(Originally published July 31, 2007)

Fanzillatastic!

I love it when relatively mainstream media outlets express their Fanzilladom.  The use of the Stevie Nicks/Lindsey Buckingham/Mick Fleetwood love triangle to counter advice on office dating in Gawker today is the most fanzillatastic thing I have seen in a long time.  First, the depth of knowledge speaks to having seen the Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks, and Lindsey Buckingham Behind the Music specials, as well as to repeated viewings of The Dance.  Second, linking to the awesome clip from the Tusk documentary, available only through pirated videotapes that have been put up on YouTube reveals that the author is either a) a long time fan who caught the documentary on tv in the 70s or b) part of the fan community who has circulated the video long after its initial broadcast.  I'm voting for (b).  Third, any reference to the Buckingham Nicks album, much less individual songs on it, is extremely hard core.  Trust me, I have "Holiday Road" on CD.

But the most impressive thing about this article is how the author shows how the lessons learned from the objects of one's fanzillatude can inform one's own life decisions.  Stevie/Lindsey/Mick do present a cautionary tale about office romance, but also highlight the upside.  Yes, it's bad to date the long-haired, coked out, icky drummer, because it's nasty, but it's good to date the cute guitarist with the mad skills and lilting voice, because you can sound good together, write great tunes, get into a band and get superfamous.  Note to self, find Lindsey Buckingham type to date and dump so as to get superrich and have a Behind the Candy special about Embittermints.  (Speaking of candy, don't forget to enter the contest to win like a gazillion Ring Pops here).

That said, this is an acceptable level of fanzilladom.  It's not as if the author is advocating mass shawl and platform boot purchases to woo the co-worker of one's dreams.  That might be too far, unless, of course, one is in Fleetwood Mac.  And, Mick?  Don't try it, I don't think lighting strikes (maybe once, maybe) twice.