Questions for Lindsey Buckingham
John asks:
Did you ever plan on releasing the “Gift of Screws” material that didn’t make it
onto “Say You Will” as a solo project?
Yes John, there was quite a lot of material that did not make it on the “Say You
Will” album that is waiting in the wings to be used in some form or another. At
this point I wouldn’t want to say for sure that Fleetwood Mac is going to do
another album. I am hoping that they do, in which case that material would
probably or some of it at least, would probably go on a subsequent Fleetwood Mac
album. If that doesn’t happen then absolutely it would go on a solo album of
mine, it’s just too early to tell how all this is going to work out, you know;
so in any case there is a lot of material there and I am actually starting to
write some new material as well, so we are looking ahead to the future one way
or another.
Melissa asks:
What is your most absolute favourite Fleetwood Mac song to play on stage and
why?
I enjoy playing, there are two songs that I like playing
on stage the most, I enjoy “Big Love” because it is very much a presentation of
a song that is in line with what I am interested in working on now, which is one
or two instruments and doing the whole work of the song. And it really gets me
back to the roots of my finger picking, so that’s one of my most favourites I
think. And the other might be “So Afraid,” just because every night it is so
different and many of our songs are structured in a fairly pop way and do not
change much from night to night, and that is one song that not only myself, but
the other musicians in the band, Mick especially can improvise and really reel
out the musicianship on, so that would be another one that I like quite a bit, I
think.
Robert asks:
If you were not a musician, what career would you see yourself in?
Robert if I were not a musician, ha ha, I’d probably be in organized crime. No,
I wonder sometimes if I were not a musician what I would have done; sometimes I
think I would be in prison. I think I have kind of a renegade spirit. Sometimes
I wonder how I manage to function in this band, which has been a really main
stream proposition all the way through. I don’t know, if not in prison maybe a
painter or some kind of artist.
Dino asks:
After such a long hiatus from the road together, what will this tour mean to
everyone?
Yes it has been quite a while. You know we did do a tour after we did the Dance
album, but that album was not really a new thing for us, but basically a
restatement of a body of work and I guess at that time the significant thing was
just realizing that we enjoyed each other and could continue to work together
after such a long absence. What is significant about what we are doing now is
that, you know it ties into a brand new work that we all feel is some of the
best work we have ever done. I think we are all thinking about the longer term
proposition of having to find ourselves in a very fresh way, and what that means
over the next 5 years in terms of recording work and touring work and that you
know we are now hopefully meeting the challenge of presenting something that is
new. Not just an old body of work, but something that the audience will enjoy
and that will be challenged by and yet not be alienated by, at the same time,
putting a show together which walks the line between being challenging and being
familiar. We are having a great time. You know, I think in many ways there is a
lot of healing going on, even since the Dance tour and that’s a fairly profound
thing among all of us. We are just very excited to be here on the road.
Sara asks:
First of all, I would like to thank you for being so daring in your musical
career and giving us challenges as listeners. My questions is: When you reflect
back on “Tusk” now, what is your favourite song off that album and why?
Well Sara, first I would like to thank you for having the perception that I have
tried to be daring and challenging to the listeners and to myself most
importantly, especially within the context of a fairly mainstream situation. You
know success on the kind of level that we had, generally means that if something
were to run it into the ground, I always try to not do that, because the more
you kind of follow a formula the more you tend to forget what you got into the
business for in the first place, which was love of music and the love of
creativity and the kind of religious quality that being creative has. So I thank
you for that perception first of all. When I reflect back on the Tusk album it
is difficult to choose a favourite song, I would say that the Tusk album on the
whole is my favourite album, not only for the music on it, but because it did
follow that kind of idea that we didn’t follow Rumours with Rumours II. I think
maybe the song “Tusk” would be my favourite, that was a big collaboration of all
of us. I remember how that song was put together, it was basically a drum lead
of Mick’s toms, that in those days you know you actually had to loop recording
tape, I think we had about a 30 foot piece of tape looping around the room over
and over again, so it got started in a fairly esoteric way and it finished up
with a great idea of Mick’s, which was to put the USC Marching Band on and you
know in many ways the song, which is a set, is the brand name for not only that
album but for that way of thinking. So I guess that would have to be my
favourite song off the Tusk album.
Rochelle asks:
I love the song Peacekeeper! What was the inspiration for the song?
Rochelle I am happy that you love the song Peacekeeper. The inspiration for that
song, was really just a kind of peace song first of all, although it seems to be
interpreted in any number of ways. Quite honestly it is kind of a satire. It’s
kind of a critical look at the arrogance and the sort of distance and
disengagement that the mechanism that seems to be in charge of America today has
for America as a whole, as opposed to America the few, and just how easy it is
over a period of time to kind of rationalize away into any number of things. And
how brutal acts in general become sort of something that we are more and more
desensitized to as time goes by. And certainly, that mechanism is in charge of
America which is completely desensitized to it and how it might have a tendency
to fall back on itself, so it is all done in a kind of tongue and cheek satire
way. I would think if you look at the words they are very dry. But it is almost
humorous, so I guess the inspiration was just looking around and seeing what is
going on in the world today.
Mark asks:
I have been a long time fan of Fleetwood Mac and Lindsey. At the last Mac tour,
I was just captivated by the solo guitar work performed by Lindsey. Lindsey, at
what age did you learn to play and what/who has been your biggest inspiration?
Well Mark there is one guitar that I play a lot, especially on stage, ironically
it is not the most useful one in the studio, but it is called a Turner. And just
to back track - First, before Stevie and I joined the band, I was playing a
Telecaster and I didn’t use a pick so I had this kind of finger picking style
which is well suited to a Telecaster. When I joined the band, the sound of that
guitar did not fit in with what existed between Christine, the keyboards, and
the drums and bass, so I had to switch over to a Les Paul which was not very
well suited to a finger picking style. So for a long time I looked at something
that was sort of splitting the difference. Then I met a guy from Turner who made
his own guitars, and I asked him to make a guitar like that for me, and he did.
And that is the one I have used ever since on stage, it’s a kind of percussive
sound but its very much like an electric version of an acoustic guitar. Very
even sounding and that is really what I have used, really, since the late 70’s.
Jennifer asks:
How did you develop your pick-less playing style?
Until the Beatles came up, there was quite a lot of folk music that was quite
fresh and kind of interesting to me. I learned to play Travis Picking, which is
a basic (part) of folk, and a little later I dabbled in the field of pedestrian
level of musical band tell, and all of that sort of then transferred back, much
later I had all that under my belt and then the one band that I was in for a few
years, I actually played bass in, because I didn’t have the gear and I really
wasn’t a lead player. And it was really only after leaving that band and meeting
Stevie and wanting to reassert ourselves as duo that I started picking up lead
playing, which would have been in 71. The lead style just sort of fell in to
what I already had to offer as an acoustic player and I guess that is how that
happened. I do use a pick in the studio sometimes, but I really was never
interested in trying to convert over because it seemed to me that it was working
for me. When it was a style that I could call my own, so it really was a kind of
off shoot of folk music.
Carol asks:
Lindsey, at what age did you learn to play and what/who has been your biggest
inspiration?
Carol, I started playing very young, I can’t say I had an inspiration from any
one person on the guitar, because I didn’t start to play until really quite
late. You know, you find quite a lot of people who are interested in playing
Clapton or Hendrix or somebody, but I was coming from a totally different place.
I was listening to Scotty Moore who was Elvis’ guitar player who played sort of
with a pick and a couple of fingers, and then I was listening to a lot of folk
music which didn’t have electric at all, and that’s the signal for my style. I
started playing at about age 7 and I didn’t take any lessons or anything I just
learned by listening to my brother’s records all through the 50’s and early 60’s
rock and roll which was so great. And I guess again you know, I wasn’t a lead
player in a sense that I was thinking of it in that way, it was more about just
being someone that would learn songs and appreciate songs and the musicality of
what was going on and I am sort of like a very refined primitive in terms of my
approach. I think that Mick is that as well, maybe not quite as refined in a
sense. Not quite as much kid. Mick is all heart and I am sort of half hazard,
half heart, but you know it’s just an instinctive intuitive thing that I fell
into in terms of the style and hopefully it stays my own. I hope it is and
that’s an important thing, trying to make something your own. And I think it
helps when you start early, starting at age 7 certainly it helped having
something that I can call my own.
Questions for John McVie
Name: Katie
Question For: John McVie
question : Hi John. You are so damn cool. Do you ever get tired of all the
promotional junk that comes along with being part of a huge band like Fleetwood
Mac? The sad thing is that you guys are fabulous musicians, but also immensely
popular so it seems like you'd be stuck in the publicity corporate grind a lot.
And seeing as you seem like the kind of guy that is just more like screw this
and on with the music" I wanted to know your opinion. Rock on - peace -"
Thanks for the question (and
compliment)! You got it in one! The business side of this "business" is not for
me. I can't stand it! BUT it's part of what we do. Sometimes its unavoidable.
It's the nature of the BEAST!
Name: Jonathan
Hey John, I am a big fan of yours. Its unreal how alot of times your bass line
anchors alot of Fleetwood Mac's songs. My question is I really enjoy your bass
solo in the middle of the chain and was wondering is there anyway making it a
little longer, like you did in the old days, like on the mirage tour? It sounds
so good and really gets the jamming going at the end of the song. Keep up the
good work , cant wait to see you guys on tour.
It's not really a "solo," more of a "lead in" to the "out choruses," so Lindsey
and Mick can stretch out a bit, especially on the road.
Name: Zachary
Question For: John
Hey, John, I love the way you play the bass. It is so cool. Do you play a 4 or 5
string bass. If both, which do you prefer and why?
Hi Zachary,
I play a four string bass. Tried a five string once but decided that with the
way I play and the band's musical style, there was no need for a fifth string.
(It felt bloody awkward, too!)
Name: Lisa G.
Question For: John
I hear that you have a penguin tattoo. Can you tell me the story behind the
penguin?
Hi Lisa,
The penguin tattoo was the result of an afternoon at the bar in the "Riot House"
on Sunset Strip. There was a tattoo parlour across the street, "Lyle Tuttle" I
believe. As the afternoon wore on the idea of getting a tattoo became more
appealing! We'd also been using a penguin as a "logo" for years before that.
Name: Adrian
Question For: John
John, I've been playing for 4 years now and I can't play anywhere near the way
you do. How did you learn to play the bass and when did you start?
Hi Adrian,
I've been playing bass since I was 15 years old. I started by listening to
records, Willie Dixon, Charles Mingus and others. When I add up the years, seems
like I should be better than I am!
Name: Jackie
Question For: John
You seem so quiet and reserved on stage. Are you the same off stage as on stage?
Hi Jackie,
"Quite and reserved"! Mmmmm! I guess you're right! However, a couple of beers
does change that sometimes! Doing interviews, when they finally get 'round to
me, it's all been said!
Name: Melanie
Question For: John
I know that I only can ask one question, but there is so many things I want to
know. I read somewhere that you love to sail. Is that true? What kind of boat do
you have? Where are some of the places you sailed to? Thanks for reading my
questions, I think you are the greatest.
Hi Melanie,
Yes, I LOVE TO SAIL! What a release and communion. I've had two sailboats over
the last 25 years. The first was a 43' ketch in which four of us (not band
members) sailed to Hawaii and back. The last sailboat was a 63' sloop in which I
sailed to, with others, Tahiti and most of French Polynesia, Hawaii and back
four times, all around the Caribbean (when we lived there), and up to "Bar
Harbor" in Maine twice. On the last Hawaii return trip I decided I was too old
to get cold so I sold the sloop and I now have a 46' trawler in which we fish
the California coast and islands. (Sometimes we even catch fish!)
Name: Kristine
Question For: John McVie
John, your bass line for "Smile at you" is outrageous! Does Stevie's songs
inspire your creative style? I think all of the Writers Songs are
inspirational. I just try and make the Bass lines, hopefully, compliment the
song, work with Mick’s kick drum and stay out of the way of the ‘Lead line”. Be
it Instrumental or Vocal. ageing
Name: Brian
Question For: John
John, Two part question. Would you classify this experience w/o Chris as totally
different than the Rumors era Mac, and what are you're feelings, good or bad on
this incarnation of the Mac line-up? p.s. any thoughts on a re-unite with fleet
& greeny album? You know we hardcores would love to see it. Love your work.
~Brian
Brian, Two part answer.
It’s different, obviously, as Chris isn’t here. Physically and Musically. I
don’t think it’s a question of “Good” or “Bad”. It’s a different Line-up. A bit
“tougher” perhaps with Lindsey doing more Guitar work. I miss her presence as
she’s a nice Lady with a great sense of humor.
Mick talks to “Greeny” a lot. I haven’t seen him since “The Grammys” a few years
ago. I don’t know if there’ll be a re-unite album. Sort of doubt it. But, who
knows?
Name: Chet
Question For: John
Your bass lines are inspiring, John. What has kept you playing so well
for so many years now?
Fear.
Name: Jim
E-Mail: JimTheWiz@
Question For: John
John, could you please tell us the origin of why and when you got the penguin
tattoo on your arm?
Chris and I used to live ‘round the corner from London Zoo. On days off I’d go
over and take pics of the animals. Usually ending up at the Penguin exhibit. The
display area is very interesting visually and I found/find the penguins
fascinating. When the Band moved to a “House in the Country” we thought we could
use a “Logo”. Hence, the “Penguin”. The tattoo came from a boring afternoon in
the bar at the “Riot House” on Sunset Boulevard. Right opposite is, or was,
“Lyle Tuttles” tattoo parlor. As the afternoon wore on the idea of a tattoo
became an increasingly “GREAT IDEA!” ... DUH!
Name: Blaine
Question For: John
John, Why is Christy not on the tour?
She’d had enough of Touring. She didn’t
care too much for So.Cal with the earthquakes and all and I think she just
wanted to go back to England. I could be completely wrong, but that’s my “take”
on her departure.
Name: Dean
Question For: John
Are you singing any back-up or are you just laying back
playing that steady, incredible bass like you always have?
The Band will NEVER be that hard up for a
laugh to have me singing “back-ups”!
I’m just plugging away on Bass as usual.
Name: Jon
Question For: John
What type of Bass do you play and why do you like it?
Hi Jon,
Thanks for your question. Right now I’m using a Rick Turner “Renaissance” Bass
as the main unit. (Rick Turner, I believe, was one of the original Guitar
Geniuses at “Alembic”. I’ve been playing one or another of his Basses for many
years).
Another “Turner” for “Never Going Back” & “Goodbye Baby”.
The “Turners” are Great Basses. I like the Pick-ups which give a nice tight
tone. The necks suit me just fine and they’re light. That’s important for an
ageing, old fart Bass Player. The other Basses are tuned for specific Songs. A
1962 “P” Bass for “So Afraid’. A Tobias for “The Chain”, Another Tobias for
“World Turning”.
Name: Jimmy
Question For: John
What's your favorite thing about being on the road? What do you hate the most?
I love being on “The Road”. With all of
its “Down Side”. Missing Family and Home etc. It’s different every night and
there is nothing that comes close to the “Rush” of playing to a live audience. (
Well, mostly “live” ).
It’s still Fun. When it’s not Fun anymore, I’ll hang it up.
Questions for Stevie Nicks
Name: Michelle
Question For: Stevie Nicks
question: How does it feel to be the only lady in the group this time around?
Will Sharon and Mindy be touring with the band?
It feels very different not having
Christine. Yes, Mindy and Sharon will be touring with us.
Name: David
Question For: Stevie Nicks
question :Will you ever release the many songs that you have in your catalogue.
I particularly love 'She loves him still' 'Sanctuary' 'The Dealer' 'Smile at
you' and many others. Could you let Lindsey work on them, when you are finished
the FM tour?
I don’t know about the others, but Smile
At You is on the new Fleetwood Mac CD.
Name: David
Question For: Stevie Nicks
Stevie I have never seen you or Fleetwood Mac in concert. I have seen video's
however and have always loved your costume changes between your songs. Will you
be doing that on this tour? I hope so. God Bless you. I have been listening to
you since i was 5 years old 33 now. Haha we've been through alot together. I've
loved every minute of every song you have ever done. Your fan for life and
afterlife. Love David
Yes!
Name: Nancy
Question For: Stevie Nicks
question: Your musical talent is unequaled in the music profession...who has
been your biggest influence?
Joni Mitchell
Name: Lisa
Question For: Stevie Nicks
question: I was wondering if you and Lindsay intend to release your Buckingham -
Nicks album in the USA any time in the near future. The music on that album is
so magical, I haven't met a person yet who wouldn't buy it. I play it for every
friend I make.
I don’t know when, but I’m sure it will be
released on CD at some point
Name: Lori
Question For: Stevie Nicks
question: I have heard in the past that Birmingham, Al had a big impact on
Fleetwood Mac. I heard that they put a lot of support out for Buckingham Nicks.
I was just wondering why you do not tour here anymore?
I think we are scheduled to play there on
this upcoming tour!
Name: Tracie
Question For: Stevie Nicks
question: Do you think the music industry will do an about face and recognize
singers/songwriters like yourself for the great talents that you are and not the
superficial fluff that is out there so much today?
I hope so.
Name: Dave
Question For: Stevie Nicks
question: "Landslide" is my wife's all time favourite song. Can you please
advise as to why you wrote it and if it was about a specific moment in your
life.
I wrote Landslide in 1973 about whether or
not to continue in the music business.
Questions for Mick Fleetwood
Name: Brian
Question For: Mick Fleetwood
question: I think it would be so great with all the reality shows today for
Fleetwood Mac to put out the filmed footage of you in the studio and on tour as
LIVING WITH FLEETWOOD MAC. Any plans for videos with this project?
Brian,
As a matter of fact, we had a film
crew on hand during most of the recording of the album. However, we are not yet
quite sure how or when this footage will be used, but it is nice to know that
there is interest in seeing it.
Name: JOHN
band_members: Mick Fleetwood
question: Is there any chance that Christine and/or Peter Green might play as
guests when you come to the U.K.?
Dear John,
We can only hope.
Name: Vanda
Question For: Mick
question: I am so excited to take my 10 year old son, who wants to be a drummer,
to the show! Will Mick be wearing the drum "body suit" I've seen him wear in the
past? What can you tell us about it? Thx! Vanda
Hi Vanda,
The “body suit” that you are referring to is actually a vest I designed with a
gentleman named Jimmy Hotz. There are electrical pads sewn into the vest so I
can virtually play my own body. Still not sure whether the vest will be part of
the upcoming tour.
Mick
Name: Alex--Miami, Fl.
Question For: Mick Fleetwood
question: Hey Mick! Are you excited about being on the road with the twins?
Hi Alex,
I’m really looking forward to having the girls on tour with me. They are already
music lovers, and I think they’ll have as much fun as me on the tour.
Mick
Name: Hearne
Question For: Mick Fleetwood
question: Do the three lead guitar players of Fleetwood Mac past, the blues
band, ever reconvene with you?
Hearne,
Generally not, but I had the
pleasure of playing with Jeremy Spencer, a slide guitar player, this year before
Fleetwood Mac went on the road, and it was great fun, and I hope to do some in
the future. Peter, I talk to regularly and I’ve seen many times in the last few
years. Danny Kirwan, I have not seen or played with in many years.
Name: Shannon
Question For: Mick Fleetwood
question: I've heard that on the Star Trek Next Generation you played Lwaxana
Troi's butler. Is that true, and if so how did you get the part?
Shannon,
No, I didn’t play that part, but I did play the part of an Antedian. I am
supposedly now in prison permanently.
Name: Bryan
Question For: Mick
question: With all of the performers that have recorded FM tunes over the years
and worked with all of you...is there any chance of special performing guests at
the LA/Anaheim venues?
Hi Bryan,
No, we won’t be having any guests on this tour. However, it might be something
we would entertain in the future. But, there are no plans to do something like
that as of the moment.
Name: Meredith
Question For: Mick Fleetwood
question: Mick, you've seen many incarnations of Fleetwood Mac over the years,
but it's the current makeup of the band (sans Christine) that seems to stick.
What's the glue that keeps your incredibly talented group together, and what's
your plan for the future? Do you plan to work together to create more albums?
--I'm keeping my fingers crossed! Thanks for taking the time to do this. It
means so much to us die hard Mac fans. Sincerely, Meredith
Hi Meredith,
I think after having spent some time apart, from the original 1970’s period when
we were all very much together and working very hard, all of us acknowledged
that there was an incredible chemistry that we were hoping, and have since found
out, is still very much there and is alive and well, and we are happy to be
playing together. And certainly my hope is that there will be more music from
Fleetwood Mac over the next few years.
Mick
Name: Cullen
Question For: Mick Fleetwood
question: What is a green manalishi? I have searched the web with no answer.
Cullen,
Green Manalishi was a song written
by Peter Green and it’s really a whole emotional description of Peter’s concept
of money and what it caused. The green is the money and the manalishi is
basically his word for the devil. Money causes a lot of unhappiness sometimes,
and that was the essence of that song. The Green Manalishi with the 2 prong
crown is the devil.
Name: Carlos
Question For: Mick Fleetwood
question: Hi Mick, I would like to know about Richard Dashut, was he involved in
this album production? I have not seen his name in the last news, and he was not
involved in the Dance. Is he still working with Lindsey?
Carlos,
Richard Dashut is one of my all time greatest friends, and obviously a fantastic
legacy with albums he produced with Fleetwood Mac. His last album that he did
with us I believe was the Time album and before that was obviously Rumours,
Mirage, Tusk, etc. So, he had a major amount of influence over the productions
of Fleetwood Mac, but since the Dance onwards we have not worked with Richard.
And no, he has not worked with Lindsey either.
Name: Jenn and Meredith
Question For: Mick
question: Hi Mick! There is a theory that Jim Henson had many of his idols in
mind when creating many of his Muppets characters. There is a rumor that Animal
was created after you, is there any truth to this?
Hi Jenn and Meredith,
I have heard that, I can not verify if that is absolutely the case but going
back a long time ago, I have been told by so many people, that was the case. I
think it was highly likely that it actually was.
Name: Bob
Question For: Mick Fleetwood
question: Is the band coming to the UK soon?
Hi Bob,
We will be in the UK in November and the tour dates have been announced. I
believe we are doing at least 9 maybe more gigs in the British Isles.
Mick
Name: Lisa
E-Mail: lisalawless101@----------
Question For: Mick
question: Hi Mick, I'm a huge fan. I have never been to see Fleetwood Mac live
before as I'm only 18. I would love to though, and I was just wondering if The
Mac is coming to Ireland on tour? Thank you for answering my question. Also,
thank you for the music.
Hi Lisa,
Again, great to hear a new listener to Fleetwood Mac knowing you are so
enthusiastic about our music. Thank you. And we will be playing in Dublin for 2
dates, I am not sure exactly when that is, but I am sure you have probably heard
by now.
Name: Brian
Question For: Mick
question: Mick, what ever happened to "Harold"? The falus mentioned in your
book?
Brian,
Harold used to make regular appearances on stage with the early Fleetwood Mac
incarnation with Peter Green etc. And he actually existed and stayed around for
many many years, but during one of the moves, he got lost and was cleared out of
one of the drum cases where he used to live. So, sadly Harold has since long
time gone, but his reputation and legacy continues.
Name: Steve
Question For: Mick
question: I heard you did a sample library of drums. Where can I see it and what
does it do?
Steve,
The Drum samples that I made were done with a company called Sonic Foundry,
which is now owned by Sony. You can see and get to the samples through my
website which is http://www.MickFleetwood.com
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