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Geeking Out with Lindsey Buckingham by Alex Bleeker - Relix
Last month Fleetwood Mac announced a series of arena dates beginning in April. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees will kick off their first tour in three years with a show in Columbus, OH on April 4 before making their way through the United States and Canada, including stops at Madison Square Garden in New York City, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The tour coincides with the 35th anniversary of the release of Fleetwood Mac’s classic album Rumors. When the group’s Lindsey Buckingham began doing press in conjunction with these dates, we enlisted Alex Bleeker (Real Estate, Alex Bleeker and the Freaks) to interview Buckingham.
In the winter of 2007 I came home from college wielding a freshly burned copy of Rumors; I was obsessed. Of course I had heard most of the music before, almost every song had been a radio hit. For some reason, however, even the familiar tunes sounded new to me. Fleetwood Mac was suddenly re-contextualized. The production was flawless, the hooks – irresistible, and the lyrics were haunting and universal.
At an obligatory meeting of old High School friends and future band mates in my Mom’s basement, we passed the bong and listened to Fleetwood Mac. My musical selection garnered sceptical reactions at best. “I don’t know dude, some of this stuff is pretty cheesy,” somebody quipped. You see, Fleetwood Mac had never been too popular with the “alternative” crowd. In spite of their overwhelming commercial success the Mac have never been “cool” ….until now.
In the late 70s Fleetwood Mac was a symbol of rock excess; the tyranny against which early punk and new wave fans struggled to rebel. But it’s 2012 now, and the music has broken free from the shackles of social stigma. Fleetwood Mac’s sweet melodic power and influence can not be denied. On the road with Real Estate, I’ve travelled all over the world, and met countless artists and musicians. I can safely say that a Fleetwood Mac influence is a universal given… it’s like saying that you like the Beatles.
Perhaps even more staggering is the re-emergence of Lindsey Buckingham as a solo artist. Buckingham’s own music, while still catchy, has never been afraid to take experimental risks. His body of work is the ever elusive blend of accessible and challenging. In this era of stale rock reunions, Buckingham continues to make work like this. The 21st century has revealed him to be a true legacy artist to be admired.
Speaking with Lindsey was a rare treat. He was well grounded and casual, but carried the confidence of someone who knows that the world has finally caught up with his true brilliance.
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