Diehards flying in from the US and Britain, on what is likely Fleetwood Mac's final concerts ever

(Rather presumptuous of Taranaki Daily News to assume that the last two shows of Fleetwood Mac in New Zealand will be their last...Ever!)

Taranaki Daily News

December's two Fleetwood Mac concerts will bring a $7.5 million bonanza to the Taranaki economy.

The figure comes from a recently-published forecast from Venture Taranaki, which says more than 36,000 fans are expected pass through the gates of the TSB Bowl of Brooklands within a 24-hour period – with more than 25,000 of them from out of the region.

Among those fans will be diehards flying in from the United States and Britain, intent on attending what is likely to be Fleetwood Mac's final concerts ever.

The New Plymouth District Council and VT are forecasting that these visitors will contribute the $7.5 million to the local economy.

This means each visitor will spend roughly $300 each during his or her time here.

The same forecast looks at the value of three rugby World Cup games in New Plymouth in 2011 and estimates those games will bring $5.2 million in visitor money to the economy.

The council's manager of business events Garry Sharpe-Young says the sheer magnitude of the concerts and their guests have prompted several local agencies to form a steering committee to manage the large amount of out-of-towners to the region.

Agencies include the council, VT, Taranaki Chamber of Commerce and the police.

"We have discovered many of the people coming in have never been to New Plymouth before and we want to encourage them to see more of it than just go to the concert and leave," Mr Sharpe-Young said.

"We are also encouraging businesses to stay open during that weekend because the economic impact is just huge. It will be $7.5m plus."

At the REM concert at the Bowl in 2005 Easter licensing laws ruined the party for thousands of fans who hit downtown New Plymouth after the band's concert. Strict liquor licensing laws forced bars to close early, with many bar owners feeling they missed out on the fun.

But this time around, with more than twice the crowd likely to hit the town after Fleetwood Mac, local business owners are being encouraged to stay open to cater to the masses.

About 100 people are coming from the US and the United Kingdom, many of them have been following the international group's world tour, which is said to be its last.

"It's a huge opportunity for us to alter people's perception of New Plymouth in a positive way," Mr Sharpe-Young said.

"You could definitively say this is the biggest concert to hit New Plymouth in the last 40 years."

Tickets for Fleetwood Mac's concert on December 19 sold out within minutes when they went on sale last month.

The second concert for December 20 is almost sold out, with only general admission tickets available.

In order to cope with the region's extra guests, volunteer co-ordinator for the steering committee, Moira Irving, says organisers need about 200 volunteers to help with various tasks around the city.

Ad Feedback

"We want volunteers on the walkway and greeting people at the airport, we want them at the park, we just want people to feel sort of overwhelmed at the amazing weekend," Ms Irving said.

"We will have people handing out information and showing them what restaurants will be open, places they might want to go and visit through and make sure it's a whole Taranaki visit, it's not rushing into the concert and then shooting through."

Anyone wanting to become a volunteer should contact Ms Irving at the New Plymouth District Council.

But the region better get used to being overrun by out-of-towners as Mr Sharpe-Young says he intends to bring in a major international act every year.

"There are a few possibilities for early 2010 and more for 2011 and 2012.

"We want to bring in another contemporary act like we did with Jack Johnson."

WHERE THE FANS ARE FROM

Auckland: 7000

Wellington: 8000

Waikato: 2500

Manawatu: 2000

Bay of Plenty: 2000

South Island: 2000

West Coast: 32

Taranaki: 10,000

American and UK: 100

FLEETWOOD MAC HAVE AN OPENING ACT FOR SELECT AUSTRALIAN DATES

The Herald Sun is reporting that "The Versus" a newly signed group to Warners will be the supporting act for Fleetwood Mac in Australia at Rod Laver Arena on December 1 and 2

Herald Sun

KILLING Heidi siblings Ella and Jesse Hooper are set for a comeback to the charts.

The hit-making pair's new band, the Verses, has just signed with Warner Music.

The deal has also helped the band secure the coveted slot supporting Fleetwood Mac on its December tour of Australia.

Unlike Killing Heidi, the Verses have a country-tinged southern rock sound.

Aside from Ella's occasional appearances on Spicks and Specks, the Hoopers have kept a low profile since the end of Killing Heidi, to concentrate on their songwriting.

Now 26, Ella was 17 when Killing Heidi topped the charts in 2000, becoming the hottest band in the land.

The Verses have built a loyal following through residencies at the Toff in Town in Melbourne.

"We're country kids - we like things to go at a nice, slow pace - and we gave ourselves time: time to write, time to get inspired, time to try different things musically," Ella said.

"We were taking a holiday from the three-minute pop song, although funnily enough we've found ourselves coming back to that."

The first taste of the Verses will come with an EP released next month.

Curious listeners can download their new single Forever More free from theverses.com.au as of Monday.

The band will support Fleetwood Mac at Rod Laver Arena on December 1 and 2.

LINKS TO PHOTOS OF FLEETWOOD MAC IN GERMANY

Fleetwood Mac - Oberhausen, Germany 12.10.09

Facebook Photos by: Stephanie Eshuis(link)

Fleetwood Mac - Oberhausen, Germany 12.10.09

Oberhausen Virtual Nights(link)

FLEETWOOD MAC'S "LITTLE LIES" SAMPLED BY UK ARTIST CHERYL COLE

Cheryl Cole of Girls Aloud samples Fleetwood Mac's "Little Lies" on the track "Boy Like You" on her debut solo CD - in stores October 26th (UK).  From the sound of the clip at Amazon.UK - the sample sounds pretty prominent.(It's at the very end of the sample).

(REVIEW) Fleetwood Mac Live in Oberhausen Oct 12, 2009

FLEETWOOD MAC LIVE 
OBERHAUSEN, GERMANY - OCTOBER 12, 2009

Munstersche Zeitung.de
Von Ingrid Wielens

BERHAUSEN Es war der Abend der 45-plus-Generation. Die überwiegend angegrauten Fans einer der einflussreichsten Rockbands aller Zeiten wollten am Montag in der nicht ganz ausverkauften König-Pilsener-Arena in Oberhausen ihre Musik der 70er und 80er hören. Fleetwood Mac schenkte ihnen eine Riesen-Party.

Fleetwood Mac schenkte ihnen eine Riesen-Party. Die Band mit mehr als 40 Jahren Geschichte, die mehrfach vor der Auflösung stand und sich immer wieder in Teilen neu formierte, trat in Bestbesetzung auf: Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Stevie Nicks und Lindsey Buckingham auf „Unleashed-Tour“.

Der Titel war Programm. Die Musiker zeigten sich entfesselt. Monday Morning, The Chain, Dreams – schon beim sanften Auftakt war das originale Fleetwood-Mac-Feeling da. Stevie Nicks‘ prägnante Stimme, noch ausgereifter, noch wärmer und auf den Ton genau lullte sie das Publikum ein.

Fingerfertigkeit an der Gitarre

Dann wird aufgedreht: Gypsy, Rhiannon, Tusk, Sara – die Party gewinnt an Tempo. Lindsey Buckingham mischt sich ungewohnt stark ein und Gitarren-Soli unter. Er malträtiert sein Instrument, schlägt und streichelt es, lässt es schnurren, klingeln, scheppern, krachen. Bei Tango In The Night stellt er seine Fingerfertigkeit unter Beweis.

Oft ballt Buckingham die Fäuste, greift sich theatralisch ans Herz, als wollte er sagen: „Wir sind alle über 60, aber wir können es immer noch. Und wir können es noch richtig gut.“ Big Love, Never Going Back Again, Say You Love Me – keinen Ohrwurm lassen sie aus.

Vergoldetes Schlagzeug

Präsent im Hintergrund der Boss der Band: Mick Fleetwood am vergoldeten Schlagzeug liegt auf der Lauer, nimmt seine Kollegen ins Visier, zieht Grimassen, hat sichtlich Spaß. Auffallend unauffällig bleibt einzig John McVie. Virtuos am Bass, hält er sich ansonsten aus dem Show-Geschehen heraus.

Go Your Own Way, Don’t Stop – das Publikum ist nach wie vor in Stimmung, tanzt, singt, klatscht, jubelt. Erst nach drei Stunden verabschiedet sich die Band: „Wir wollen, dass wir heute Abend alle Spaß haben“, hatten die Macs eingangs angekündigt. Das haben sie wahrhaftig geschafft.

(TRANSLATION)

OBERHAUSEN It was the evening of the 45-plus generation. The mostly graying fans of one of the most influential rock bands of all time would not hear on Monday in the not entirely sold out König Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, their music of the 70s and 80s. Fleetwood Mac gave them a huge party.

Fleetwood Mac gave them a huge party. The band with more than 40 years of history, who stood several times before the dissolution and again and again in parts of newly formed, which came into existence on cast: Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham on "Unleashed Tour."

The title was program. The musicians were unleashed. Monday Morning, The Chain, Dreams - was already on the soft start, the original Fleetwood Mac-feeling there. Stevie Nicks' voice, incisive, yet sophisticated, yet warm and exactly the tone they lulled the audience.

Dexterity on the guitar

Then turned on: Gypsy, Rhiannon, Tusk, Sara - the party is gaining pace. Lindsey Buckingham mixes a highly unusual and guitar solos taking. He mistreated his instrument, hitting and stroking it, it can purr, ring, rattle, crack. Tango In The Night When he puts his finger dexterity to the test.

Buckingham often clenches his fists, grabs theatrically to his heart, as if to say: "We are all over 60, but we can still am. And we can still really good. "Big Love, Never Going Back Again, Say You Love Me - do not let them out catchy.

Gilt Drums

Presence in the background of the boss of the band: Mick Fleetwood on drums gilded lies in wait, takes his colleagues to target, pulls faces, obviously has fun. Remarkably unremarkable remains the only John McVie. A virtuoso on the bass, otherwise he keeps out of the show events.

Go Your Own Way, Do not stop dancing - the audience is still in the mood, singing, clapping, cheering. Only after three hours passed, the band: "We want that we have all the fun tonight," announced by the beginning of Macs. That has really done it.

(REVIEW) Fleetwood Mac Live in Oberhausen October 12, 2009

(translated)
By: Arnold Hohmann
Photo: Ralf Rottmann
Derwesten.de Untranslated Link with Photos

Has this man had something in the coffee? Lindsey Buckingham at least hops howls from across the stage like a little devil, and on into the microphone, prowling around like a panther, the guitar at the ready. My God, this giant with the high narrow forehead is, after all, already 60th But that he is still at the Benjamin Fleetwood Mac, who filled in the Arena Oberhausen on Monday night almost.

Buckingham is anything like the heartbeat of this band, which he once went for a long time back. Meanwhile, however, is nothing without him: While the other seniors give up on occasion, to regenerate in the restroom, B. Lindsey is the whole time on stage. Because he alone and his guitar, from which he ejecting the riffs with great nonchalance, are an event. It may even happen that the man was playing such a rage that he is capable on the mic, only to Gutturallauten while with his right hand almost fainted eindrischt on his instrument. One might almost think he had something sexual with that string part.

Everything just for show, of course, but a bit of musical madness that may already resonate. Finally, in one of his song titles are not in vain, "I Go Insane". While previous drummer Mick Fleetwood (62) tends to the old blues roots, John McVie (64) only faithfully plucking his bass, and consumes Stevie Nicks (61) from the shimmering glory of their early songs is still the most creative in the Buckingham community of fate. On his solo records, he is rehearsing the musical minimalism, from which he knows with great force shaping sheer drama.

When Fleetwood Mac five years ago, last played at this place, they had a new album ( "Say You Will") in the back, which gave the sound a new freshness. Strangely, this plate is from this time nothing to hear, one is taken up with the "Unleashed" tour rather to deliver a best-of-concert, but loosened up with some woefully neglected pieces and a few solo tracks. Already the first song is a successful Überrumpelungsversuch: "Monday Morning" collapsing upon formally through the unprepared audience, attended by a great light circus.

Loudly and violently, it usually stays on that evening. Fleetwood thresh angry with her eyes wide open on his drums as if he wanted to punish her for that even someone like him needs to be older. McVie, who are unremarkable, even gets a bass solo and needs to come shortly from the cover - for him, almost an act of self-exposure.

And Mrs. Nicks, suspiciously wrinkle-free, nor would most like to stand still dancing from the ground, which seems to hold them but more than before. Speaking earlier: One is very talkative that night, says ready to "difficult relationships in turbulent times", a "complicated and emotional band history. In other words, it already had in the 1970s, each with something to everyone. But today they do not share a damn strong music.