1976 Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac 1976

Photographer: Al Golub

Lindsey Buckingham Talks Guitars, Fleetwood Mac Reunion Tour

by: Russell Hall
Gibson Magazine

On March 1, a reunited Fleetwood Mac will hit the road for their first concert tour in five years. Concurrently, an expanded CD/DVD package of the band's landmark 1977 album, Rumours, will hit record stores. In the following interview, guitarist Lindsey Buckingham talks about the differences between his work in Fleetwood Mac and his solo work. He also shares his thoughts about his distinctive six-string style.

Wasn't your very first guitar a cheap Harmony acoustic?

That's right, although I first learned some chords on a plastic ukulele. There was a TV show called The Mickey Mouse Club, which marketed a smaller version of what the guy on the show played. When I was about eight years old, I got a Harmony 6-string three-quarter-size guitar for Christmas. I think it cost about 35 or 40 bucks.

Did you feel an immediate facility for the instrument?

It's hard to say. I had been exceptionally interested in music before then, although I didn't have any lessons. I was tuned in to my parents' record collection, which ranged from the South Pacific soundtrack to Patti Page to my Dad's collection of Dixieland Jazz 78s. I was always interested in what was making those sounds. Then, when Elvis Presley came onto the scene, there was a role model, visually, and music that subverted our parents' sensibilities. It was something we could call our own.

When did you first try to write songs?

I didn't write until 1972, near the very end of the first band that Stevie and I were in. Stevie had been writing tunes since she was in high school, and thought of herself as a writer-poet. Actually, I still don't think of myself as a writer. I think of myself more as a stylist. It still comes in bits and pieces — the process of putting a song together.

You play without a pick. Beyond technique, does that make you feel more of direct connection to the guitar?

I think so. It has its good and bad points. It can be a little sloppy. Sometimes, on-stage, when I'm playing lead, I'll look down and see that I'm just thrashing around. I don't know what I'm doing with my fingers, and it looks sort of odd to me. In that sense, yes, it's completely connected to something inside. But I think other people probably feel that connection with a pick, because they've done it that way for so long.

How did you get into finger-picking at such an early age?

Part of that stemmed from not taking lessons. As a child, I found my own way, in a manner that made sense to me. I wasn't doing finger-picking right away, but I strummed with my hand, because I didn't know any better. But even Scotty Moore had an element of finger-picking and orchestral playing going on. The other thing was, before the British Invasion occurred, a lot of folk music became popular. In that music, of course, you're talking about basic Travis-picking, which everybody was learning to do. I also became interested in trying to learn some of the fast banjo-playing style that a lot of people were doing at the time.

You've talked in the past about a certain Dave Mason album that had a big impact on you as a lead player.

That's right. That album — Alone Together — came out in 1970, at about the time the original band Stevie and I were in was breaking up. I was trying to embrace lead playing, and the things Dave Mason was doing on that album seemed to mesh with what I was aspiring to do. He wasn't trying to be technically proficient, and the playing had a plaintive quality that fit what I was already doing, as an acoustic player.

What adjustments did you make to your style, when you and Stevie joined Fleetwood Mac?

It was an exercise in paring down. There wasn't as much room to establish any sort of style statement, in terms of what I had done on the Buckingham Nicks album. The band's pre-existing sound made it difficult for me to even play the model of guitar I had been using. The electrics I had played had always been either Stratocasters or Telecasters. And both those guitars sounded a little anemic, within the band. Therefore I switched over to something "fatter," which, at the time, was the Les Paul.

Are there things you can do as a solo artist that you can't do within the parameters of Fleetwood Mac?

I don't think there's any one thing. It's more a case that maybe there are things you can do only once, on a Fleetwood Mac album. There are lots of things on the [2006 solo album] Under the Skin album that are just one guitar, or two guitars, and voice, and nothing else. Politically, that would be fine in Fleetwood Mac as a one-off type of thing. But on Rumours, for instance, you wouldn’t want to have four songs like "Never Going Back Again." It just wouldn't have been appropriate.

The reunion tour begins in March. Your thoughts?

I think there's still quite a bit of road that we need to walk together, in order to put things in a certain place, with regard to interaction. For that reason alone, there's an interest for me in reconvening, to see if we can approach things a little more humanly. Stevie and I have some stuff to work on. That, in and of itself, becomes intriguing. I've known Stevie since I was about 16, and we've been through things together that no one else has. We know each other awfully well. It should be fun.

Is Now The Time To Buy??

If you've been on the fence and unsure if you wanted to shell out a ton of cash for seats to see Fleetwood Mac on their Unleashed Tour because the only seats available were seats at the back or in the rafters - well now's the time to consider buying or at least be on the look out for prime seating. Ticketmaster has released PRIME seats (Floor Seats) for a number of the first shows on Fleetwood Mac's upcoming tour.

Just to name a few:
Pittsburgh (3/1/09)
Minneapolis (3/3/09)
Detroit 3/8/09)
Uniondale, NY (3/13/09)
Toronto (3/17/09)

Each of these shows at the moment are showing floor seats in the first 10 rows available at the regular pricing - which will run you about $150.00 plus fees.

Extremely Impressive Designs of Love

There are some seriously talented individuals displaying their creations at "Design By Humans" in the Fleetwood Mac T-Shirt Contest.

Here are a few absolutely stunning creations - and ones I would have no problem forking over the dough for... Well done!!

Mick Fleetwood Confirms "Storms" in the setlist

Musicradar.com
Joe Bosso, Thu 29 Jan 2009

The renowned drummer on the new tour

Mick Confirmed:

"Storms" is in the setlist, "Oh Well" is back in the set.  "Go Insane" done with a full Band and an accoustic "Say You Love Me" with the band up front.

There's always been an elusive quality to Mick Fleetwood's drumming. One can literally hear different sounds, patterns and textures in his playing with each listen - an assessment Fleetwood himself agrees with.

"I honestly don't know how I do it," Fleetwood says, laughing. "I think it's because I'm a blues-based drummer playing rock 'n' roll and pop music. To me, I respond to a vibe, a certain musical heartbeat. Of course, it creates problems when I play something and I'm asked to repeat it. The whole thing is a mystery to me."

The Greatest Hits Tour

Fleetwood can be forgiven for name-checking one of his own albums, as he and the rest of Fleetwood Mac have been busy combing their multi-million-selling catalog in preparation for the Fleetwood Mac 'Unleashed' Greatest Hits Tour, which starts this March and runs until "the people tell us to stop."

For the first time in their 40-year career, Fleetwood Mac are touring without a new album to promote, something Fleetwood sees as a plus during these troubled economic times.

"Everybody is so frightened," he says, "and with good reason. So for us to go out and play the hits, all the songs that people know and love, it's really going to make for a great show. The fans don't have to sit through songs they don't quite know yet, and we get to really dig in and explore our catalog and shake each song for all its worth. To tell you the truth, I think it's the best time to see Fleetwood Mac - we'll transport you to better times."

Or another way of putting it is, Don't Stop Believing. "Never," says Fleetwood. "If any of us ever lost faith the power of this band or our own abilities, it would have been over years ago."

In this exclusive MusicRadar podcast, Mick Fleetwood discusses his early days playing the blues, then talks about the mercurial musical magic he creates in Fleetwood Mac. He even answers a few questions from MusicRadar readers.

Stevie Finds Canada Romantic / Lindsey Loves The Small Army

E! News Weekend sat down with lead singers Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham for a Canadian exclusive interview to promote the Fleetwood Mac Canadian Concert dates!

"Unleashed On The Streets"

Video Moved to Video Wall 

E! News Weekend spoke with Lindsey Buckingham about this reunion and the prospect of making a new album.

Video Moved to Video Wall

Mick talks new Fleetwood Mac tour

Fleetwood Mac and the evolution of NAMM 2009

When asked about the upcoming Fleetwood Mac Tour and whether or not there would be new material played on the tour, Mick says that for the first time they are going out on the road without a new album and they are just celebrating all their previous work - saying that they are "digging deep to songs that they've never done on the road before - old songs".

Exclusive- Mick Fleetwood interview at NAMM 09

Legendary Supergroup Fleetwood Mac

DBH Music Series Presents Fleetwood Mac!

Taking a page out of rock n' roll's history book of music icons, DBH will be partnering with bands that span the spectrum from the great classics of all time to the hottest emerging musical artists today. Packed with tons of cool prizes and a chance for worldwide recognition, the DBH Music Series brings a whole new level to the world of t-shirt design contests. Hold on to your Wacom Tablets, cuz this is gonna be good!To kick things off, DesignByHumans has teamed up with legendary supergroup Fleetwood Mac, one of rock's most enduring and influential bands, to create some fresh new tees for the band's upcoming "Unleashed" tour.

Prizes

First Prize

$1500, $200 DBH store credit,

2 concert tickets with backstage passes and an opportunity to meet the band

Second Prize
$1000,$150 DBH store credit

Third Prize
$700, $100 DBH store credit

Fourth Prize
$500, $100 DBH store credit

Fifth Prize
$500

Submissions due by February 22, 2009 (Midnight PST). Good Luck!

Create an Account and Vote Or better yet, create a T-Shirt!

T-Shirt Submissions So Far:

Kristen is not limited by formulaic design rule

Lindsey describes his wife's aesthetic as "a combination of traditional and edgy"

Lindsey and Kristen Buckingham's home will be featured in the March 2009 issue of Elle Décor.

Two of Kristen's most notable projects in her portfolio of work from the last eight years are period-style homes she designed with an architect and built from the ground up. While vastly divergent in style—one is a 1920s Spanish-style house and the other vintage Normandy—these brand new homes share an authentic aesthetic achieved through careful research and attention to every detail.

Kristen is not limited by formulaic design rules and conventions, but rather has an open, pure and free sense of design and composition that allows her to collaborate with the client in creating elegant, lasting and livable environments.

For more information on Kristen Buckingham and her designs, check out her website with full portfolio: 

Kristen Buckingham LLC

Chris Isaak Series Debuts February 26th

BIO PREMIERES NEW ORIGINAL TALK AND MUSIC PERFORMANCE SHOW "THE CHRIS ISAAK HOUR"

HOSTED BY GRAMMY NOMINATED SINGER/SONGWRITER CHRIS ISAAK SERIES DEBUTS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26 AT 10PM ET/ 11PM PT AND WILL FEATURE

TRISHA YEARWOOD, STEVIE NICKS AND GLEN CAMPBELL AMONG FIRST GUESTS

New York, NY JANUARY 27, 2009 Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Chris Isaak will host BIO's new original series, "The Chris Isaak Hour" debuting on Thursday, February 26 at 10pm ET/ 11pm PT. Each weekly one hour episode will feature one of music's most popular artists in an intimate studio setting.

"On my show artists get to talk and really get to know my guests and the sound is always great. On most TV shows, artists are asked one question at the end of the show and the sound is a bit shaky," said Chris Isaak. "I also get to share in the thrill of meeting and performing with great artists like Glen Campbell one week and Michael Buble the next. I'm having a blast."

"Chris Isaak is one of the most engaging and talented performers in show business," said Tom Moody, Senior Vice President Program Planning & Acquisitions, A&E Network & BIO. "He is intelligent and funny and has an amazing rapport with his guests in both conversations and musical performances."

Through a blend of storytelling and performance, each guest will be interviewed by Isaak and relive the highs and lows of their careers. Whether it's a spontaneous acoustical performance with Chris during an interview or their full band live on stage, each artist will perform their own material and the songs of those who inspired them. The show's fresh tone and retro style are driven by the singular talent of host Chris Isaak. Intelligent, thoughtful and sometimes irreverent, Isaak's special gift is creating an atmosphere that puts his guests completely at ease.

The series premiere will feature Trisha Yearwood, and will include the first ever performance of Breaking Apart, a duet from Isaak's new album. Additional guests include Stevie Nicks, Smashing Pumpkins, Chicago, Glen Campbell, Michael Buble and Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens).

Isaak previously starred in the critically acclaimed "The Chris Isaak Show" which ran for three seasons. Known for his legendary live shows with his longtime band Silvertone, Isaak has released nine extraordinary albums and been nominated twice for a Grammy. He has also acted in several motion pictures including, Silence of the Lambs, Married to the Mob and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. Even his hair has its own fan club. Chris Isaak's new CD of original tunes "Mr. Lucky" is scheduled to be released simultaneously with "The Chris Isaak Hour" on Reprise Records.

"The Chris Isaak Hour" is produced for BIO by Scott Sternberg Productions. Executive Producers are Scott Sternberg, Patrick Murphy, Chris Isaak and Sheryl Louis. Executive producers for BIO are Robert Sharenow, Tom Moody and Andy Berg.

About BIO

At BIO, we prove that the truth about people is always more entertaining than fiction. BIO is about real people and their real lives: up close and personal, gritty and provocative, always unfiltered. BIO original series uncover the real drama in people stories: everyday situations with a twist; celebrities going off-script; people-centric crime stories and paranormal events. In addition to being the exclusive home to the Emmy-Award winning Biography series, the dynamic blend of original and acquired series on BIO includes I Survived, Final 24, Psychic Investigators, the William Shatner hosted talk show, Shatner's Raw Nerve and The Chris Isaak Hour an upcoming one-hour program hosted by Chris Isaak. The 24-hour network is now available in more than 52 million households. The BIO web site is located at www.bio.com.

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More info about the show Stevie will be on....

From the Chris Isaak Blog (Link)

"We did our good friend Stevie Nicks she brought her guitar player the mighty Waddy Wachtel . We got to know them from the tour we did with them last year . I remember during that tour I was listening to the radio and heard "It's so easy to fall in love " by Linda Rhonstadt and when I heard the guitar solo I thought that has to be Waddy . So I asked him and he said that it was him and he sang me his guitar solo !!

We did "Red River valley" which Stevie killed and we did Rickie Nelson's" it's late ""

Thanks to RockALittle250 for the heads up on this

Nicks confirms "Monday Morning"

"It still gives me goose bumps and it still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up," says Stevie Nicks, who is eagerly anticipating the first Fleetwood Mac tour in five years, which kicks off March 1st in Pittsburgh. Nicks tell the Smoking Section that fans can count on renditions of "Gold Dust Woman", "Rhiannon", "Monday Morning" and "Dreams," but the rest of the set has yet to be hammered out.   "It's pretty easy to choose when there's such a great vault to pick from," she says. 

Nicks is also thrilled with her two solo releases, out in March. One is The Soundstage Sessions, a CD featuring live versions of some lesser-known jams, and an orchestral version of "Landslide." The other is a DVD called Live In Chicago, where she mixes Mac classics, solo hits and a few covers, including Dave Matthews Band's "Crash Into Me." "I think I did the song justice," she says. "I'd like to do a record where I take boys' songs and twist them into women's songs." Look out." 

Article by Austin Scaggs 

Rollingstone issue 1071 with Bruce Springsteen on the cover

Kindly Transcribed by: RockALittle250

1990 Stevie.....

Photographer: Jonathan Garrett (link)