(PHOTOS) FLEETWOOD MAC WITH MICHAEL USHER OF 60 MINUTES AUSTRALIA

Fleetwood Mac featured on 60 Minutes Australia

Sunday, September 13th. Channel 9

Celebrity interviews aren't as easy as they look. You get used to spoilt stars who panic at the first sign of a personal question.

So meeting super-group Fleetwood Mac was a joy and a real revelation for Michael Usher.

There they were, some of the all-time greats, just itching to let it all hang out. What a story, a saga of passion, tangled love affairs, bitter hatred, acrimonious bust-ups and tearful reunions.

And in case you were wondering, there was plenty of the usual sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll, too.

Four decades of absolute mayhem and the miracle is they're still around, still making terrific music together.

FLEETWOOD MAC 60 MINUTES AUSTRALIA

Michael Usher talks about interviewing the

members of Fleetwood Mac

[airing Sunday September 13, 2013 in Australia]

60 Minutes Australia
September 11, 2009

A nice plate of sandwiches, a smooth glass of red wine and endless offers of fresh bottled water.

Sounds like a pleasant brunch, a casual weekend get together, but certainly not the hospitality I'd expected from three musicians whose sex drugs and Rock'n'Roll lifestyle in the 1970's made them legends.

I'm talking about Fleetwood Mac. Earlier this week, I returned from Los Angles and Hawaii where I caught up with Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood and Lindsey Buckingham.

Now to understand the band's history and music, you first have to get your head around these three members of the band. Their lives have been a rollercoaster. Stevie and Lindsay were lovers and broke up, and ever since have had a love-hate relationship. Stevie and Mick had a lengthy affair - that started in Australia by the way - and today call each other soul-mates. Stevie and Mick also happened to have spent most of the late 70's and 80's hooked not only on each other but drugs, especially cocaine. "Booze, cocaine, dope, booze, cocaine, dope," Mick told me when he was describing that time of his life.

These days, their lives are very different. They're clean, loving their music again and, after 34 years, liking each other enough to tour again.

In fact, for all their personal turmoil over the past few decades, they've always come together for the music. They may not have been speaking with each other at times, but what they had to say they said in song. And luckily for us, that meant great classics that made Fleetwood Mac one of the biggest-selling, most popular bands of all time.

Lindsey Buckingham was our first interview at his beautiful home in L.A. He has his own recording studio beneath his garage so we set up there for the interview. Lindsay's about to turn 60 next month but married for the first time 10 years ago and has three young children. A few of them popped their head in on the interview after getting home form school. You can tell Lindsey is loving being a dad, as much as he loves playing his music. He rightly has been hailed as the creative force behind Fleetwood Mac, especially the 'Tusk' and 'Tango in the Night' albums.

After the interview, Lindsey was good enough to pull out one of his many guitars and play us two songs, 'Never Going Back Again' and 'Big Love". He plays beautifully and, as many of his fans know, has enjoyed a successful solo career away from Fleetwood Mac. And here's some trivia – you remember that movie "National Lampoon's Vacation" with Chevy Chase? Well Lindsey wrote and performed the film's catchy theme song "Holiday Road".

Our next interview was a little way down the road in an equally nice area of L.A., at Stevie Nicks' home. And what a host she was, an open kitchen, fresh sandwiches, anything you wanted. Lucky there were supplies, because this lady loves to talk, and so do I. Our main interview ran almost one hour overtime and nothing was off limits.

Her 10-year cocaine binge, her love life with Lindsey and Mick, the music, her solo career – the lot – we talked about it all. Stevie likes to be open and candid because she hopes her life might be a lesson to some of the Hollywood starlets making a mess of their private lives at the moment. This woman has been through it all, survived, is still singing and loving life. And Stevie can't wait to tour Australia.

Next stop was the Hawaiian island of Maui that Mick Fleetwood has called home for a few years now. He has a magnificent lodge half way up a mountainside with sweeping views of the surf below. And here he can go hell for leather on the drums and there isn't a neighbour within hearing range who can complain. And Mick did just that for us. He hit the kit -belting away with all the power and emotion that helped him form this legendary band way back in the 60's.

Fleetwood Mac has reinvented itself a few times over, but Mick has always been there steering it through, finding new members and convincing the old ones to come back. And, in between gigs with Mac, he has a blues band that tours the world.

Mick like Lindsey loved and lost Stevie Nicks, and late in life also married and started again with a new family and young children.

Like Stevie, Mick was incredibly gracious with his time. We spent hours with him as he told Fleetwood Mac's turbulent tale and explained the often tortured inspiration behind the band's music. These days, Mick doesn't touch drugs but he does have a vineyard in California, so to help lubricate the interview he had a bottle of his favourite Pinot Noir within arm's reach.

It was a great experience talking with these music legends. The drummer, the guitarist and their Queen of Rock'n'Roll. They've got a story to tell and don't mind telling it. They were refreshingly honest, and generous. And without a single new song to plug, they're just enjoying being back together, touring the world, and performing the songs that made them superstars.

FLEETWOOD MAC DOUBLE CD VERY BEST OF RELEASED IN UK

Uncut.co.uk

Fleetwood Mac's anticipated remastered Very Best Of double album has finally got a UK release date of October 19 for the CD and digital versions.

The 36-track album, will be released just prior to the Mac's UK leg of The Unleashed Tour which starts at Glasgow SECC on October 22.

In their career, Fleetwood Mac have sold over 100 million albums worldwide -- famous tracks include: "The Chain", "Go Your Own Way", "Dreams" and "Landslide".

The band's current line-up is Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and Lindsey Buckingham.

Fleetwood Mac's The Very Best Of track listing is:

Disc One:
1. Monday Morning
2. Dreams
3. You Make Loving Fun
4.Go Your Own Way
5. Rhiannon
6. Say You Love Me
7. I'm So Afraid (Live, 1997)
8. Silver Springs
9. Over My Head
10. Never Going Back Again
11. Sara
12. Love In Stone
13. Tusk
14. Landslide
15. Songbird
16. Big Love (Live, 1997)
17. Storms

Disc Two:
1. The Chain
2. Don't Stop
3. What Makes You Think You're The One
4. Gypsy
5. Second Hand News
6. Little Lies
7. Think About Me
8. Go Insane (Live, 1997)
9. Gold Dust Woman
10. Hold Me
11. Seven Wonders
12. World Turning
13. Everywhere
14. Sisters of the Moon
15. Family Man
16. As Long As You Follow
17. No Questions Asked
18. Skies The Limit
19. Paper Doll

This was originally released in the UK in 2002 as a single disc version:

1. Go Your Own Way
2. Don’t Stop
3. Dreams
4. Little Lies
5. Everywhere
6. Albatross
7. You Make Loving Fun
8. Rhiannon
9. Black Magic Woman
10. Tusk
11. Say You Love Me
12. Man Of The World
13. Seven Wonders
14. Family Man
15. Sara
16. Monday Morning
17. Gypsy
18. Over My Head
19. Landslide
20. The Chain
21. Big Love (Live From Dance)

36,000 PREDICTED AT FLEETWOOD MAC NEW PLYMOUTH SHOWS

Beds scarce during Fleetwood Mac weekend
Stuff.co.nz

Accommodation for Fleetwood Mac's December 20 concert is almost sold out in New Plymouth, with out-of-towners being referred to Stratford and Hawera for beds.

But those keen on the outdoors will be able to camp a mere two-minute walk from the TSB Bowl of Brooklands where the concert is being held.

The New Plymouth District Council and Taranaki Arts Festival Trust have opened Pukekura Raceway up for camping. The racecourse has room for 3000 people.

Taft chief executive Suzanne Porter says the campsite will be set up the same as it is for Womad.

"If you have come to the Womad campsite, you will know what it's about," she says.

"We have good showers and toilets it's not grungy."

Camping vouchers are available from Ticketmaster today.

For Friday and Saturday nights, the cost is $40 per person and for Sunday night, it's $20 per person.

Many wanting a campsite at the racecourse have already registered at New Plymouth i-SITE Visitor Information Centre for their tickets.

The Saturday, December 19, Fleetwood Mac concert sold out within 10 minutes on Wednesday.

A second concert the next night was announced shortly afterwards, with tickets selling rapidly.

It is likely about 36,000 people will pass through the TSB Bowl of Brooklands gates in a 24-hour period.

Taranaki Motel Association president Deborah Tawa says most New Plymouth motels are fully booked for the Sunday show.

Continue to full article

Second show as Fleetwood Mac sells out
Taranaki Daily News

Fleetwood Mac fever hit overdrive yesterday as tickets for the international group's New Plymouth concert on December 19 sold out within minutes.

Promoters immediately announced a second concert for December 20, which means 36,000 people will likely pass through the TSB Bowl of Brooklands gates in a 24-hour period.

Thousands of tickets for the second Sunday show sold within half an hour.

New Plymouth District Council manager of business developments and events Garry Sharpe-Young said organisers anticipated tickets would sell fast.

"The promoter was trying to get hold of all the band managers to see about a second show and it was all very last minute and just in the nick of time," Mr Sharpe-Young said.

"The tickets for the second show are going very well and fast. It's just fantastic for Taranaki and it's great for the venue."

Taranaki Motel Association president Deborah Tawa says there is no motel accommodation for December 19 left in the region.

"We have been frantic," Mrs Tawa said yesterday.

"Accommodation for the first concert is well and truly gone, we filled up in five days two weeks ago."

There are still rooms available for the Sunday concert on December 20 but they are running out rapidly.

Continue to full article

GETTING FLEETWOOD MAC TOGETHER FOR ONE LAST TOUR

Lindsey Buckingham: Getting Fleetwood Mac Back Together, for One Last Tour

By Andy Threlfall
Blackbookmag.com

The tangled web that's the story of Fleetwood Mac is easily one of rock and roll's, well, quirkiest. A once-quintessentially English blues band came to be the sound of California dreaming in the mid-70s when, seemingly washed up and on the verge of permanent disbandment, drummer Mick Fleetwood asked L.A. husband and wife singer-songwriting team Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks to join the group in one last desperate throw of the musical dice. The rest was multi-platinum history; Rumours still boasts a place in the top-ten selling albums ever. But while the songs have endured, the addictions, the divorces, the petty band politic chipped away at their legacy for 30 years. Here, a reflective Lindsey Buckingham tries to find new meaning in those lost days of summer, and how being lucky enough to survive them has allowed Fleetwood Mac to get on stage one more time for their 2009 World Tour.

So: how’d this reunion come about?

In 2001, I wrote some material with the intention of putting out a solo album that actually ended up being the last Fleetwood Mac album [2003’s Say You Will]. My album got shelved, and a lot of my songs ended up being used on the Fleetwood Mac album. But I still had a few unfinished songs, so on my last solo album (Gift Of Screws), I was lucky enough to get Mick Fleetwood and John McVie to play on a few of the tracks. That was the start of a new discussion about taking Fleetwood Mac back out on the road in 2009.

Had you tried to dutifully maintain daily contact with the other members of Fleetwood Mac over the last few years?

I wouldn’t say daily. Part of what has allowed Fleetwood Mac to prevail over a long period of time is that we don’t actually maintain daily contact [laughs]. We don’t really keep in close contact per se. I think the very thing that keeps the chemistry so alive in the band and the music so good is because we take each other in small doses. Music is a very potent thing. So: I don’t speak to the others that often, but I had been speaking to them a lot because we were initially planning to do a lot of stuff together. Possibly an album, but definitely a world tour in 2009.

Surely modern methods of communication meant that you were never far from each other’s thoughts?

Of course from time to time I would email Stevie or Mick especially pictures from the kids’ summer holidays. We’re always interested in how our families are growing up. It’s good to just reconnect as human beings. Christine (McVie) wasn’t involved in any shape or form, as she pretty much took permanent leave of the performing world. I don’t want to say that she burned her bridges, [but[ she certainly closed her book on her contact with all of us over here on the west coast, including selling her house in Los Angeles. Shemoved back to England and lives somewhere out in the country, I believe. From what I hear, she’s completely changed her life, and to be honest, she never really enjoyed touring anyway. I think she feels like she had said what she wanted to say within the confines of Fleetwood Mac, whereas the other four of us feel that our artistic lives are still evolving.

Is is a coincidence that it’s usually Fleetwood putting the band back together?

Yes. Mick has a habit of ringing me just when I’m about to put an album out, don’t you think? [laughs] But the politics of Fleetwood Mac have always been a very convoluted thing. On some level, our sensibilities are so vastly different, you could probably even make a case that we should never have actually ended up being in the same band (even though it was that precise synergy that made it work). The politics have got increasingly difficult over the last ten years though. The mantra we need to remember is: we are making our own strides to just be adults, and grow up a little. I think we were all in various forms of arrested development, particularly back in the 70s and 80s, when there was a huge amount of (drugs) in the band.

How intense did the partying get?

I don’t recall one particular dark moment, I think there was just a particular time when I saw a lot of my friends doing what they thought they had to do, particularly in relation to alcohol and drugs. I needed to experience a really solitary existence for a while, and concentrate on my music. The time right before meeting my wife was potentially the time that I would now look back as the darkest, and then I met this woman, and suddenly: I turned a corner. Hopefully, I experienced some good karma there, or something. Fleetwood Mac really did exist within its own little bubble.

Can you recall the scene in it’s most vivid incarnation?

I feel fortunate that we were getting away with all that kind of behavior in an age when there were no such things as camera phones to record the excesses which would then be immediately propelled onto YouTube the next day. I definitely think after Rumours, the success detached itself from the music and it was more about people buying into our personal lives, and that involved bringing out the voyeur in everybody. Had that been today, I think we would have had a much more difficult time coping with the blurred possibilities of drug taking.

How has all that changed this time around?

The only challenge I have now regarding a world tour is that I have three kids, and I don’t want to come home after nine months on the road, and find that my boy’s voice has broken or changed. I want to be there for all of those things now.

You seem content.

I think the main reason we still wanted to go back on the road as Fleetwood Mac is because we still needed to put some kind of closure to the music we made. It really has been so lovely reconnecting with John and Mick in particular, as we’ve known each other a long time, and we’ve all been through things that are too long and too weird to discuss. We have a very special bond, and it’s like getting together with your family again.

Finally Lindsey, can I ask you where, in your many years on the road have you enjoyed visiting the most?

The heritage of the band is, of course, British. So I have immense and deep fondness for the UK. I was recently reminded that when Stevie Nicks and I were asked to join the band, we were also asked—in some sense—to become honorary Brits. I don’t mean this in any derogatory way, but I firmly believe that Christine McVie’s very British blues sensibilities kept us from sounding like just another version of The Eagles. When I joined, they would take me to the public houses of SoHo, and show me places like the 100 Club on Oxford Street where my heroes The Rolling Stones and The Sex Pistols played. Then back again to the famous Soho pubs like the Coach And Horses on Greek Street where I was ‘converted’ by a time-honoured tradition of of drinking many, many pints of Guinness in the name of the British Empire! When I visit these places again today, the memories are overwhelming. I love that everyone calls it Tin Pan Alley. Even Bill Clinton’s favourite pub—The Portobello Star—brings it all back, especially as seems like only yesterday when we played at his inauguration. I find touring in Europe so rewarding.

MICK FLEETWOOD GATHERS FRIENDS FOR TWO ISLAND SHOWS

Mick Fleetwood gathers friends for special shows

BY TRISHA SMITH

LAHAINA NEWS

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drummer Mick Fleetwood is back home and ready to rock the Valley Isle during his break between worldwide tour dates with the illustrious “supergroup,” Fleetwood Mac.

“Lindsey [Buckingham] and John [McVie] say I must be crazy to play during the break, but it’s so much fun and I get to pay tribute to fellow musicians,” said Mick. “I’m very lucky to still be a working musician and still play drums like a maniac.”

Strap on your dancing shoes for two exceptional nights of entertainment on Friday, Sept. 11, at Stella Blues Café and again on Sunday, Sept. 13, at the Royal Lahaina Resort.

Thanks to the managing skills of William Reeve Pié, and the cooperation of local musicians and venues, these gigs were efficiently thrown together quite quickly.

Billed as The Mick Fleetwood Band, the drummer extraordinaire has invited his blues band buddies to perform, which includes his musical partner-in-crime, slide/lead guitarist Rick Vito, the big personality and bass lines of Lenny Castellanos, and entertaining keyboardist Mark Johnstone.

The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band’s latest live performance release, Blue Again (Savoy), reveals a bouquet of timeless songs, and few new tunes, that celebrate the British blues-era and sound of the all-male, original Fleetwood Mac from 40 years ago.

“We’ll be doing a blend of my blues band and add some extremely talented guests,” said Mick.

Look forward to powerful performances from Eric Gilliom and Gretchen Rhodes of Island Rumours, the constantly evolving band Mick put together of Maui talent in 2006.

A few surprise acts are probable, with Barry Flanagan of HAPA already lined up for the West Side event.

“We just have a lot of fun,” said Mick, pleasantly. “Should be a couple of great shows.”

These showcases will feature band originals, some favorite Fleetwood Mac classics, and a retrospect from the early blues days of the band, along with amazing performances from an impressive lineup.

The Stella Blues’ show will mark the first big show at the venue since the passing of its cofounder Ray Ennis, who was not only an old friend of Mick’s from the Grateful Dead days, but also an avid supporter of music here on Maui and beyond. It was a dream of his to have acts like these there.

“It was quite shocking and sad when I found out about Ray — life is strange,” said Mick. “I was away at the time, so this is my tribute to him to put on a great show at his place and donate to something he felt strongly about.”

Tickets for Friday, Sept. 11, are $30; $25 in advance. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Hospice Maui, Ennis’ favorite nonprofit. Call 874-3779 for more information.

Enjoy sunset on the beach and a groovy night under the stars at the Royal Lahaina show on Sunday, Sept. 13, for $40; $35 in advance. Dinner and special VIP packages are available. Call the Royal Lahaina Resort at 661-3611 for reservations.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit A Makebelieve Company’s new “Save the Arts” program, which strives to inspire and educate our youth through music and the arts.

“I feel very strongly about focusing music and arts in the schools,” said Mick. “Music saved my personal integrity as a child, and I’m living testimony how being creatively clever can take you a long way.”

Check out www.mickfleetwood.com anytime to get your Fleetwood fix.