Monday, May 29, 2017

Christine McVie reveals why she returned to the spotlight with new duet album

FLEETWOOD Mac star Christine McVie reveals why she returned to the spotlight with her band... and a new duet album.

By CLAIR WOODWARD
Express


The new album from Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie feels like a big, warm hug.

The great melodies, intimate harmonies and terrific arrangements are instantly recognisable as coming from two of the band’s songwriters yet they’re new and intriguing enough to make it more than just another side project from an iconic group.

And for Christine, 73 – the understated genius behind the keyboards in Fleetwood Mac and writer of some of their most recognisable songs (Don’t Stop, Little Lies, Say You Love Me, Hold Me and Everywhere) – the sensation of reconnecting with old friends was the inspiration behind the new collaboration.

She officially retired from the band in 1998, after stepping away from touring a few years earlier, and it was her return to it for the 2015 reunion tour that sparked the collaboration with Lindsey.

“We’ve always had a particular musical relationship since he first joined the band – it was immediate,” Christine explains in her warm, honeyed tone.

“The whole band was just chemistry abounding but Lindsey and I, me being the piano player and him the guitar player, understand each other musically without saying anything.

“We’ve always worked well together over the years but never thought about doing an album together until recently and now we wonder why we didn’t think about doing it before.

“The moment I knew I was going back into the band I flew over to Santa Monica to start rehearsals but, before that, I’d sent Lindsey a few demos of stuff I’d recorded and he went into his studio to arrange them. He played them back to me and I said, ‘These sound really great.’ So we decided to go and record them properly. (Fittingly, fellow Mac members Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, on drums and bass, also perform on the album.)

“After we finished the world tour, Lindsey got in touch and said, ‘What are we going to do with these songs, they’re too good to just shelve?’ So we decided to go ahead with releasing a duet album.”

Christine’s return to Fleetwood Mac and her new burst of creativity comes at a time when many people thought that, after several years away from the hurly-burly of rock star life, she would never be seen on stage again.

In the intervening years she moved from California where she had lived for the best part of 30 years (she grew up in Birmingham and moved to London after attending art college), and bought a beautiful country home in the village of Wickhambreaux, Kent, which she spent several years restoring.

“I felt very at home in California but the place is prone to earthquakes and the one in 1994 scared the life out of me. For months afterwards I felt that every time I sat down I should have put on a seatbelt. It was really bad and I thought, ‘I’m going to get a house in England.’ I got to a point where I’d been in a band for 40 years and wanted to get back to real life.”

Yet being a lady of leisure eventually proved to be not enough for Christine.

“I started to say, ‘OK, now what?’ I had my two dogs there, they were my life. My marriage (to keyboardist Eddy Quintela) fell through, so I was living on my own and felt isolated. Most of my friends were in London or Los Angeles and worked nine-to-five for a living.

“I did have some friends living with me for a while but, eventually, I reached a point where it was time to start changing things.”

The catalyst for this change was Christine’s need to overcome her fear of flying and the intervention of Mick Fleetwood.

“I had a horrible terror that the next plane I got on would crash,” she remembers.

“So I had therapy to get over that, and other issues I’d developed through isolation, and sorted myself out. My therapist and I discussed the idea of me writing songs again and trying to reach out to the rest of the band as well.

“The therapist asked where I wanted most to fly if I could and I said Maui (one of the Hawaiian islands), as Mick lives there and I have a lot of friends there. So I just bought the ticket without knowing if I’d actually go. I’d always stayed in touch with Mick and soon after I bought the ticket he said he was coming to London, so we met up and I flew back to Maui with him. I didn’t even notice the wheels leave the ground. Since then, it’s been great. I’ve even flown in Africa in one of those prop jobs.”

While with Mick in Maui, he persuaded her to get on stage with his local band, gradually coaxing her back into the idea of returning to her musical career.

“Steven Tyler, from Aerosmith, was there. We belted out a few songs and I just thought, ‘This is good...’”

Christine admits that it was performing live that sustained her through her final years before she left Fleetwood Mac.

“When I first left, I didn’t miss it as I was tired of the travelling. The gigs were the only thing that really sustained me.”

And after her long break, being back with her bandmates has given her a new lease of life.

The closing track on the Lindsey Buckingham/ Christine McVie album is called Carnival Begin, written by Christine and with its lyrics of “I want it all... a new merry-go-round” it is clear that she has a strong appetite for change. Fleetwood Mac’s famously colourful previous life, where sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll made for a potent combination, is now a thing of the past and they are enjoying better personal relationships and new respect from audiences.

“Underlying the band now is a great sense of affection,” reflects Christine.

“We bind together my style, Lindsey’s style and Stevie’s (Nicks) style as songwriters, and it’s a democratic band in that we make sure everyone has the same amount of songs to sing both onstage and on record, although I have to say, it’s Lindsey that really directs the band.”

Next month, Christine and Lindsey are touring the States with the new album and she is looking forward to it after Fleetwood Mac’s triumphant world tour in 2015.

“We had such a great range of ages in the audience, from people who bought our albums the first time around to their children and grandchildren.

“I think we’ve become a hip band to the younger generation. After being seen as middle-of-the-road, we are now fashionable again.”

Christine is now living in London and when she gets back from touring in America she will decorate her new house, which is currently “an empty shell filled with cardboard boxes”.

Who looks after her beloved dogs when she’s away, I ask?

“They passed last year. They were very obliging,” she laughs.

“My other house was for sale. They were 16 and had had a good life. It was sad but things came together at the right time. Everything is for the good in the end.”

The single In My World is out now; the album Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie is released on June 9 on Rhino Records.


THE MAKING OF BUCKINGHAM MCVIE





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19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Can't wait for the album - love them!

Anonymous said...

Fleetwood mac fans are in for a treat..........long overdue. The harmony is profound. What music used to be.

Unknown said...

So grateful for every stage leading to this as well. Their lifelong relationship is with each other as well as their audience. It's a win, win!! ��

Anonymous said...

The singles that have been released so far are just...meh. But the songs you get to hear on this "making of" are far better. Especially "Carnival Begin"- sounds very catchy. I'm kind of glad Stevie sat this one out. I can't picture her voice on this outing.

They sound just fine without her actually. Stevie has become more of a touring site as this point. She makes way more money on the road.

PatriciaSpring said...

I've been a true fan of this band whether together or solo since 1975. Ive invested more of their music and tours than any other band. As Lindsey and Christine have said they're like kindred spirits. This new music by them will be easy listening for me to enjoy. Thank you Mr. Buckingham and Ms. McVie.

Anonymous said...

That is fantastic video.... something I'd expect to be added for a bonus to the album.

Those songs are awesome!!!!!!!!!!

The album sounds like Fleetwood Mac. Thanks Christie and Lindsey plus John and Mick

Anonymous said...

Not to my ears. It sounds 100% like a Buckingham solo CD with a vocal guest who happens to be 1/5th of FM. Wish them well on tour. Love Chris & so happy she is happy. Maybe we will get another Fleetwood Mac body of work before it ends.

Unknown said...

This project ist getting better by the minute. All songs seem to be a winner! Christines voice ist sounding great and Lindsey is the master of production as always. Nice to have a little hommage to TITN in "on with the Show" with the sample of "You and I" in it. Very adequate, since that album was a Lindsey/Christine/John/Mick effort as well. For me no one is missing here!

Unknown said...

This project ist getting better by the minute. All songs seem to be a winner! Christines voice ist sounding great and Lindsey is the master of production as always. Nice to have a little hommage to TITN in "on with the Show" with the sample of "You and I" in it. Very adequate, since that album was a Lindsey/Christine/John/Mick effort as well. For me no one is missing here!

Anonymous said...

This project ist getting better by the minute. All songs seem to be a winner! Christines voice ist sounding great and Lindsey is the master of production as always. Nice to have a little hommage to TITN in "on with the Show" with the sample of "You and I" in it. Very adequate, since that album was a Lindsey/Christine/John/Mick effort as well. For me no one is missing here!

Anonymous said...

Loving the Lindsey tracks on the album. Happy to have Chris back, but these are not her strongest songs. Never thought I'd say it, but I'm missing Stevie's harmonies -- especially on On With The Show.
If you took off the appalling Game of Pretend, and that just ok Red Sun -- added all four tracks from the EP, it would be a very solid Fleetwood Mac album.

Anonymous said...

Christine can't write a bad song. Thank God nicks isn't there. Lost tons of respect for her. Many have!

Anonymous said...

Don't notice stevie isn't there. I suppose that's the real reason it's not called Fleetwood Mac. The songs are all first class. However amongst Mac fans, it will be called a Fleetwood Mac album! Just as the 1975 record is tune white album to fans.

Greg said...

Lindsey & Christine will be interviewed and perform on CBS Saturday Morning this Saturday, June 10. They'll appear during the "Saturday Sessions" segment of the program, which typically airs during the last 15 minutes of the 2 hour program. In the meantime, you can stream the new CD on NPR.org at http://www.npr.org/2017/06/01/530271657/first-listen-lindsey-buckingham-christine-mcvie

Anonymous said...

No one with the exception of the obvious and the magic key to the kingdom.

Anonymous said...

The Album is #4 on UK charts!

Unknown said...

It may seem like Chris isn't prominently featured here. This is another Buckingham solo set with guest appearance by Christine McVie. Another site claims he is releasing more of this on yet another "solo" CD prior to their final world tour next year. Can't wait. Tour that is.

Anonymous said...

What happened to this site? We haven't had an update in forever!

Brian said...

I agree ever since there manager died its been like this. it used to be an awesome site we don't here anything. I am Sad!!!

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