, Good for him.
Also, AMEN to RICK RUBEN.

[TrueFaith77]

I think Timbaland should produce it.


, but it's true. . .

[sywlindseyfan]

haha True faith...I love you, haha