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An edited version of this story appeared in the September issue of Uncut (with The Doors on the cover). Great article on Lindsey... Thanks to Hits for the full version!
Inside the Head—and the Home—of the Mainstream Rock Star Who's Conducted a Parallel Career as a Radical Solo Artist
These days, the 61-year-old veteran is into Arcade Fire, Phoenix, the Dirty Projectors and Vampire Weekend—“These guys have been to school; they know more than we did,” he marvels—while his achievements both inside and outside of Fleetwood Mac have profoundly influenced the current generation of indie bands. Rather than resting on his laurels, Buckingham continues to push the envelope as he rides out a sustained run of inspiration that has yielded three albums in the last five years, the latest being the brand new Seeds We Sow. Not your typical aging rock star—not by a long shot.
Inside the Head—and the Home—of the Mainstream Rock Star Who's Conducted a Parallel Career as a Radical Solo Artist
Lindsey Buckingham gained fame and fortune as the architect of Fleetwood Mac’s sound, but the musician/songwriter/producer has also resolutely—and at times defiantly—conducted a parallel career as a cult artist. The fact that he’s experienced far less commercial success on the latter path hasn’t diminished his propensity for risk-taking. This ongoing boldness dates back to 1979’s still-radical-sounding Tusk, on which, enthralled by The Clash, Talking Heads and other new wavers, Buckingham pulled a Neil Young, following up mega-seller Rumours by heading for the ditch, taking the rest of Big Mac along for the ride.
These days, the 61-year-old veteran is into Arcade Fire, Phoenix, the Dirty Projectors and Vampire Weekend—“These guys have been to school; they know more than we did,” he marvels—while his achievements both inside and outside of Fleetwood Mac have profoundly influenced the current generation of indie bands. Rather than resting on his laurels, Buckingham continues to push the envelope as he rides out a sustained run of inspiration that has yielded three albums in the last five years, the latest being the brand new Seeds We Sow. Not your typical aging rock star—not by a long shot.
Pulling up to the home he shares with wife Kristen, son Will, 13, and daughters Leelee, 11, and Stella, 6, on the tony West Side of LA, I’m struck by estate’s welcoming vibe. Spread across a broad lot, the Normandy-style house was built by architect Kevin Clark, who also designed their previous lvish adode, a Spanish-style hilltop home in Bel Air. “What I attempt to do is more of a period-style architecture,” Clark had told me earlier. “I’m trying to give people the feeling that they’re living in a home that was created in a golden age of California’s architecture. I look at homes that were built in the 1920s as models.” Clark’s vision intersects perfectly with that of Kristen, an interior designer who’s influenced by the 1920s homes of iconic L.A. architect Wallace Neff.
