Azoff, to continue to manage Fleetwood Mac after leaving Live Nation

When the news broke on New Years Eve that Irving Azoff had stepped down from his position at Live Nation as chairman and CEO of Front Line Entertainment, it came as a bit of a shock.  It wasn't initially clear at the time what the status of Fleetwood Mac or it's members was in terms of artist representation.  But according to RollingStone, Fleetwood Mac will still be managed by Mr. Azoff. 

"Azoff, 65, will continue to manage the Eagles, Aguilera, Fleetwood Mac, Van Halen and more of his biggest clients; he has a two-year non-compete agreement with Live Nation, the world's biggest concert promoter, but can work on projects involving recorded music, TV, movies and music and book publishing."

Mr. Azoff will continue to manage these artists under his Azoffmusic Management. Lindsey Buckingham signed with Irving just a couple of years ago - so it seems he's still connected with Irving.  Where Stevie stands, I'm not sure. Stevie's managed by Howard Kaufman and Sheryl Louis. Howard was a partner in Front Line Management with Irving at the time of the merger with Ticketmaster and with Front Line staying with Live Nation, It's not clear what her status is whether she's still with Howard and Front Line under Live Nation, or if Howard left with Irving and therefore took Stevie and whomever else he managed with him. When Irving left, leaving behind Front Line he only retained a select number of artists he managed directly ie the Eagles (who he's managed since the 70's) and Christina Aguilera.  Presumably Lindsey falls under Azoffmusic Management. This is also where I'm assuming Fleetwood Mac falls.  It's entirely possible that Stevie as a solo artist could be in that mix as well - or it's possible that for her solo work she's still with Howard under Front Line which is still with Live Nation.  Confusing!

The Back Story

This is how I understand it... Irving Azoff and Howard Kaufman were partners in Front Line Management from '74 to '83 when Irving decided to leave Front Line to become president of MCA Records in 1983.  Irving continued managing artists like the Eagles under Azoffmusic Management.  Mr Kaufman then created a talent management company, HK Management, who at the time managed Stevie Nicks.  In 2005 Irving and Howard formed a partnership and merged their two companies to reform Front Line, the management company. Now Stevie is with Front Line guided by Howard and Sheryl Louis. Front Line as a management company then began acquiring other smaller management companies and artists bring them under the Front Line umbrella becoming a rather large management company with a stable of managers who managed well over 200 artists, some of the biggest in the industry. Irving then took Front Line and merged it with Ticketmaster in 2008 and became the head of Ticketmaster Entertainment. Front Line became a subsidiary of Ticketmaster. After that merger, he then merged Ticketmaster with Live Nation in 2010 becoming Chairman of Live Nation in 2011.  Again, Front Line was a subsidiary. With the artist and ticketing and with Live Nation and all the venues they own the world over, from a business point of view, it just made sense to have everything in house. But according to what Mr. Azoff is saying in these departure interviews, with Ticketmaster and Live Nation being public companies, you are restricted in what you can do and he felt smothered.... So he felt it was time to move on.

But it's good to hear Fleetwood Mac will still be well looked after.

Check out billboard Biz and these two articles in The Hollywood Reporter here and here plus the latest in Rolling Stone "Irving Azoff's Live Nation Exit Leaves Many Questions Unanswered
Powerful manager was frustrated in efforts to reform concert business"

I find this stuff kinda fascinating, but oh so confusing!

Fleetwood Mac's 1977 Japanese Tour Footage Surfaces

Well this is interesting... I wonder if she's speaking about this footage?  If so, it's cool to know that it's intact somewhere and by the sounds of it, is being worked on.  Michael Collins is also the one who shot the documentary footage that will be released with the Rumours re-release later this month.

Ringing in the New Year With Fleetwood Mac
by Jane Heller
Huffington Post

I've never been a big fan of New Year's Eve. There's so much pressure to do something out-of-this-world fabulous, not to mention have someone out-of-this-world fabulous to do it with. I remember prix fixed restaurant dinners that weren't worth the money and too-big parties whose forced gaiety made everyone feel tense and champagne hangovers that wrecked me for days. And I remember occasions when my husband was suffering from flare-ups from Crohn's disease and was too ill to celebrate at all.

My favorite memories are of quiet evenings with him and a few close friends, and this past New Year's Eve was a case in point. He was in better-than-usual health and good spirits, so out we went.

Our hosts were Martha and Michael Collins, who had lost their house in the 2008 wildfire that destroyed over 200 homes in the Santa Barbara area. After living in a trailer for four years, Martha and Michael rose from the ashes, literally, and moved last month into the spectacular new house they built on the same site -- a meticulously-crafted beacon of resilience. Some people would have been thrown by the very notion of losing everything (short of the clothes on their backs and their laptops), but Martha and Michael thrived, their marriage and partnership more solid than ever.

We were in the midst of their scrumptious meal when Michael, a filmmaker whose specialty has been chronicling the lives and music of our most accomplished rock 'n' roll artists, mentioned that among the very few material possessions he'd been able to grab before a wall of flames drove him and Martha out of their house was the documentary footage he'd shot 35 years ago of Fleetwood Mac's 1977 Japanese tour to promote their "Rumours" album.

"I'm finishing up the documentary now," he told us.

"The public has never seen Fleetwood Mac like this before," Martha chimed in. "They were so young and it was such an innocent time, and the music is beyond great since they were in their prime."

I put down my knife and fork (not easy when your hosts have prepared a feast that would rival any restaurant), and said, "Can we see this documentary? Like, tonight?"

Michael hesitated. "It's still raw -- a work in progress. But I guess I could show you clips."

I was not taking "I guess" for an answer. Fleetwood Mac has always been one of my favorite bands and on this particular New Year's Eve, when I'd felt barraged by news of Kanye West, the Gangnam Style guy and Rihanna's latest Twitpic, I was so in the mood for a little boomer music.

Michael obliged. We adjourned to the Collins's living room with its 50" flat screen, professional-grade sound system and comfy chairs, and watched avidly as cameras swooped in on the youthful faces of Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham and Christine and John McVie. (If you liked the close-ups in Les Mis, you'll love this film.)

Full article at Huffington Post

Stevie Nicks's New Year's Resolution: Make Fleetwood Mac's Upcoming Tour Great!

After a busy 2012 promoting and touring behind her latest solo album, In Your Dreams, Stevie Nicks is turning her full attention to Fleetwood Mac in the coming year.  The band will hit the road for a lengthy North American tour in early spring, and Stevie says her New Year's resolutions are all about her work with the Mac.

"I'm just going to work as hard as I can to make this Fleetwood Mac thing be as great as I know it can be," she told ABC News Radio.  "It is a lot of work, and it takes a lot of thought, but we're all really willing to do that."

She added that maintaining her health also will be a part of her commitment to the band.  "My resolution is always to just do what I do and do it well," she noted, "[and] take care of myself on the other side of that, physically, and make it great."

Prior to the tour kickoff, Stevie and the band plan to put out a couple of recently-recorded new songs.  While Stevie admits she isn't sure about the when, where and how when it comes to the release of the new tracks, she says she's very excited about them.

"I don't think [the record company reps have] exactly decided what they're gonna do or how they're gonna present [the songs]," she tells ABC News Radio.  "But, whatever, I can tell you they're done, and they sound amazing.  So, they're gonna fly out there into the world in some way, shape or form." 

Fleetwood Mac's North American tour leg kicks off on April 4 in Columbus, Ohio, and is scheduled through a June 12 show in Detroit.

2013 ABC News Radio

Time Sensitive: Win a pair of tickets to Fleetwood Mac live in Atlanta June 10th

Live Nation Atlanta is giving you a chance to win a pair of tickets to see Fleetwood Mac live in Atlanta on June 10th.  

No time to waste... Contest closes January 3rd at 5:00pm ET.  Click through and "Like" Live Nation Atlanta on facebook and follow the entry instructions.

Good luck!

2012 Year in Review

Happy New Year!  and best wishes for a healthy happy 2013 to everyone in Fleetwood Mac past and present... 

Today back in 1975 marked the first day that Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham could call themselves members of Fleetwood Mac after officially joining the ranks the night before during a meeting with Mick, John and Christine. The rest as they say is history!  Hard to believe that 37 Years later, there is still so much going on with Fleetwood Mac and it's members!

2012 in Review

It was an interesting year if you were a fan of Fleetwood Mac or one of it's members.  Through this past year we heard new music, watched a new documentary film, was up close with them and listened to them speak, read books about them, listened to tribute albums, watched them on TV, attended a restaurant opening and gallery exhibits not to mention attended their live shows or in some fans cases, met them and followed them around the country seeing multiple shows.  In many ways fans were able to get even closer to the band.

2012 started off on a sombre note though with the news of Stevie's mother Barbara Nicks' passing in Phoenix in late December. Then in early January former Fleetwood Mac member Bob Weston passed away in London from natural causes - then just six months later, in June, we would see the sad demise of Bob Welch in Nashville.  Through it all, the current members of Fleetwood Mac soldiered on and made the best of 2012 in their own way.

LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM

Lindsey Buckingham kicked off the year as guest speaker at the USC Pop Music Forum at USC in January and recorded new music with Mick and John in the early part of 2012 for a possible Fleetwood Mac album. After the cancellation of the UK dates in December, 2011 who knew what Lindsey would do tour wise. Would he wait for Neale's recovery or what. Turns out he would strip things down to their bare bones and go it alone. He put together a solo acoustic tour running from May to November that would see him perform over 75 dates across the US and Canada completely solo and alone... a first! Plus he would continue to release new music by way of a live album late in the year called 'One Man Show' capturing his solo acoustic tour and would end the year releasing yet more new music - three tracks on Decembers "This is 40 Soundtrack", playing live at The Roxy in Hollywood at the release party and attending the American Country Awards in Las Vegas as a presenter.  Lindsey ended 2012 spotted at a pizza joint in northern California over the holidays.

STEVIE NICKS

Stevie resurfaced in February briefly to honour her friend Jimmy Iovine in L.A. at Village Recording Studio, appeared on two high profile TV shows in March, "Up All Night" and "American Idol" playing herself on both as a Psychic and Mentor. She was spotted in pigtails in Hawaii in May. In June, Stevie honoured Bette Midler in NYC by performing live singing "The Rose" during the Songwriters Hall of Fame Awards ceremony.  She kicked off more support for her 2011 'In Your Dreams' album with TV appearances and more touring through the summer and fall playing dates solo and with Rod Stewart. In October, Stevie finally premiered her film 'In Your Dreams - Stevie Nicks' along with Dave Stewart at the Hamptons Film Festival and continued to screen the film and speak at 4 other locations on the east and west coasts of the US. Stevie made headlines along the way when she jumped into the dust up during the American Idol Nicki Manaji/Mariah Carey feud - quickly putting out a statement afterwards apologizing for her remarks.  The year ended with Stevie recording vocals on two tracks recorded earlier in the year by Mick, John and Lindsey at Lindsey's home studio for potential release prior to Fleetwood Mac's 2013 tour.  Stevie and Lindsey also recorded a third song that could be for a re-release of Buckingham Nicks in 2013 (40th Anniversary).  The song is of the era, but was never recorded.  Stevie's 2012 came to a close right back where she started in Phoenix with family and friends to celebrate the holidays.

MICK FLEETWOOD

Mick kicked off 2012 putting one of his Maui residences up for rental and also recording new music with Lindsey and John in L.A. in the early part of 2012.  He announced in February the opening date for his new restaurant on Maui "Fleetwood's on Front Street", shocked the world with his candid Playboy interview in March on the future of Fleetwood Mac and that he was getting a divorce.  He continued to make various personal appearances like in L.A. in June he exhibited his artwork at the Mouche Gallery and finally opened his long talked about new restaurant Fleetwood's on Front Street in August with a lavish grand opening.  Mick was spotted through the rest of 2012 at his restaurant on Maui and many nights was part of the live entertainment.  Including on December 22nd playing for the Kit Kat Club.

Photos by Howard Dinits

FLEETWOOD MAC

Fleetwood Mac as a band was obviously idol through 2012 although the material on the band kept on coming.  In January, the cover and release date were released for producer Ken Caillat's new book "Making Rumours - The Inside Story of the Classic Fleetwood Mac Album".  News broke in late January that Vera Farmiga would be playing Christine McVie in the bio pic "The Drummer" opposite Aaron Eckart on the life of Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys. In February, Rumours the album turned 35. In June details were released on the album "Just Tell Me That You Want Me - A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac" which would be released in August featuring indie artists covering Fleetwood Mac tracks.  Also in June, the 1992 boxset "25 Years - The Chain" was re-released in the UK and Ireleand hitting the top 10 on the UK album charts where when initially released in 1992 missed the charts completely.  the 4cd 72 song boxset would also be re-released in Australia and New Zealand.  In June in a TV interview promoting her tour, album and documentary on CBS Stevie confirmed Fleetwood Mac would be back out on the road in 2013. In October, Stevie, Christine and Lindsey were nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame with the awards ceremony taking place in NYC, June, 2013. In November, signs of Fleetwood Mac were coming back to life with their website undergoing a make over and new interviews with the band members starting to surface. Mojo Magazine dedicated a 10 page spread to the band which also included a tribute CD by more indie artists in their January, 2013 issue.  Although the article in the magazine wasn't anything really new to long time Fleetwood Mac fans, it gave a great history lesson for anyone just discovering their music. PLUS Christine McVie was interviewed for the article so it was cool to see something recent from her. Early In early December we saw the release of the 34 North American dates for Fleetwood Mac's tour - beginning in April, 2013.  These are the only dates released so far... I suspect more will come for the UK and Australia.

Things to look forward to in 2013:

• Rumours Expanded and Rumours Deluxe Release: January 28/29th. 3CD or 4CD,1DVD,1LP 
• The Sound City Documentary February 1st.  Stevie, Lindsey and Mick appear in the documentary.  
• The Sound City soundtrack.  Stevie appears on the track ‘You Can’t Fix This’ released March 12th.
• Two Fleetwood Mac tracks that were reported to be released prior to the band hitting the road.
• Fleetwood Mac tour begins April 4th.
• Songwriters Hall of Fame Awards - June, 2013
• Buckingham Nicks: Potential re-release with a newly recorded track by Stevie and Lindsey.
• US Festival documentary. No release date has been set.
• Stevie on Oprah: Oprahs film crew filmed Stevie in Sept, 2012 in St. Petersburg, Florida at Mahaffey Theater. It's obviously something for the OWN network. Rumour has it it's for Oprah's Master Class.
• Hopefully the release of the 'In Your Dreams - Stevie Nicks' documentary on DVD.

This is just a brief synopsis of the year... There were tons of great moments this past year many at the live shows for Lindsey and Stevie, too many to list. I'm sure many of you have your own personal highlights.  If you scroll down the right hand side of this page to the archive section you could go through each month, post by post for the full picture of 2012.

It was another full year for fans of Fleetwood Mac and their respective members... Thanks for following along on this site, on Facebook and Twitter and to everyone that posted comments on what was posted, (good or bad)... It's truly interesting to hear what you have to say... Even if I had to eliminate a few of them.

Have a great 2013!

1977 Fleetwood Mac Interview By John Pidgeon Available on Amazon and iTunes

Fleetwood Mac Interviewed 
By John Pidgeon
Release Date: November 19, 2012
Label: Rock's Backpages
Copyright: 1977 John Pidgeon
Duration: 32:33 minutes

Available on Amazon and iTunes

Sound sample on Amazon.

Christine McVie briefly came out of retirement to talk about her work on Fleetwood Mac’s classic 1977 Rumours album.

Christine McVie came briefly out of retirement to talk about her work on Fleetwood Mac’s classic 1977 Rumours album. McVie, who quit the band in 1998, told Mojo that when Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined the band in late-1974, she immediately knew she had to step up her game, explaining, “When Stevie and Lindsey joined I was in awe of the way they wrote and sang together. It was tough to compete and be good enough. I wasn’t a prolific writer to any degree. I didn’t start writing songs properly until I joined Fleetwood Mac. I was quite a novice on (1972′s) Bare Trees and (1971′s) Future Games.”

When asked if she was in touch with her former bandmates, McVie said: “I am in touch with (ex-husband) John (McVie) very often. Stevie and Lindsey not so often.”

She spoke about the weird situation of finally catching a Fleetwood Mac concert as an audience member, joking, “I have a really good time when I go. I can stand at the soundboard and watch them sweat. They do my songs, ‘Don’t Stop’ and ‘World Turning,’ but they are limited to what they can do of mine. I think they tried ‘You Make Loving Fun,’ but I don’t think the sound of their vocals were right. But I wish them well.”

In 2003 Christine McVie says that after attending a then-recent Fleetwood Mac concert in London, she had no regrets about splitting from the band and leaving the road behind: “I just felt kind of relieved, if you want to know the truth, ’cause I, I went backstage afterwards, and they were all so tired, and, I just don’t think I could do that anymore. It’s kind of, if you like, verified that I’d made the right decision.”

Fleetwood Mac will release two expanded versions of Rumours on January 29th, featuring a remastered version of the multi-platinum collection, along with two discs of outtakes, and a new “making of” documentary. Both available to pre-order on Amazon or iTunes.

The band — featuring Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, and John McVie — kicks off its 34-date North American tour on April 4th at Columbus, Ohio’s Nationwide Arena.  Tickets available at Ticketmaster

Christine's remarks can be found in the January, 2013 edition of Mojo Magazine.

b102.7

Enter to WIN tickets to see Fleetwood Mac Live in Ft. Lauderdale and San Jose

WIN A pair of tickets to see Fleetwood Mac Live 

May 22, 2013 in San Jose, CA

Draw Date for this Giveaway is Wednesday, May 15, 2013.  Winner will be notified by email before 5pm. 

Enter at Metroactive | Tickets available at Ticketmaster

WIN Tickets to see Fleetwood Mac Live!

June 8, 2013 in Ft.Lauderdale, FL

Contest ends on or around June 6th, 2013 at 5pm.  Enter at GATER 98.7FM | Tickets available at Ticketmaster

My Love Affair with a Woman: How She Helped Me Find Calm in Chaos

My Love Affair with a Woman: How She Helped Me Find Calm in Chaos

My love affair started at the impressionable age of 13. Yes, I know. I tricked you.  I am so sorry to disappoint my readers who were expecting a revealing post. Unfortunately, this post confession is more PG than PG- 13. The woman I am referring to is the sensational, spiritual singer Stevie Nicks, most notable of Fleetwood Mac fame. Who doesn’t love Stevie Nicks? Even former, US President Bill Clinton, who I also had a crush on at one time (come on, – I know I am NOT the only one who has crushed on Bill Clinton) has voiced his admiration for Ms. Nicks.

So, how did this love affair start? Quite simply, my love affair started when...

Check out the rest at gillgalmedia

Thanks Shelly!

Stevie Nicks & Lindsey Buckingham: Amazing and Favorite Shows of 2012

Amazing shows of 2012 a prelude to big events of ’13
The Edge - Boston Herald
by Jed Gottlieb
A look back at the best in live music in 2012 in Boston

8. Stevie Nicks (July 9, Bank of America Pavilion): 

Every rock list is front-­loaded with dudes. All this male dominance makes Stevie Nicks’ glory greater.­ On the classic “Stand Back,” she roared like the Golden God; her take on “Landslide” remained as sublime as ever. But “Gold Dust Woman” was the highlight: Not only was her voice spot-on, but when she sang, “Rulers make bad lovers/You better put your kingdom up for sale” with that still wild rasp, it was awesome.

Erika Goldring Photo

Music writer Alison Fensterstock's favorite regional shows of 2012
Nola.com
By Alison Fensterstock

3. Lindsey Buckingham, Aug. 18, One Eyed Jacks

Lindsey Buckingham’s solo albums don’t telegraph the kind of power the guitarist can deliver on his own. “Fleetwood Mac is the big machine, and this is the small machine,” Buckingham said onstage at One Eyed Jacks, explaining his choice to play a full tour of stripped-down shows in small clubs. It was a good choice – the force and passion of his unadorned voice, guitar and songwriting skill in the 300-capacity room was riveting. Fleetwood Mac, of course, will reunite for a world tour in early 2013, and it’ll be fabulous, I’m sure – but after that intimate show in August, I may be a convert to the power of the “small machine.”

Tommy Mann Jr. Photo

Best concerts of 2012
Tommy Mann Jr.
The Orange Leader

7. Lindsey Buckingham at Lutcher Theater for the Performing Arts in Orange (Aug. 19, 2012)

Fleetwood Mac member Lindsey Buckingham opened the 2012-2013 Lutcher Theater season in style in a show which featured only the musician and his arsenal of electric guitars. Although he only performed a handful of Fleetwood Mac songs, it was night to remember.