Tusk is a song written by Lindsey Buckingham that served as the title-track from Fleetwood Mac's 1979 double album. It featured the USC Marching Band.
The song was released as the first single from the album. It peaked at #8 in the United States and #6 in the United Kingdom. It marked the band's return to the top ten in their country of origin for the first time since The Green Manalishi in 1970 (a 1973 reissue of Albatross notwithstanding).
The song was based on a riff that Buckingham used to play when soundchecking for live shows. The percussion effects included Buckingham hitting boxes of tissues and drummer Mick Fleetwood hitting a leg of lamb with a spatula.
A video for the song was filmed at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The USC Marching Band were present but bassist John McVie was in Tahiti and represented by a cardboard cut-out photographic image of himself.
The song became a staple of subsequent tours featuring Buckingham as well as his solo tours. In live Fleetwood Mac performances, Christine McVie would come to the front of the stage and play the accordion.
Stevie Nicks initially threatened to leave Fleetwood Mac if Fleetwood made Tusk the album's title song but stayed in the group all the same.
The song made its appearance as track 19 on Fleetwood Mac: The Ultime Collection
Personnel[]
Lindsey Buckingham - vocal, guitars, tissue box percussion
Christine McVie - electronic organ, accordion, backing vocals
Stevie Nicks - backing vocals
John McVie - bass
Mick Fleetwood - drums, lamb chop percussion
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