FLEETWOOD MAC "DON'T STOP" BBC DOCUMENTARY.... ON YOUTUBE

Here's the first part in a 7 part series of the BBC Documentary on Fleetwood Mac called "Don't Stop" which recently aired in the UK on BBC One. It's a new documentary on the band with new interviews and old footage that I've never seen before... I have to say, it was really well done... For additional footage: FMSahara

Watch The Full Documentary Right Here

REVIEW: Fleetwood Mac Live in Sheffield "The Night Belongs To The Pairing of Buckingham / Nicks""

Fleetwood Mac Live at Sheffield Arena
2nd November 2009
Contact Music
by: Will Orchard

As the first tour in their forty-year career without new material to offer, Fleetwood Mac's return to European shores is far from the formulaic reunions of late; saved the clumsy necessity of shoehorning new tracks into a set of, at times, 30 years familiarity, the quartet has succeeded in weaving a touching, cathartic set that does justice to the depth of their catalogue. Focussing almost solely on the band's output since their eponymous 1975 offering, their first with one-time lovers Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks at the helm, the evening's proceedings are led by the group's American contingent; the band's world-weary backbone of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie may be first to step out as the house lights dim, but the night belongs to the pairing of Buckingham/Nicks that's so long proven the fuel to the band's fire.

While the fist-raising likes of Second Hand News and I'm So Afraid - here an exhibition in Buckingham's distinctive finger-picked style - may have proven expectable highlights, it's the introspective subtleties of the band's set that provide the most gut-wrenching and emotive moments of the show; the hushed mid-set highlights of Landslide and Storms are poignant, affecting tributes to heartbreak and nostalgia. Indeed, Landslide's wistful melancholia has begun to develop a further dimension as Nicks enters her sixtieth year; the song's anxious consideration of ageing and growth - 'Can I handle the seasons of my life?' -coloured by Nicks' tumultuous experiences, yet tonight's evidence suggests she's ridden Fortune's wheel well enough. More than thirty years after much of tonight's set was originally committed to tape, it's a pleasant surprise that the band's offerings have loss none of their potency.

The relationship and tensions between the front pair, so long left unresolved, are still evident too tonight; the vitriolic Go Your Own Way, and specifically its infamous 'shacking up' line, sees Nicks turn her back on Buckingham, turning only to spit the lyrics back at him, while Sara concludes with the pair embracing, a brief respite to the conflicts that, though now more for effect, pepper the show. Nicks' bohemian tendencies are in full flow throughout, numerous changes from one velvet gown to another abound, and the sprawling disco of her own Stand Back contrasts with the brusque punk of Buckingham's offerings, yet the brief overlaps where the pair duet result in a sweet delight, nothing short of electrifying.

For an arena band, Fleetwood Mac are more than adept at fashioning a living-room mood; the stories and introductions they give to their tracks - most notably Nicks' reverentially-received tale of her years in beatnik San Francisco that heralds Gypsy - never stray into the forced sincerity of their peers, while the finale of Don't Stop and Fleetwood's parting messages for the crowd to 'look after yourselves, but most importantly each other', the band's trademark mix of AOR and refreshingly innocent hippiedom, leave the crowd grinning. Buckingham's closing offerings - 'We'll see you next time!' - will, one would hope, ring true in the not too distant future.

REVIEW: Fleetwood Mac Sheffield Arena November 2, 2009

FLEETWOOD MAC LIVE 
SHEFFIELD ARENA - November 2, 2009
By Leeroy
GigJunkie

Fleetwood Mac are one of those classic bands that thrived due to conflict. Much has been said of the marriages, divorces, flings, and admirations within the band but throughout the years the best songs have come from the worst of times. They still would be classed as one of the biggest bands to hit the planet, with Rumours still being one of the top ten selling albums EVER!

So when they announced a reunion the initial rumours (excuse the pun) were that they'd be headlining Glastonbury, this didn't happen much to my dismay. But when a small 6 date UK tour was announced, I was one of the first in line, even at the steep price of £75 for some of the best seats in the house. Although much the tour hasn't quite sold out, there weren't many seats left vacant in the gods at the back of the arena, something a slightly lower price tag would have solved.

The line up of the bands namesake, Mick Fleetwood, fans hero Lindsey Buckingham, almost ever present bassist John McVie, and pin-up and fashion icon for many Stevie Nicks, is the same as the 2004 tour and again missing Christine McVie since leaving the tense world of Mac. Fittingly all four members all came onto stage from seperate directions, leaving a certain doubt as to whether the tension in the band still exists. The first few tracks felt like the band were just getting warmed up, even the track that introduced me to Fleetwood Mac at a young age of Formula One watching, 'The Chain', was as powerful as on record, but felt like they'd not quite gelled everything together. Luckily that was a fear that was quickly resolved a chat to the crowd from Lindsey explaining that the band this time were determined "with no album to promote 'yet'", they were just going "to have fun and play all records that we love and hopefully so do you".

Continue to Gig Junkie for full review

REVIEW: Fleetwood Mac Live in Sheffield - November 2. 2009

Fleetwood Mac Live
Sheffield Arena 2/11/09
Sheffield Telegraph

YOU know a strike's making an impact when one of the world's most famous bands delays its show as a result.

On Monday, outside the Arena, a huge queue snakes around its walls as hundreds complain their tickets haven't arrived.

"The band are delaying their show ten minutes," shouts a member of staff, only to repeat her message ten minutes later.

But the wait's worth it.

Fleetwood Mac – despite vowing they would never play again – play a set of classics, including The Chain, Rhiannon, Go Your Own Way, Don't Stop, Say You Love Me and Sara.

And surprisingly, the band play arguably their biggest hit, The Chain, second.

Delivery is impeccable - the world's most famous bass line sounds bigger and more visceral than its does opening the BBC's F1 coverage.

The line-up includes Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Lesley Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.

Buckingham and Nicks take their perches at the front of the stage, exchanging glances, smiles and even a cuddle throughout the show.

And, remarkably, despite it being 41 years since the Grammy-winning Rumours was released, Nicks' trademark voice – both whisky-laden and ethereal, is superbly unchanged.

At several points throughout the show Nicks disappears behind the stage, emerging wearing a different shawl or a dress.

Her black and deep red floaty costumes reflect the dual-character of her voice – which is are at once other-worldy, earthy and dark.

Buckingham's on form too, elaborating – perhaps a little excessively – on the guitar solo to Go Insane.

He also shines as a soloist, playing intricate acoustic guitar on softer numbers as the band retreat to the back of the stage.

And then, following his lone performances, Buckingham stands at the front of the stage, lapping up the applause – rightly so.

PHOTOS: Fleetwood Mac Unleashed in Birmingham, UK November 3, 2009

FLEETWOOD MAC LIVE IN BIRMINGHAM

November 3, 2009

Photos by: ahisgett (View Gallery)

PHOTOS: Fleetwood Mac Captured in Birmingham

PHOTOS BY: JASON SHELDON

Junction 10 Gallery