"Some days I would be there at ten in the morning and wouldn't leave till ten at night, and the others would waltz in for a couple of hours and then leave, because I was doing that painting thing. And they were happy to see that being done"
About this Quote
Buckingham frames craft as both compulsion and quiet leverage: the guy who shows up at 10 a.m., stays till 10 p.m., and makes everyone else look like theyre just stopping by. The line is deceptively casual, but it sketches a whole band ecosystem where labor becomes identity. "That painting thing" is a sly bit of self-mythology, reducing obsessive studio work to a quirky habit while also claiming the aura of the artist who cant help himself. He isnt just working harder; hes casting himself as the one doing the real work.
The subtext is politics. In a group like Fleetwood Mac, where charisma and personal narratives can dominate, Buckingham points to a different kind of authority: the authority of construction. He suggests a tacit agreement in the room: others "waltz in" (a verb that smuggles in entitlement and ease), but theyre "happy to see that being done" because his grind keeps the machine moving. Its half complaint, half justification, half flex.
Contextually, it lands in the long-running story of bands as workplaces disguised as families. Buckingham implies that productivity can buy you tolerance, even when youre difficult, controlling, or simply intense. The irony is that his devotion isnt presented as martyrdom; its portrayed as a necessary imbalance everyone benefits from. Hes not asking for sympathy. Hes reminding you who built the house.
The subtext is politics. In a group like Fleetwood Mac, where charisma and personal narratives can dominate, Buckingham points to a different kind of authority: the authority of construction. He suggests a tacit agreement in the room: others "waltz in" (a verb that smuggles in entitlement and ease), but theyre "happy to see that being done" because his grind keeps the machine moving. Its half complaint, half justification, half flex.
Contextually, it lands in the long-running story of bands as workplaces disguised as families. Buckingham implies that productivity can buy you tolerance, even when youre difficult, controlling, or simply intense. The irony is that his devotion isnt presented as martyrdom; its portrayed as a necessary imbalance everyone benefits from. Hes not asking for sympathy. Hes reminding you who built the house.
Quote Details
| Topic | Work Ethic |
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