Mac legend to grace Aldershot stage

FLEETWOOD Mac legend Peter Green will be playing the West End Centre in Aldershot.

He is touring to play the band’s classic hits and will appear at the West End Centre on September 3.

gethampshire.co.uk

He played with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and, most famously, Fleetwood Mac.

Raised in the East End of London, Peter was playing bass in several amateur bands before he met drummer Mick Fleetwood during a brief stint playing lead guitar with Peter B’s Looners.

He left the Looners to replace Eric Clapton as guitarist in the John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.

Taking Clapton’s place was never going to be easy but it didn’t take too long for Peter to prove his worth and become the new ‘darling’ of the blues scene.

After Peter joined them the Bluesbreakers recorded their seminal Hard Road album, which included his major instrumental masterpiece The Supernatural.

Having collaborated on just the one album, Peter left the Bluesbreakers to start his own band, with Mick Fleetwood on drums and John McVie on bass, and Fleetwood Mac was born.

The band released their first album in 1968 to rave reviews, and Green’s classic tracks Black Magic Woman and the number one hit Albatross cemented the band’s success.

Drugs took their toll on Peter’s mental health and he decided to leave Fleetwood Mac in 1970.

He recorded a solo album but then faded into obscurity.

He made guest appearances on albums by ex-band mates and friends before recording more albums in the late 70s and early 80s.

In 1998 he and the rest of Fleetwood Mac were inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

At the time, Mick Fleetwood said of Green: “He’s back in the studio, he’s actually playing again, which is why he’s here on this planet. I do seriously believe he has a magic touch. I think you will never see Pete back out in the showbiz sense of the word but I think you will hear some more music from Peter Green and I hope I’m part of that. I hope that comes to pass.”

Westy employee Nicci Hewett said: “We’re delighted Peter has chosen to play at the Westy, because you really never know when you will get another chance to see this legend, who played such a large part in shaping contemporary music.”

Tickets cost £18 (£16 concessions) and the event is standing.

Available from www3.hants.gov.uk/westendcentre or through the box office on 01252 330040.

NEW PLYMOUTH COUNCIL TO COVER LAKE WITH SEATS FOR FLEETWOOD MAC

NZHerald

by: Scott Kara

So, Fleetwood Mac are coming to New Zealand. That's great, because even though the band's classic albums - Rumours (1977) and Tusk (1979) - were a little before my time, I've always had a crush on Stevie Nicks, with her long mane of blonde hair and lacy hippy frocks.

And it's even better that the band is playing in my hometown of New Plymouth at my favourite venue in the world, the beautiful Bowl of Brooklands.

However, sorry to spoil the party, but the gig might not be all it's cracked up to be. You see, what makes the Bowl unique, apart from the natural grass bowl, is the lake in front of the stage. For Fleetwood Mac (and Cliff Richard and the Shadows in February), the New Plymouth District Council is plonking a 1000-seat platform over the lake. Having been to many concerts at the bowl, including seeing Tim Finn row across the lake during Six Months In a Leaky Boat, I have to say it won't be the same without the lake.

By the sound of it, the introduction of the platform was a deciding factor for New Plymouth scoring Fleetwood Mac's only New Zealand show because the band insisted it would make for a more "intimate" gig.

Then again, why couldn't they say to Stevie and the lads that they'd happily put on a row boat for them to use? I don't mind rowing them across.

FLEETWOOD MAC - PERTH (ME BANK STADIUM)

Perth, WA - ME Bank Stadium

Ticket prices for Fleetwood Mac's two shows in Perth, Australia on Friday, December 11th and Saturday December 12th have been published by Ticketmaster:

Ticket Prices:

A Reserve : $195.00

B Reserve : $165.00

C Reserve : $125.00

Onsale to General Public

Start: Friday September 4, 2009, 9am

My Ticketmaster Presale

Start: Wednesday September 2, 2009, 9am

End: Thursday September 3, 2009, 5pm


REVIEW FROM PERTH
FLEETWOOD MAC DON'T DISAPPOINT

FLEETWOOD Fluster Over Ticket Prices

Stuff.co.nz

Tickets to the Fleetwood Mac concert haven't gone on sale yet but already there's confusion over how much they will cost.

One website, www.showbiznz.co.nz, has begun offering pre-sale tickets at $147.50 for general admission to $369 for the best seats on the platform over the lake at New Plymouth's Bowl of Brooklands.

But these prices look to be more expensive than what will be offered when tickets go on general sale next month - the Taranaki Daily News understands they will range from $120 to $320.

That won't be officially known until September 4 when first dibs on Fleetwood Mac's December 19 concert will go to TSB Bank customers, who will be able to buy them on-line until September 8. Public sales will then open the next day.

Leesa Tilley, general manager of promoter Andrew McManus Presents, said promoters often worked with on-sellers like Showbiznz who were allocated a very limited number of ticket "holds".

"These aren't actual tickets these won't be available until the general public tickets go on sale and they can market or sell them however they like," she said.

"How they market and sell them is up to them."

The prices to be asked for the big concert look similar to pricing for Taranaki's last major concert, the performance by Sir Elton John in December 2007.

Prices for that event ranged from $155 to $375.

* How much would you pay to go? Post your comments here.

FLEETWOOD MAC'S Return To NZ

Blog On The Tracks

Stuff.co.nz

by Simon Sweetman

By now many of you will be aware that Fleetwood Mac is playing in New Plymouth before the end of 2009. You may also be aware of my love for this band. Or should I say bands.

My love for Fleetwood Mac (and you can click on that link to get the full soap-opera behind the band if you don't already know it) started when I was about five years old.

And then, a few years on from that - maybe I was nine or ten? - I watched a documentary which alerted me to the previous blues band Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac.

Next thing I was obsessed with the early years. I knew Albatross - I just didn't know it was the same group that did Say You Love Me - and of course it's not really the same group, but you know what I mean...I knew Albatross but just from hearing it on the radio; I didn't know who played it. Didn't really care at that age.

But this documentary had me obsessed with Fleetwood Mac. I loved the stories of the drinking and drug-taking that had meant some members had disappeared to join cults; moved to Africa and wanted to give all their money away; started having affairs with the partners of other band members (this practice would continue for years in the band); and - very sadly in the case of Danny Kirwan - were sent to a home for the mentally ill.

When I say I loved these stories, I was just fascinated with the soap-opera of Fleetwood Mac. And of course when the band created its second permanent lineup in the mid-1970s - the one that would go on to become global superstars - the soap-opera kicked up a few gears.

Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham were a couple; they had been drafted in to the band as a pair - a songwriting duo and a...

To read the full article along with many many comments on the article (and to leave yours) go HERE

CHRIS ISAAK HOUR: WITH STEVIE NICKS

In case you missed the first 18 airings of this, here's another chance to catch Stevie's interview on The Chris Isaak Hour.

THE CHRIS ISAAK HOUR: Stevie Nicks

Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Stevie Nicks gives us a sneak peak of 'Gold Dust Woman' and 'Stand Back' from her new CD. In an exclusive interview, Nicks talks to host Chris Isaak about her years with Fleetwood Mac, her severe battle with cocaine and why she has never married. Isaak also accompanies Nicks in performing songs that influenced her early career, such as 'It's Late' and 'Red River Valley'.

Next Airing:

• Thursday, August 27 8:00am
• Thursday, August 27 2:00pm
• Saturday, September 5 9:00am

Bio Channel