Over and Over

“Could you ever need me, and would you know how, 

yeah, to stop time, tell me now.

    All ya have to do, is speak out my name, yeah, 

and I will come running

      any way.”

These are words from Christine McVie’s song called “Over and Over” from the Tusk album. These lyrics, like so many of her lyrics, are heart felt, empathetic, sympathetic, comforting, and encouraging. Let’s face it folks - these are hard and bizarre times. When we’re feeling down and alone we turn to our friends, communities, be together, and take comfort in each other’s company, and hug it out. Well, we can’t really do that right now.  

We don’t get to go to see our favorite sports teams, go to the movies or see and hear our favorite bands. We long for community, the sights and sounds of friends, and rockin’ out getting lost in the music. For those of us in the entertainment business, we are really missing our friends and fans. And quite frankly, we are also missing the employment aspect of the business - no, it’s not all about money - but the industry is suffering for sure. Let’s keep this industry in our thoughts and reassure the

venues, producers, agents, stage crews, sound technicians, musicians, and all involved that we’re going to jump back in and sell out shows and make people happy. Let’s also keep all the essential people who risk their lives every day out in public so we have access to what we need.

Fleetwood Mask is doing it’s part to keep us and all of you safe. We are staying home and we ALL need to stay home so that we can get through this sooner than later. I woke up this morning and my first thought “it’s Saturday! It’s a PLAY day!” Second thought “nope.” Our message to all

y’all is that we love you, we miss you, we want you to be safe and stay healthy, and we look forward when we can all be together again doing what we do - We bring the music of Fleetwood Mac, you feed us with your love, joy and enthusiasm, and we all make wonderful memories together.

Please enjoy a little musical offering from myself and Fleetwood Mask. Nothing fancy - just me and my keys singing and playing “Over and Over.” I did get out of my pj's and took a shower:)

“If music be the food of love, play on.”

William Shakespeare and often quoted by Mick Fleetwood

Sending much love and virtual hugs!!
Barbara Martin

Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mask

Chasing The Elusive And Exclusive "Lindsey" Sound

"Wanna join a Fleetwood Mac tribute band endorsed by Mick Fleetwood?" The words seemed unreal. My mind needed extra time to calculate. 40 years of Fleetwood Mac + Lindsey Buckingham fandom and now this? It was a totally surreal moment. The next thoughts quickly flooding in were wholly dedicated to what needed to be done equipment-wise, playing-wise, vocally; each one a tall order. Since I'd been following LB and FM all these decades I had a pretty good idea about what would be needed but upon rolling up my sleeves, I quickly discovered the 'devils in the details'. Lindsey's live guitar sounds are split between his electric and acoustic work. On the electric side he's been playing a Turner Model 1 since about 1979 when Rick Turner brought a prototype to an FM rehearsal. At that point in time, Lindsey was looking for something that had both Gibson Les Paul and Fender Stratocaster qualities (both fat and bell-like tones simultaneously) and the Turner Model 1's ultra unique design hit the nail on the head and has been used ever since. It has become an iconic part of any FM or LB show and is a huge part of LB's live tone. I phoned Rick with the news, and he graciously agreed to build me one to the exact 1979 prototype specs. It completely delivers and has 'the sound'! Thanks Rick! Lindsey's used various effects in the past but none to great depths - he likes to keep his sounds pure and simple. In the past, he'd taken the guts from his old Ampex 4-track analog tape recorder and had them modified into a stomp box he could use on stage. Saturating tape decks became a known thing mostly thanks to The Beatles. But the Ampex 4-track guts created the most wicked fuzz tone I've ever heard bar none (it can be heard on the Tusk tour videos of Sisters Of The Moon, The Chain, and other songs from that tour). However, it broke eventually and he moved on. Today, he uses Boss products; the SD-1 for overdrive and DD3 for delay, and it all goes through vintage Mesa Boogie Trem-O-Verb amplifiers with 6L6 tubes. The acoustic side is more complex. Lindsey uses Taylor 814ce steel strings (made between about 2006 and 2012) with a Fishman pickup system, Rick Tuner Renaissance acoustics, and a modified Gibson Chet Atkins nylon string guitar to perform songs like Never Going Back Again, Landslide, Big Love, Go Insane, Say Goodbye and others. Those are routed though separate acoustic guitar amps on stage. It's a large touring rig overall and one that is a challenge to emulate. Vocally, what can you say? Lindsey's voice is instantly recognizable and has a wonderful tenor tone. One can see he puts his all into every note which is apparent when listening to tracks or viewing live performances. This is all to say he's created an extensive labyrinth of sonic dynamics over the years of touring and recording that is wholly his own; a musical visionary, a renaissance man, an artist's artist. To say it's an honor to attempt these efforts is an understatement. And, is an ongoing journey as one would imagine, always 'peeling the onion', always discovering new elements he's so adeptly hidden within the music he creates in the studio and on stage.

So the sonic quest continues onward on all fronts, and what could be a better thing to do?

For a deeper dive, see these links:

http://www.timbradleyallwrite.com/uploads/1/1/3/9/11394859/lindsey_buckingham_guitar_world_interview.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZeKyKQniVs&t=554s

Happy Reading - Christopher Zerbe (Lindsey in Fleetwood Mask)

"The Only Thing Constant is Change" - Heraclitus

No truer words have ever been spoken.  As we move through life, situations change, we lose old friends and gain new friends,  we move where we live, we lose loved ones and new babies are born.  It is the cycle of life and it definitely has a rhythm.  

It is no different in a band.  And it is no different in Fleetwood Mask.  

As many of you may know, Mark Blasquez (Our Lindsey Buckingham) has decided to leave Fleetwood Mask.  He has been in the band for four years and has been integral in helping to transform Fleetwood Mask into a National Touring Band.  The task of commuting to and from Southern California to the Bay Area and beyond has taken its toll on Mark and he has decided to make an adjustment.   

Interstate 5 can humble the most seasoned commuter and add a 5 hour performance (set-up/performance/tear down) at the end of this⇾⇾⇾⇾⇾⇾⇾⇾
and you start to understand why Mark has decided to adjust his lifestyle!!



As hard as it is to lose Mark and his leadership, sense of humor and talent, this change opens new opportunities for both Mark and Fleetwood Mask.  Paul, Barb, Claudette, Jason and I will miss Mark immensely, but are happy for him and look forward to the next chapter in the band's development. 

We are currently auditioning new guitarists' to assume the Lindsey role and are happy with our progress.  We are taking our time to ensure we have the "right" individual to fill this critical position in the band.  Of course the music is amazing and we are honored to be paying tribute to Fleetwood Mac and it is in that spirit that we must find the "perfect" fit.  Much of the magic of a Fleetwood Mask show is the camaraderie that the band has on stage and projects to the audience.  This has been and will continue to be our main focus so that we can continue to be the "Ultimate Tribute to Fleetwood Mac" and worthy of our fans admiration and devotion!

Mark's final performance with Fleetwood Mask will be Saturday, July 13th at the Woodland Opera House in Woodland, CA.  

This is a great location to see a Fleetwood Mask show and it is sure to be an amazing evening!  Mark is going to create the set-list for the show and I am sure there will be plenty of surprises!

Please come on out to Woodland Opera House and join us for a great evening of music, memories and fun.

Tickets on sale NOW!  Click on this TICKETS link to get your seats!

Imitation, flattery… and Going Your Own Way

If you’re going to do something, do it well… and leave something witchy - Charles Manson

If your going to do a tribute, remember that you’re still you, but you now have the responsibility of taking people back to a place that they cherish and remember (sometimes with surprising degrees of reverence and emotion). I am not Lindsey Buckingham. My music sounds nothing like Fleetwood Mac. But consider myself very fortunate to have found this group of musicians and relish every time I get to get up and play these amazing songs.

As the newest member of Fleetwood Mask (and perpetual “FNG”) I can still clearly see the starting point of this journey in the rear view mirror. For an original musician (such as myself), the thought of joining a tribute band can be foreign and more than a little intimidating. I can play the guitar, sure. Sing? Meh, a bit. But play the guitar and sing like Lindsey Buckingham?! That is scary. This was really going to challenge me but in a way that I found attractive. I’ve never looked back. I’ve never had more fun. I’ve never regretted my choice, even for a minute.

He that loves to be flattered is worthy of the flatterer - William Shakespeare 

Sometimes people will pay you great compliments. The trigger is often a simple matter of giving them what they were hoping for, and that’s what Fleetwood Mask tries to do. It’s not hard, if you know how to shut up and listen. The world is always telling you something. We get it. We’re fans too. We try to put on the kind of show that, as a fan, we would like to see, but in a venue that’s just a little more personal, almost private. 

Small secret - from the stage we can still hear you talking. Shhhh… we won’t tell anyone.

We want to thank you for all your kind words. Night after night we give it all we’ve got. Fingers bleed, voices get taxed, drumsticks break, and we’re loving every minute of it. A lot of blood sweat and tears have gone into this project and we are forever thankful for the love and support we’ve received and the ever growing circle of wonderful people we’ve met and befriended along the way.

Make it so - Capt. Jean-Luc Picard

Still, in the end, when it’s time to rock, rock we must. Beyond all the rehearsals, costumes, custom equipment and stage props, we are a band, and when the curtain goes up, it’s just us doing what we love. From there on, there’s no thinking, we just do it the best we can. 

I thoroughly enjoy every time Don and I get to fool around on World Turning. That’s not Mick and Lindsey, that’s Mark and Don. That’s real, improvised, jam-session style playing. Yeah, we do that too. We love the mighty Mac, but we’re not them. We’re us, and being us is a lot damn fun!

See you out there! - Mark Blasquez / Lindsey Buckingham in Fleetwood Mask.