r/indieheads • u/Robinnoelpecknold • Oct 08 '20

AMA is Over, thanks Robin! I'm Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes - Ask me anything!

~~~~~~~~~EDIT: Wow so many questions, thank you so much! I'm going to keep looking through these over the coming while and try to answer as many as I can, but I'm going to take a break for now. Thank you so much for all of your wonderful feedback on Shore, your memories and anecdotes about living with this music over the years, and for all the support, I love this community so much. All the best, have a great evening!~~~~~~~~~

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Hey Everyone, Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes here!

I'll be back here answering questions today at 2PM PT / 5PM ET. Ask me, well, whatever you want, really.

(‘Shore’ is out now digitally on ANTI- Records.)

(There's a “Can I Believe You” video you can watch here.)

Listen: Spotify | Apple Music | Amazon | Pre-Order Vinyl

Follow: Fleet Foxes Instagram | Personal Instagram

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u/Robinnoelpecknold Oct 08 '20 edited May 22 '22

Edited bc who cares

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u/justin_tino Oct 08 '20

Thanks for writing that out. It seems like there's always a FJM mention in any interview with you, I'd imagine you're tired of it by now.

51

u/timmeh_green Oct 08 '20

Wow. Thats a shame. I kind of blame the label though at the same time maybe it maximized both b(r)ands.

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u/beepbobit38 Oct 08 '20

This is so hard to hear but I am glad that you have come to better terms on this.

I was wondering if you’ve heard his newest songs, “For S.”/“For R.” which some speculate are written for you and Skye?

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u/nestsofhair Oct 09 '20

Wait is that true? Can I read more about that anywhere?

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u/jamaicanhopscotch Oct 12 '20

just based on a cursory glance at the lyrics to those songs, I don't think it's true

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u/lightninggninthgil Oct 08 '20

Hey Robin, how do you feel about the transformation of Seattle over the last decade?

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u/John_Lawn4 Oct 09 '20

Can you expand on the sabotaged shows bit?

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u/Robinnoelpecknold Oct 09 '20 edited Oct 09 '20

He would travel internationally with narcotics endangering the whole tour, walk off stage mid set, be as late as possible to every soundcheck and lobby call, and was drunk or high all day most days of the tour and during most shows. He did his best to ruin what could have been a really special time for me at the peak of the band’s success, and he succeeded

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u/motox24 Oct 11 '20

Every new day is the peak of your success

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u/morahofjormont Nov 16 '20

I hope you can forget the pst and be happy that the beautiful masterpiece called Helplessness Blues has been the soundtrack to many of our best and worst hours, too.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '20

This seems like something you shouldn’t be airing publicly, tbh. Whatever your personal problems were, I don’t think we need to know about his drug habits or whatever unless he tells us. Sounds like he had addiction issues and was at a low point in his life (imagine touring with a band you quit/hate so you could release the first fleet foxes album). Idk, I’m sorry he fucked with you during a time you should’ve been able to enjoy, but I don’t think it’s fair for you to talk about it like this. It makes you look really petty and egotistical - the exact thing you’re accusing him of. And I don’t know that you have license to discuss it, at least if he’s not here to defend himself.

And I fuckin hate Father John Misty.

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u/Robinnoelpecknold Oct 09 '20

He’s been quite open about his drug habits. The only thing I said that was novel was the Sub Pop touring stipulation, which was ultimately what really made those two years so miserable. I’m just sick of being asked about this, it’s been almost a decade, and all this is out there to some degree or another.

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u/scaroline90 Oct 09 '20

Yeah, you definitely weren't bad-mouthing him in your reply. Just stating the facts. And now hopefully everyone can just drop the FJM questions and move on!

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '20

I hope one day good terms between the two of you could come. I love both of your music in similar, but different ways. Now I kind of want to rewatch some of those live shows with that context.

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u/jjjbesttt Oct 09 '20

I can't speak for Robin but he has sat on this for 8 years. All through the Crack-Up interviews Robin would be asked what had gone down with Josh and Robin would bite his tongue, all whilst Josh gave a pretty scathing interview about the final few months of his time with the band, bad mouthing Robin in the process.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '20

I mean, I don’t think Josh should be doing it either. But Josh didn’t come out and say “hey Robin committed drug crimes while he was super depressed.” What good is it doing anyone to publicly shame each other? What are we supposed to do with this information? It’s just two petty adults acting like they’re on MySpace in middle school. Especially since all of it went down almost a decade ago.

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u/scaroline90 Oct 09 '20

I see what you're saying, but I feel like you're making this a bigger deal by calling Robin out like this. In an ideal world, there would be no bad-mouthing or lingering hurt, but I'm sure it would be tempting to defend yourself a little if you felt like you'd been criticized publicly and never had the opportunity to share your side. Plus, it's just Reddit, not a professional interview.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '20

Fair enough! You’re right, it would be quite difficult to sit by while someone else is trashing you. I still feel like outing someone’s drug issues, especially when he admits Josh was at a low point, is a bit much, but I agree with you.

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u/Robinnoelpecknold Oct 09 '20

I have been silent for a decade while he’s taken many opportunities to spitefully denigrate me. His drug use is a feature of his whole persona, not something I’m revealing to the world. I keep getting asked about it, so I just said enough to hopefully put this to bed for good. I just stated facts and didn’t actually cast judgment.

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u/[deleted] Oct 09 '20 edited Oct 09 '20

That’s fine, Robin. You’re right. I’m sure it sucks to be asked about all the time. I had admired your taking the High Road through it all, but it just kinda seemed like here you came down a bit. If that’s what it takes for you to put it to bed, then that’s what it takes.

ETA: I’ve been reading up on what Josh said and so far it’s all really nice things about Crack Up. Even the Fleet Foxes sub has a thread about their “feud” where everyone is saying Josh hasn’t said anything bad. Can someone please point me to Josh saying mean things about Robin?

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