Boston Globe interview

danax6 · #1 10-11-2006, 06:14 PM

Took this from Seven Wonders:

Going his own way with solo album, tour
By Jonathan Perry, Globe Correspondent
October 11, 2006

At age 59, Fleetwood Mac singer-guitarist Lindsey Buckingham has been many things: long-haired singer-songwriter from Palo Alto, Calif.; worshiped rock star; introspective solo artist; and, most famously, a principal architect behind Fleetwood Mac's 1977 dysfunctional masterpiece, ``Rumours," one of the best-selling albums of all time, and still the soundtrack to countless breakups and makeups.

Buckingham has just released "Under the Skin," a luminously intimate, reflective work and his first solo album in 14 years. Friday night he'll bring a three-piece band with him to the Orpheum Theatre to play the new songs, and probably a few older ones too. We caught up with Buckingham by phone from a tour stop in Washington, D.C., where he chatted about the bad old days and the good new ones, and promised a reissue of 1973's pre-Mac debut, ``Buckingham Nicks" (now long out of print). Who knows, he says. He may even tour with his past and future songwriting foil, Stevie Nicks.

Q. Even though you have another little band that you occasionally play with, how does it feel to be back on the road for a solo tour after 14 years, and how different is the experience when it's your name on the marquee?

A. Well, you're playing for less people. (Laughs) By far! It's a whole other exercise from being out with Fleetwood Mac.

Q. What inspired this collection of songs, which sound as personal as anything you've done?

A. One idea was to make an album that was very scaled down instrumentally. The other thing is, since the last time I recorded a solo album [1992's "Out of the Cradle"], I had gotten married and had three children. And for someone like me who has maybe defined himself to a fault through his work and has taken any number of years to get to a point where he was ready to be a father and a husband, and then to be lucky enough to have that actually happen, it puts everything else that your world has been about into a completely different context. It allows you to look at what you're writing about with a certain wisdom that maybe you didn't have before.

Q. You've said that working on this album enabled you, finally, to put your past in a context that you could understand. Was part of the difficulty in finding that context a product of how mythologized your history with Fleetwood Mac has been?

A. I think it's partly that. I think with people who are, to some degree, defined by the outside world, there can be difficulty [figuring out] who you are or what's important. But beyond that, with all of those years in Fleetwood Mac, I don't think any of the four people that were part of the two couples at the beginning of the "Rumours" album ever really worked any of that [strife] through in a way that was particularly healthy. We all rose to the occasion in order to be successful, but it doesn't necessarily mean you have clarity about the path you've taken. And to some degree for Stevie, I think she still does not have the luxury of that. I was lucky enough to be ready to find someone who could help me get to the next point in my life.

Q. You've put your solo work on hold to record and tour with Fleetwood Mac. Is that frustrating as an artist, to know that at some point you're going to have to sing "Go Your Own Way" again?

A. You could look at it as a burden, but you can also look at it as a blessing. At some point, you just have to realize that a certain body of work has become part of the fabric and you should be happy about that. It doesn't necessarily have to threaten anything in the present. But if there was a problem with Fleetwood Mac, it was that we didn't always want things for the same reason. When you look at the ``Tusk" album, in my mind it was an opportunity not to run something into the ground as the record company would have wanted, or to just get trapped into a formula, but to take the freedom and exposure that we had and be a little bold and take chances. If everyone had wanted that same thing, who knows what we could have built upon that idea?

Q. Was the emotional fallout over that album between band members ever resolved?

A. It was and it wasn't. At the time, I had to go in and say, "Let's try this," and there was a certain amount of resistance or skepticism, and it was only after the fact that everyone was quite happy with the album. I'm not sure [Mac's record label] Warner was. I always have this vision of them sitting in the boardroom listening to it and everyone's seeing their Christmas bonuses flying out the window. But I've never regretted it. And now, I do have Mick [Fleetwood] saying to me, "I couldn't hear it then, but `Tusk' is now my favorite album."

Q. The word "visionary" gets used a lot when people talk about you. It even comes up in a lyric on the new album's first track, ``Not Too Late." So, what is a guy like you most insecure about musically?

A. I'm a primitive. I don't read [music] and I've never had any lessons. It's funny because that song was inspired by a Bud Scoppa review . . . and it made me realize that what I have been striving for probably is based on feeling a little bit unseen or misunderstood. It would be nice to find a larger audience as a solo artist.

Q. Guess that's the price you pay for being the mastermind behind the scenes. Besides, Stevie got all the good outfits.

A. No comment.

© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company.

Johnny Stew · #2 10-11-2006, 07:26 PM

Quote:

We all rose to the occasion in order to be successful, but it doesn't necessarily mean you have clarity about the path you've taken. And to some degree for Stevie, I think she still does not have the luxury of that. I was lucky enough to be ready to find someone who could help me get to the next point in my life.

Interesting comment, since Ken Caillat and a few others stated that Lindsey went ballistic when he found out Kristen was pregnant with William.

I guess ten years changes one's perspective.

Cour · #3 10-11-2006, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

Interesting comment, since Ken Caillat and a few others stated that Lindsey went ballistic when he found out Kristen was pregnant with William.

I guess ten years changes one's perspective.

Since you're always one for accuracy, would you like to quote Ken's comment where he used the words or terms referring to ballistic? I'm also interested in your other sources of other people who publicly commented and used any term that would indicate Lindsey went ballistic.

I guess Lindsey's solo cd and tour really has some of you out there trying to do your best to throw some crap allover this board for the Lindsey fans every chance you get. I thought it was only Jason, but I see you've joined ranks with him. Disappointing to say the least.

Johnny Stew · #4 10-11-2006, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cour

I guess Lindsey's solo cd and tour really has some of you out there trying to do your best to throw some crap allover this board for the Lindsey fans every chance you get. I thought it was only Jason, but I see you've joined ranks with him. Disappointing to say the least.

Hey, look who came out of the woodwork!

The Caillat quote can be found in his Q&A, I believe.
I'm surprised you're not familiar with it -- you usually seem up on these things.

Cour · #5 10-11-2006, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

Hey, look who came out of the woodwork!

The Caillat quote can be found in his Q&A, I believe.
I'm surprised you're not familiar with it -- you usually seem up on these things.

I know exactly what he said and it wasn't anything like what you described and ballistic would be the last word I'd use to characterize Ken's comment. Go ahead, get the quote and post it here. You're so familiar and think you were so accurate, share it with everyone.

I'm also interested in seeing similar ballistic references in other people's comments about Lindsey and his children.

As for coming out of the woodwork you as well as anyone on this board knows there are over 3,000 member and barely 100 post on a regular basis.

Johnny Stew · #6 10-11-2006, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cour

As for coming out of the woodwork you as well as anyone on this board knows there are over 3,000 member and barely 100 post on a regular basis.

Over and above that, the percentage of folks who pop up after a year of silence just to chastise someone is pretty small!

The quote's out there -- if you're interested, find it. Since you apparently know "exactly" what he said, it shouldn't be too tough.

GardenStateGirlie · #7 10-11-2006, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cour

and barely 100 post on a regular basis.

...under the same alias each time they post

brian, i recall what you're talking about. it was something in reference to the baby grabbing his finger and that's when he knew how much he loved will.

it seems to have been removed. how not surprising.

Cour · #8 10-11-2006, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GardenStateGirlie

...under the same alias each time they post

brian, i recall what you're talking about. it was something in reference to the baby grabbing his finger and that's when he knew how much he loved will.

it seems to have been removed. how not surprising.

I don't see how that comment in any way refers to Lindsey going ballistic.

I just PM'd Johnny Stew but I'll say it here. There comes a time when children are off limits. I believe you had problems when someone was saying something about Stevie that you felt was inappropriate because Jessica Nicks might be reading the boards and posted on the Stevie board reminding everyone. At what point does making comments like this become perfectly acceptable, especially when they an inaccurate description of someone elses remarks.

I'd be happy to contact Marty and see if there has been any change made to the Q&A. Even if it was removed, the remark did not accurately characterize what JS suggested Lindsey did.

Nice to see that you have "come out of the woodwork" also. I guess a good cd and tour a lot of fans have been waiting for will do that.

Cour · #9 10-11-2006, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

Over and above that, the percentage of folks who pop up after a year of silence just to chastise someone is pretty small!

The quote's out there -- if you're interested, find it. Since you apparently know "exactly" what he said, it shouldn't be too tough.

How I chose to live my life and when I decide to post shouldn't be an issue for you, I don't believe it is for Marty?

The last thing I wanted to do is post about this. After reading Jason's nasty comments today in another thread, and then finding someone like you, who is always a stickler for accuracy and providing quotes to back them up, I was more than surprised to hear you use a term like ballistic to describe Ken's remarks.

You dug out a quote today that went back to 1997 so you could show how Lindsey uses the past. How come you're not willing to find the quote now? If Marty did remove it, I'd be happy to contact him and ask him for the direct quote.

GardenStateGirlie · #10 10-11-2006, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cour

I don't see how that comment in any way refers to Lindsey going ballistic.

I just PM'd Johnny Stew but I'll say it here. There comes a time when children are off limits. I believe you had problems when someone was saying something about Stevie that you felt was inappropriate because Jessica Nicks might be reading the boards and posted on the Stevie board reminding everyone. At what point does making comments like this become perfectly acceptable, especially when they an inaccurate description of someone elses remarks.

I'd be happy to contact Marty and see if there has been any change made to the Q&A. Even if it was removed, the remark did not accurately characterize what JS suggested Lindsey did.

Nice to see that you have "come out of the woodwork" also. I guess a good cd and tour a lot of fans have been waiting for will do that.

i think his children were an amazing addition to his life and have really made him open up -- the new album is proof of this -- he completely loves those children. that's not up for debate. however, i recall the same thing brian is talking about. when someone is having a discussion, it doesn't have to be taken to the frantic place you always take it to. you might see it as a big deal and frankly, i don't. you don't need to attack and scold everytime someone mentions the name "kristen" or the word "children."

Cour · #11 10-11-2006, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GardenStateGirlie

i think his children were an amazing addition to his life and have really made him open up -- the new album is proof of this -- he completely loves those children. that's not up for debate. however, i recall the same thing brian is talking about. when someone is having a discussion, it doesn't have to be taken to the frantic place you always take it to. you might see it as a big deal and frankly, i don't. you don't need to attack and scold everytime someone mentions the name "kristen" or the word "children."

I don't scold and haven't posted in a year and ignored all the lies that have been posted by certain people on this board during that time.

As I said in my other post, you had a problem when someone made a remark about Stevie and thought you should remind everyone that Jessica Nicks could be reading the board.

My reaction to Jason's comments today were not about Kristen or his children it was the nasty way he's continued to **** allover this tour and those quotes today were an example. . He's the only one who is constantly trying to stir the pot and the comments I quoted were his way of going overboard. I guess it's fine when he does even though he claims to be such a fan. Everyone has been so positive and enjoying the cd and tour and he finds it necessary to try to inject these types of comments whenever he can. It bothered him so much when dissention did it on the Stevie board, but he thinks its fine to do it at this particular time.

As for scolding, if what you said was the truth I would had plenty of opportunity over the last year to scold away about some of things that have been said. I see you don't have a problem coming out to scold and attack me for my opinions, funy how that works.

Several people even called Jason on his comments today and over the last several weeks. I guess as he has the righ to post them, other people have the right to comment about them.

GardenStateGirlie · #12 10-11-2006, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cour

I don't scold and haven't posted in a year and ignored all the lies that have been posted by certain people on this board during that time.

you don't scold?

*snip*

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cour

I guess Lindsey's solo cd and tour really has some of you out there trying to do your best to throw some crap allover this board for the Lindsey fans every chance you get. I thought it was only Jason, but I see you've joined ranks with him. Disappointing to say the least.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cour

As I said in my other post, you had a problem when someone made a remark about Stevie and thought you should remind everyone that Jessica Nicks could be reading the board.

it's really time to stop riding that horse. the child is of age to use the internet and jason had mentioned seeing her use a computer. that's why.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cour

My reaction to Jason's comments today were not about Kristen or his children it was the nasty way he's continued to **** allover this tour and those quotes today were an example. . He's the only one who is constantly trying to stir the pot and the comments I quoted were his way of going overboard. I guess it's fine when he does even though he claims to be such a fan. Everyone has been so positive and enjoying the cd and tour and he finds it necessary to try to inject these types of comments whenever he can. It bothered him so much when dissention did it on the Stevie board, but he thinks its fine to do it at this particular time.

i didn't read your comments and i haven't looked at the thread and don't care to see what you're referring to. fact of the matter remains is that the only time you show up on this board as well as others (boards, that is) is to defend something that is unnecessary to be defending. we're just music lovers! we don't have the kind of impact on his life that you'd like to think we do. regardless of whether or not he's with stevie or kristen or is happy about this or happy about that, when it comes right down to it, does it effect your everyday life personally? cause i don't think it does. i've never experienced this type of thing in any other fan community other than this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cour

As for scolding, if what you said was the truth I would had plenty of opportunity over the last year to scold away about some of things that have been said. I see you don't have a problem coming out to scold and attack me for my opinions, funy how that works.

yours is not an opinion, it's an outright declaration. i'm not coming out. i've been right here

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cour

Several people even called Jason on his comments today and over the last several weeks. I guess as he has the righ to post them, other people have the right to comment about them.

blah blah blah blah blah. YAWN.

Cour · #13 10-11-2006, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GardenStateGirlie

yours is not an opinion, it's an outright declaration. i'm not coming out. i've been right here

I must be seeing imaginary posts because you were gone for almost as long as I was

Quote:

it's really time to stop riding that horse. the child is of age to use the internet and jason had mentioned seeing her use a computer. that's why.

Talk about riding a horse, others would suggest that that ship has sailed and sunk, but it doesn't seem to stop them from posting what they want.

Quote:

blah blah blah blah blah. YAWN

I know it bores you so much that you can't help but post and scold me. Again, funny how that works!

GardenStateGirlie · #14 10-11-2006, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cour

I must be seeing imaginary posts because you were gone for almost as long as I was

I know it bores you so much that you can't help but post and scold me. Again, funny how that works!

thanks so much for keeping tabs on my existance. at least i know if i ever loose myself, you'll be there to find me.

much as i'm sure this thread is entertaining the masses, i'm winded.

Cour · #15 10-11-2006, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GardenStateGirlie

much as i'm sure this thread is entertaining the masses, i'm winded.

thank goodness, I'd like to watch the season finale of Project Runway!