FLEETWOOD MAC UK CHART UPDATE FEB 28, 2010

THE UK
In it's 19th week of release "The Very Best Of" slides from #25 to #31 on the UK Top 75 Chart.

UK TOP 75 CHART RUN W/ NONE SALES FIGURES (2009 Best Of Version):
Week 01 #06 - Oct 26, 2009 - 18,763
Week 02 #10 - Nov 02, 2009 - 17,541
Week 03 #12 - Nov 09, 2009
Week 04 #15 - Nov 16, 2009
Week 05 #26 - Nov 23, 2009
Week 06 #29 - Nov 30, 2009
Week 07 #31 - Dec 07, 2009
Week 08 #25 - Dec 14, 2009
Week 09 #21 - Dec 21, 2009
Week 10 #23 - Dec 28, 2009
Week 11 #37 - Jan 04, 2010
Week 12 #42 - Jan 11, 2010
Week 13 #31 - Jan 18, 2010
Week 14 #35 - Jan 25, 2010
Week 15 #31 - Feb 01, 2010
Week 16 #22 - Feb 08, 2010
Week 17 #16 - Feb 15, 2010 - 16,895
Week 18 #25 - Feb 22, 2010
Week 19 #31 - Mar 01, 2010

SOME NOTABLE UK ALBUM/SINGLE SALES STATS
2009 Singles/Albums Analysis - UK Music Week Magazine

Physical sales accounted for 100% of the market at the start of the decade but only 2% at the end. With millions of singles thus available at the click of a mouse, catalogue singles sales have played an ever-increasing role, with buyers now cherry-picking their favourite songs, rather than buying albums. Some acts who have not had a single out in years achieved impressive sales as a result – Queen sold 1,118,445 singles, while Fleetwood Mac sold 358,377 singles and even MC Hammer sold 128,710 – but those who have held out against digital delivery fare less well, with The Beatles, for example, selling just 2,372 singles in the decade.

TOP 50 BEST-SELLING ALBUMS ARTISTS 2009
At year end, Fleetwood Mac land at #43 in the Top 50 best-selling Albums artists of 2009 category. About 3/4 of these sales come from the October, 2009 release of "The Very Best Of".

43 (--) FLEETWOOD MAC - 416,520

FLEETWOOD MAC'S ECONOMIC IMPACT ON NEW ZEALAND REGION

Taranaki Daily News (Page 11) March 1, 2010
Fleetwood Mac's Economic Impact on New Plymouth, NZ

If you are a Taranaki local and went to one of December’s Fleetwood Mac concerts, you were very

much in the minority. But that was good news for Taranaki, as explains.

ANYONE who was in New Plymouth during that heady weekend just before Christmas will know that the city was bulging with visitors.

They were all here for a single reason – to attend one of the two concerts by rock group Fleetwood Mac at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands.

It all meant that thousands of fans poured into the region on the Friday and Saturday to attend the first concert on December 19. Then, as they departed on the Sunday, thousands more poured into Taranaki to attend the second concert on December 20.

And while all these people were in Taranaki, not only did they spend, but they also enjoyed what Taranaki has to offer – and most say they’d love to come back.

How do we know all this? Because the region’s economic development agency Venture Taranaki commissioned an economic impact report on the weekend, which used sales data, attendee surveys and economic impact analysis to measure the difference between Taranaki having the concerts and not having them.

The report’s conclusions are fascinating.

For example, the research showed that of the 34,045 people who crammed into the Bowl for the concerts, three-quarters were visitors with 27.7 per cent from Auckland. More than a third were aged between 45 and 54, and more than two-thirds were women.

That data speaks volumes about the years Fleetwood Mac was at its peak and who the fans were.

But there’s more. Of those 34,045 ticket sales, 25,622 or 75.3 per cent were to fans from outside Taranaki. Most came from Auckland, 16.4 per cent came from Wellington, 13.9 per cent from Waikato, and 10.5 per cent from Bay of Plenty.

Only 9.8 per cent of visitors came from Manawatu and 3 per cent came from Wanganui – the same number as those who travelled all the way from Canterbury for the concerts.

Close to 98 per cent of all the visitors stayed in the region for at least one night – their average stay was actually 1.76 nights – and 72.2 per cent stayed in commercial accommodation.

Of real economic significance for Taranaki is the fact that 26 per cent of visitors had never been to the region before. But did they enjoy themselves? Venture Taranaki’s research questioned visitors on how they rated the concert experience, with one being a low rating and 10 being a high rating.

Close to 80 per cent gave the experience a ranking of seven or more.

And when asked how they enjoyed Taranaki itself, 66 per cent ranked the Taranaki region as either vibrant or very vibrant.

Seventy-nine per cent said they’d come back for another event, with 58 per cent saying they’d like to return for a holiday.

Venture Taranaki chief executive Stuart Trundle says the visitor rankings of Taranaki pleased him most of all.

With the concerts, we were aware we were being presented with an opportunity to maximise the promotion of Taranaki.

It’s great to know that so many people who came to the concerts say they would definitely return.

It shows that you have to get people to visit a region for them to change their perceptions about a place.

It’s a much better way than simply putting nice images on a wall at Wellington or Auckland airport.’’

The research also surveyed the Taranaki residents who attended the concerts, and that has thrown up some interesting data.

Of the 8423 Taranaki fans, 90.9 per cent came from New Plymouth district, 7.6 per cent from South Taranaki – and just 1.5 per cent from Stratford.

They were asked whether events are important to Taranaki’s vibrancy, with one being not important and 10 being extremely important. Of the total surveyed, 53 per cent gave a ranking of 10, while another 39.7 per cent gave a ranking of eight or nine.

Not only that, but 65.2 per cent felt the number of events held in Taranaki is about right, while 33.3 per cent felt there aren’t enough events – with just 1.5 per cent saying there are too many events. And 75.8 per cent felt the variety of events is about right.

So while this survey showed that the Fleetwood Mac concerts provided a $23.08 million initial financial boost to the Taranaki economy, which resulted in a net profit to the region of $9.56m, the benefits obviously go beyond the cash.

Not only did the concerts draw national and international media attention to the region, but they attracted many people who had never been to Taranaki before. And they were impressed, which means there’s every chance they will come back.

‘‘While the measurable economic benefits were certainly a boost for the region, the many non-financial benefits offer greater long-term potential,’’ says Mr Trundle.

‘‘Attracting new visitors to the region and delivering an experience resulting in significantly more positive perceptions of Taranaki will deliver further benefits down the line, as the region looks to meet future growth needs.’’

FLEETWOOD MAC - TWO TOP 20 ALBUMS IN AUSTRALIA (#11 & #16)

AUSTRALIA:

ARIA TOP 50 CATALOGUE ALBUMS CHART - Week of March 1, 2010:

Fleetwood Mac's "The Very Best Of" slips two spots to #11 on the Australian Top 50 Catalogue Charts. Total weeks on the Catalogue Chart = 16.

RUMOURS LEAPS UP CHART
Fleetwood Mac's Rumours jumps 22 spots from #38 to #16 on this weeks chart.  Not sure what's causing the sudden climb up the Catalogue Chart.... Rumours has been certified 12 X Platinum in Australia (840,000 units).

THE MICK FLEETWOOD BLUES BAND
On the broader chart, Mick's Blues Band album is at #96 - with 416 units sold

SOMETHING'S COOKING IN THE NICKS CAMP

A couple of intersting tweets from Producer Dave Stewart (Eurythmics):

"wrote a great song with Stevie Nicks on Monday called "Everybody Loves You"

and when asked if this means Stevie's making a new album?.... He responded with:

"she's on top form and I see that possibility"

What this all means is anyones guess.  And where this all falls within Stevie's album making process, if that's in fact what she's doing is really up in the air - maybe she's writing music with Dave Stewart for another artist to sing?... Maybe it's just the beginning of putting an album together for herself and we have a few more years to wait for it to be complete... And you never know, maybe she's been working on this already for a few years and it's the middle of the process...it could also be the final leg of making an album.  Man, you could speculate all day about this!  In any case, it's great to hear she's still interested in making new music whether it's writing for herself, others, or producing music for Michelle Branch, which Michelle Branch tweeted about earlier in the month (link)...  Personally, I hope Stevie's working on music for herself... It's been far too long since her last studio album Trouble in Shangri-La came out (2001).

And it's not Dave's first encounter with Stevie as he explains in this interview from Rockline from a couple of years ago when talking about the inspiration behind writing Tom Petty's song "Don't Come Around Here No More" back in the early 80's.

Interview Download

ON STAGE WITH LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM AND FLEETWOOD MAC

Say You Will Era - 2003

Picture and Sound Productions

(VIDEO) MICK FLEETWOOD SYNDEY, SOUTH JUNIORS 2/23/10

MICK FLEETWOOD BLUES BAND
"BLACK MAGIC WOMAN"
South Juniors, Sydney, AU 2/23/10

FLEETWOOD MAC AT #11 ON BILLBOARD ANNUAL TOP MONEY EARNERS LIST

In music, success can be measured by many yardsticks: Billboard No. 1s, Grammy Awards, AA medallions. But as acts from Barrett Strong to Pink Floyd to Sean "Diddy" Combs have testified in song, when you come right down to it, it's all about the benjamins.

The fourth edition of our annual countdown of music's highest earners finds wide-eyed youngsters (Kings of Leon, Taylor Swift) rubbing elbows with their well-heeled elders (Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac). As the music industry grows ever more complicated, so does our top-secret* Money Makers formula -- comprising, among other variables, monies earned from CD and digital sales, publishing royalties and all forms of streaming. But one thing remains constant: Touring is the prime fattener of bank accounts, as evidenced most dramatically in the eye-popping, chart-topping tally of high-end road hog U2.

Here's the top 11. The full article and top 40 list can be found at Billboard Magazine

Fleetwood Mac lands at No. 11

11. Fleetwood Mac
$24,751,540

The baby boomer idols land on the list for the first time thanks to the group's $24 million take from its Unleashed tour, its first in five years. The trek grossed $71.2 million from 65 shows reported to Boxscore and landed at No. 14 on Billboard's top tours list last year. Fleetwood Mac earned less than $700,000 in the United States from its album sales, with its 1988 "Greatest Hits" moving 135,000 copies -- about half its U.S. album total for the period. The band earned roughly the same amount from digital track sales ($71,100) as it did from digital album sales (70,200).

10. Metallica - $25,564,234

9. Kenny Chesney - $26,581,141

8. Coldplay - $27,326,562

7. Jonas Brothers - $33,596,576

6. Pink - $36,347,658

5. Britney Spears - $38,885,267

4. AC/DC - $43,650,466

3. Madonna - $47,237,774

2. Bruce Springsteen - $57,619,037

1. U2 - $108,601,283

TOP 3 MIXED GENDER CDS ON BILLBOARD... FLEETWOOD MAC'S RUMOURS STILL TOPS

Week Ending Feb. 21, 2010: A Top Three With A Twist
Paul Grein's Chart Watch

For the first time in chart history, the top three albums on The Billboard 200 are all by mixed-gender groups. Sade's Soldier Of Love holds at #1 for the second week, Lady Antebellum's Need You Now holds at #2 for the second week and the Black Eyed Peas' The E.N.D. rebounds from #8 to #3. Helen Adu fronts Sade, Hillary Scott is the female member of Lady Antebellum and Fergie is a key Pea.

By holding at #1 for a second week, Soldier Of Love equals the mark set in February 1986 by Sade's sophomore album, Promise.

Pop Quiz: What was the most successful album ever by a mixed-gender group? 

Quiz Answer: Fleetwood Mac's Rumours is the most successful album ever by a mixed-gender group. The blockbuster logged 31 weeks at #1 in 1977-1978. In second place: Prince & the Revolution's Purple Rain, which spent 24 weeks at #1 in 1984-1985. In third: No Doubt's Tragic Kingdom, which had nine weeks on top in 1996-1997.

ROSENBERG LEAVES WB RECORDS.... WILL STILL REP STEVIE NICKS

Rosenberg exits WB for new venture
Publicity exec launches her own company
Variety

Liz Rosenberg, longtime publicity exec at Warner Bros. Records, is ankling to form her own praisery, Liz Rosenberg Media, the label announced Tuesday.

Rosenberg will continue to rep Madonna, as well as current Warner acts Michael Buble, Cher, Stevie Nicks, David Foster, Charice and Katherine Jenkins.

Full Announcement

KEN REGAN PHOTOS: VINTAGE FLEETWOOD MAC

A few more photos by Photographer

Ken Regan up for auction

Stevie Nicks | John McVie | Mick Fleetwood

Here's the People Magazine page from 1977 using the Stevie shot up above:

FLEETWOOD MAC WEEKEND WAS EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL

No little lies but lots of big bucks from Fleetwood weekend
By ROB MAETZIG - Taranaki Daily News

Fleetwood Mac's two New Plymouth concerts netted the region close to $10 million.

Venture Taranaki (VT) is now estimating Taranaki will nett at least $30 million from major events held this financial year – an impressive return from the $850,000 provided by the New Plymouth District Council to VT as an investment fund aimed at attracting events to the region.

Events so far this financial year include the Taranaki International Arts Festival, Rhododendron and Garden Festival, and the Round the Mountain Cycle Challenge. Those yet to come include Americarna, the Sir Cliff Richard and The Shadows concert, Womad, the Dream Tour women's world championship surfing tour and the All Blacks-Ireland rugby test.

"These are big numbers that really illustrate the value of careful events planning," Venture Taranaki chief executive Stuart Trundle told the Taranaki Daily News yesterday. "It shows what can happen if Taranaki can build a varied menu of events. Frankly, for a community of 105,000 people we've got a world-class programme."

An economic impact report on the two sold-out Fleetwood Mac concerts held in New Plymouth on December 19 and 20 shows they achieved a major financial return for Taranaki.

The economic activity generated was $23m, with nearly $10m staying in Taranaki.

The report, commissioned by Venture Taranaki and using sales data, attendee surveys and economic impact analysis models, measured the difference between having and not having the concerts. It found that the pair of concerts attracted a total audience of 35,045 people – with 75.3 per cent of them coming from outside Taranaki and 26 per cent of them visiting the region for the first time.

Each visitor spent on average $410.88. Accommodation received 28 per cent of the total spend, hospitality 27 per cent, retail 20 per cent, transport and parking 11 per cent, and other sectors 14 per cent.

Mr Trundle said this statistic puts paid to the perception that any economic gain from major events is only within the accommodation sector.

"A much broader range of Taranaki businesses benefited from Fleetwood Mac," he said.

"The unprecedented influx of visitors did challenge a significant number of our region's businesses, but they rose to that challenge, delivered customer service, and did Taranaki proud."

Mr Trundle said the economic impact analysis supports anecdotal evidence that the Fleetwood Mac weekend was extremely successful.

"And while the measurable economic benefits were certainly a boost for the region, many non-financial benefits offer greater long-term potential.

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"Attracting new visitors to the region and delivering a fantastic experience resulting in significantly more positive perceptions of Taranaki, will deliver further benefits down the line."

- Taranaki Daily News

(PHOTOS) MICK FLEETWOOD BLUES BAND - SUTTON GRANGE WINERY

THE MICK FLEETWOOD BLUES BAND

FEB 20, 2010, SUTTON GRANGE WINERY

PHOTOS BY: Garry Chapman
Link to Gallery

(PHOTOS) AMAZING IMAGES OF FLEETWOOD MAC IN GLASGOW, 2009

Going Back to October 22, 2009

Fleetwood Mac - Glasgow, Scotland

Really great captures of the band that I haven't seen before...

by Photographer Pauline Keighley

Image Gallery

Choose to view the slide show option for full effect.

FLEETWOOD MAC'S "RUMOURS" BACK ON THE CHARTS IN AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIA:

ARIA TOP 50 CATALOGUE ALBUMS CHART - Week of February 22nd:

"The Very Best Of" is sitting at #9 down 2 spots from last week on the Australian Top 50 Catalogue Charts. Total weeks on the Catalogue Chart = 15.

Also, Fleetwood Mac's 12 times platinum (840,000 units) album Rumours enters the Top 50 Catalogue Chart in Australia at #38 for the week of February 22, 2010.

THE UK
In it's 18th week of release "The Very Best Of" slides from #16 to #25 on the UK Top 75 Chart.  When it peaked again last week at #16 sales in the UK were 16,895.

UK TOP 75 CHART RUN W/ NONE SALES FIGURES (2009 Best Of Version):
Week 1 #6 - Oct 26, 2009 - 18,763
Week 2 #10 - Nov 2, 2009 - 17,541
Week 3 #12 - Nov 9, 2009
Week 4 #15 - Nov 16, 2009
Week 5 #26 - Nov 23, 2009
Week 6 #29 - Nov 30, 2009
Week 7 #31 - Dec 7, 2009
Week 8 #25 - Dec 14, 2009
Week 9 #21 - Dec 21, 2009
Week 10 #23 - Dec 28, 2009
Week 11 #37 - Jan 4, 2010
Week 12 #42 - Jan 11, 2010
Week 13 #31 - Jan 18, 2010
Week 14 #35 - Jan 25, 2010
Week 15 #31 - Feb 1, 2010
Week 16 #22 - Feb 8, 2010
Week 17 #16 - Feb 15, 2010 - 16,895
Week 18 #25 - Feb 22, 2010

(PHOTO) STEVIE NICKS & MICK FLEETWOOD INTERSCOPE AFTER GRAMMY PARTY

Interscope, Geffen, A&M and Beats By Dre Grammy Party

SANTA MONICA, CA - JANUARY 31: Musicians Mick Fleetwood and Steve Nicks attend The Interscope, Geffen, A&M and Beats By Dre Grammy Party at Thom Thom Club on January 31, 2010 in Santa Monica, California.

(AUDIO) MICK FLEETWOOD INTERVIEW ABC NEWS AUSTRALIA

Mick Fleetwood Music Man, Winemaker and Mittagong local
ABC.net.au

Mick Fleetwood talked to Fiona Wyllie ahead of performing at Cassagrain Winery at Port Macquarie

Mick Fleetwood's music has provided the soundtrack to so many of our lives. Have you a particular Fleetwood Mac track that takes you back to a particular time and place? Have you heard stories or did you spend whole weekends listening to Fleetwood Mac on a cassette deck over and over.

A group of mates pulled off the road in a huge traffic jam on the old Pacific Highway through Newcastle and started playing cards and listening to Rumours, when they pulled back on the road, the traffic was clearer, the sky darker and the clock said it was 5 hours later. Back in 1977 there was a gig called RockArena held at the Sydney Showground with Santana, Little River band and Fleetwood Mac. In 2010 Mick Fleetwood Boz Scaggs and Michael McDonald are performing at Cassagrain Winery at Port Macquarie on Sunday 28th February.

For the last nine years Mick Fleetwood has been in the wine business. It all started with a throwaway line to a business colleague, who took him seriously and the musician is now an accomplished wine maker. He puts his heart and soul into making wine and has won a number of awards. For a winemaker playing in a winery is a perfect fit however Mick has said he hopes they'll all make it on stage.

His latest album Blue Again has some wonderful early Fleetwood Mac blues songs. Mick Fleetwood says he was weaned on Blues Music when he first went to London at 17 years old, and learning the Blues was his boot camp for training as a musician. The Blues, he said, "Is the love of my life" and that Fleetwood Mac was originally a blues band.

When Fleetwood Mac toured in December last year, Mick met up with Billy Thorpe's widow and daughters. He played with Billy in a band called the Zoo and misses him greatly. Mick told ABC Statewide afternoons that Billy Thorpe was unique and how thrilled he was to have played on the album Thorpie was working on when he died, which is being finished posthumously. According to Mick Fleetwood, Billy could convince anyone to do things his way, because he was "an eager beaver who just wouldn't give up, a red headed fireball who had the energy of three men". Besides his character Billy was a fantastic musician, and had "that voice."

Not many people know Mick Fleetwood purchased a property "Wensley Dale" in Mittagong in the southern highlands and went through the process of immigrating to Australia. He has a great affinity with Australia and if he could turn the clock back to being 25 again and didn't have the same things happening in his private life he would be an 'aussie'. Even though he loves Australia he's more than happy in his island home of Maui, where surprisingly he has found all the musicians who play in his band.

Have a listen to his interview with Fiona Wyllie on ABC NSW Statewide afternoons.

MP3 DOWNLOAD

14 MINUTE INTERVIEW

FLEETWOOD MAC CREEM MAGAZINE JULY 77 "NATION GRIPPED IN MASSIVE MAC ATTACK!"

FLEETWOOD MAC - CREEM MAGAZINE

JULY, 1977

33 Years ago this month - Fleetwood Mac's Rumours was released

VINTAGE FLEETWOOD MAC PHOTOS 1976

Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie and John McVie

Oakland, CA - 1976

by: Ken Regan 

Others you may have missed can be seen here

75 MINUTES WITH MICK FLEETWOOD - ROCKLINE INTERVIEW

MICK FLEETWOOD

ROCKLINE INTERVIEW

JANUARY 27, 2010

The full interview with Mick Fleetwood is up on the Rockline Replay site - it's about 75 minutes in length. The interview was originally broadcast January 27, 2010.  Mick is promoting the "Blue Again" DVD, CD and the upcoming tour in Australia and taking phone calls.  Not a lot of information regarding long term plans either with Fleetwood Mac or with the Blues Band, wants to keep on rockin regardless - he does suggest that maybe Fleetwood Mac as a band will tour again next year and hopes they make another studio album.

LINK TO ROCKLINE

MICK FLEETWOOD AUSTRALIAN INTERVIEW.... WEDNESDAY FEB 17

MICK FLEETWOOD to be interviewed on Wednesday February 17, 2010 on ABC Local Radio Mid North Coast NSW at 2:35pm - on Statewide Afternoons with Fiona Wyllie.

You should be able to listen live here: ABC MID NORTH COAST

FLEETWOOD MAC BACK IN THE UK TOP 20

UK TOP 75 - Week of February 15th:
In it's 17th week of release "The Very Best Of" is back in the UK top 20 for the first time since the middle of last November. TVBO is up another 6 positions this week (it's third consecutive increase) to #16.

UK TOP 75 CHART RUN (2009 Best Of Version):
Week 1 #6 - Oct 26, 2009 - Debut
Week 2 #10 - Nov 2, 2009
Week 3 #12 - Nov 9, 2009
Week 4 #15 - Nov 16, 2009
Week 5 #26 - Nov 23, 2009
Week 6 #29 - Nov 30, 2009
Week 7 #31 - Dec 7, 2009
Week 8 #25 - Dec 14, 2009
Week 9 #21 - Dec 21, 2009
Week 10 #23 - Dec 28, 2009
Week 11 #37 - Jan 4, 2010
Week 12 #42 - Jan 11, 2010
Week 13 #31 - Jan 18, 2010
Week 14 #35 - Jan 25, 2010
Week 15 #31 - Feb 1, 2010
Week 16 #22 - Feb 8, 2010
Week 17 #16 - Feb 15, 2010

AUSTRALIA:
ARIA TOP 50 CATALOGUE ALBUMS CHART - Week of February 15th:
"The Very Best Of" is sitting at #7 up 1 spot from last week on the Australian Top 50 Catalogue Charts. Total weeks on the Catalogue Chart = 14.

MICK FLEETWOOD "In My Own Words"

MICK FLEETWOOD
SUNDAY MAGAZINE
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

After surviving his fair share of band in-fighting and rock’n’roll excess, this 62-year-old drummer is following up the Fleetwood Mac renaissance with a blues revival of his own

I was a Royal Air Force brat. My father served in the RAF and we moved a lot. When people ask me where I’m from, I say, “Not really anywhere.” So I was well suited to the rock’n’roll life, because travelling and being in strange places is a very comfortable thing for me. 

My upbringing was universal – Egypt, all over England, Norway. As a young chap, I spoke fluent Norwegian. I can’t remember a word now.

My school days were always numbered. Today it would be known as a learning disability; I loved discussion and drama, but I couldn’t put it down on paper. As a result, I left school at 15 and went to London with my drum kit. Luckily, I was supported by my parents. 

By happenstance, I met [keyboard player] Peter Bardens. He lived next door to my sister, with whom I was staying, and he heard me play my drums. Peter had just crossed over into early R’n’B and blues and we listened to loads of his records. I blundered into blues. It suited me as a musician and, later on, I realised it suited me as a person, in terms of less is more; I was never a great technician. 

The Fleetwood Mac story is unique. We’ve had many changes stylistically and we’ve been blessed with many talented people. 

The original line-up was only really known in Europe and Australia. When we lost founding member Peter Green, we spent the next few years touring and concentrating on working in America; I decided we should make a stand there. Then came the fairytale story of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joining. 

We made Fleetwood Mac, our first album with Lindsey and Stevie, in 1975 and it sold well. Then we made Rumours in 1976 and all hell broke loose. It was to be the success story. It was incredibly gratifying. 

We also made lifestyle changes – not all of which were good. We had a lot of fun, which for many of us turned into a nightmare mist of alcohol and drugs, mixed with the belief in what we did. That’s what ended up saving us, but there were ramifications; trying to juggle a career, travelling and family is hard for anyone. 

I was first married to Jenny, who I ended up marrying twice. We have two daughters [Amy Rose, 38, and Lucy, 36], but it was dysfunctional in the later years. Then I married Sarah and, eventually, my present wife, Lynn. We have beautiful seven-year-old twins, Ruby and Tessa. I’m surrounded by ladies I love. 

My role in Fleetwood Mac has often been as piggy in the middle. It’s a fascinating story and hasn’t been, as Lindsey would say, “always easy”, but we’re emotionally connected people. The past year on the road together has been tremendous and could be the reason why there will hopefully be more music to put on an album. 

God knows why but, at 62, I’m playing harder and louder than ever. I can’t work it out. I feel blessed to have come through the patchwork of trying my best to kill myself in good shape. 

These days, we travel in style. We have our own plane, as opposed to driving in a van for 20 hours. When I tour with my blues band [The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band], I do exactly that. 

I live in Hawaii and I’m where I dreamed of being at this point in my life. I’m fortunate to have pulled that off. I have a lovely home, I play golf and I socialise, and I get to play with my band quite a lot. 

I also have a wine company. Not a winery, as it’s a very wealthy man’s game. When I started, many people thought I was another celebrity sticking my name on a bottle. It wasn’t that – we work very hard and about 80 per cent of the wines are blended by me. Sometimes I have to do short tasting sessions while I’m out on tour. 

I met Billy Thorpe though a friend. I was looking for someone to fulfil the singing chores in a band and he fitted really well. In truth, I had no idea of his stature in Australia; he truly was an icon. It’s fair to say that the AC/DCs of the world listened to a few of his records. 

Billy was a very talented man. Sadly, he departed in 2007. I saw his wife and children the last time I was in Australia. He’s definitely missed in my world.

The sort of humour I love is fairly stupid, really. It’s being able to laugh at yourself and end up with tears pouring down your face. It’s not very sophisticated. 

CLAIRE BRADLEY

The MickFleetwood Blues Band album, Blue Again (Universal Music), is out now. See them live with Boz Scaggs and Michael McDonald, February17 to 28. For tour details, visit www. ticketek.com.au and www.ticketmaster.com.au.

MICHELLE BRANCH PRODUCED BY STEVIE NICKS - FLEETWOOD MAC TRIBUTE ALBUM

Over the last few hours, Michelle Branch has been dropping hints as to what she's been up to.  A few photos surfaced - one of which was the lyrics to "Say You Love Me" by Fleetwood Mac, the other was the snapshot below of Waddy Wachtel.

Now... According to Michelle Branch's twitter page, she's in the studio singing "Say You Love Me" for a Fleetwood Mac Tribute album.... And the cool thing is Stevie Nicks is producing the track for her.

Q&A WITH MICK FLEETWOOD AND RICK VITO

Q&A: THE MICK FLEETWOOD BLUES BAND FT. RICK VITO
BY LAUREN TABAK
Rhapsody.com

The 2010 Grammys were a splendid time. We here at Rhapsody HQ headed down to Los Angeles for the event, where we had the opportunity to interview one cool pop star after another. The coolest of them all just might’ve been Mick Fleetwood, whose album Blue Again, recorded with guitarist Rick Vito, was nominated for Best Traditional Blues Album.

Wait a minute. Did you say Mick Fleetwood? The blues?

That’s right. Long before “Rhiannon” and Stevie Nicks’ sexy-witch dance, the legendary drummer served time backing some of the great musicians in the British blues scene, including John Mayall. In fact, the Mac actually started life as a hardcore electric blues band, featuring Peter Green, mercurial guitarist and No. 1 rival of Eric Clapton. So yeah, Mick has kind of come full circle as of late.

We were lucky enough to sit down with both Mick and Rick, who gave us the scoop on Blue Again -- plus lots more on the blues, Peter Green and the long, tangled history of Fleetwood Mac. 

Check out the video here: Rhapsody

Stacy's "Silver Springs" - Stevie Nicks cover

This is really nice!!!

Eisley’s Stacy DuPree performs a stunning version of the Stevie Nicks classic “Silver Spring”.

"Get mp3 of Stacy DuPree's "Silver Springs" - Stevie Nicks cover here: http://tinyurl.com/ygr967n"

UK CHART UPDATE: FLEETWOOD MAC'S "THE VERY BEST OF"

UK TOP 75 - Week of February 8th:
"The Very Best Of" is UP 9 positions over last week to #22 in the UK.

UK TOP 75 CHART RUN (2009 Best Of Version):
Week 1 #6 Debut
Week 2 #10
Week 3 #12
Week 4 #15
Week 5 #26
Week 6 #29
Week 7 #31
Week 8 #25
Week 9 #21
Week 10 #23
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US Magazine February 15th

MICK FLEETWOOD INTERVIEW

MICK FLEETWOOD INTERVIEW

Graveyard Blues with Jerry Schaefer

January 24, 2010

NOW THAT'S A BARGAIN!!! STEVIE NICKS "BELLA DONNA" $2.99 AMAZON

(mp3 download) Amazon Daily Deal - it's a steal!  And an awesome album.  First solo album by Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks.  Go Get It!  AMAZON

BACKSTAGE WITH STEVIE NICKS, ROBERTA FLACK AND MAXWELL

It's brief... But it's a glimpse of Stevie backstage at the Grammy Awards. She's watching Roberta Flack and Maxwell sing together. This is part of Taylor Swifts backstage video that she sent in to the Ellen show.

MICK FLEETWOOD BLUES BAND TOUR POSTER PHOTO SHOOT

A couple of interesting shots of Mick Fleetwood, Rick Vito and John McVie.

According to this blogger and profession photographer Tony Novak-Clifford "chase the light" these are shots for the tour poster for The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band.

In the notes on the site, it indicates John McVie is in the band and Lenny Castellanos subs for John on bass for some dates. I didn't realize that John was initially in the band!?  I know Lenny Castellanos has been the only visible bass player thus far in the group.

These photos are from April, 2008 and were taken by tour manager William Pie in Hawaii.

IN DEFENSE OF STEVIE NICKS - SWIFT LABEL CONFIRMS TAYLOR HAD PROBLEMS

Stevie did her best to pull Taylor back on key - you can only do so much in a short amount of time - it happens.... Stevie needs to get out there and do something amazing this year so that 2010 isn't defined by this.

Taylor Swift Defended by Record Label Executive

NYTIMESBLOG

"Mr. Borchetta told The Associated Press that Ms. Swift had a technical problem during her duet with Ms. Nicks and was unable to hear the complete mix of the song as she performed it."

FLEETWOOD MAC'S STUDIO GENIUS OPENS UP - LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM EQ MAGAZINE (4/09)

I've been looking for this since last April when it first came out!... It's a good read.

(click to enlarge)