REVIEW PERTH, AU - FLEETWOOD MAC NIGHT #1

THE MAC BACK
WITH BLASTS FROM THE PAST
SIMON COLLINS | MUSIC EDITOR

THE WEST AUSTRALIAN

DECEMBER 12, 2009

Seventies supergroup Fleetwood Mac turned back the clock last night at the first of two concerts at ME Bank Stadium this weekend as part of their Unleashed worl tour.

The touring veterans treated around 12,000 fans to two-hour time-warp through their late-70's hits, kicking off with Monday Morning, the opening track from the 1975 self-titled ablum.

That release first saw American couple Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham join British blues men, rhythm section and the source of the band's name, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, plus his wife Christine McVie.

As with the Mac's performance at the WACA Ground five years ago, Christine McVie was absent - she hasn't toured in more than a decade - leving the four survivors to deliver a lengthy set sparkling with gems plucked from their best-selling 1977 opus Rumours and plenty of songs from 1979's experimental Tusk.

Possibly the greatest break-up album of all-time, Rumours contributed the big hits to last night's show; The Chain, Second Hand News, Don't Stop and that classic kiss-off, Go Your Own Way.

There was one solo song each for Nicks and Buckingham, plus a rendition of early number Oh Well, a reminder of when Fleetwood Mac were an English blues band led by Peter Green.

McVie was there in spirit, with her former bandmates dishing up her excellent Say You Love Me and World Turning.

Fleetwood Mac plays at ME Bank Stadium again tonight, before heading back over east for shows in Brisbane and New Zealand.

Fleetwood Mac - ME Bank Stadium
Friday, December 11
SIMON COLLINS, The West Australian

Forget Dallas, Dynasty and even our own Number 96. The best soap opera of the 70s and early 80s was Fleetwood Mac — a saga that had everything: love, drugs, sex, affairs, more drugs, insanity and wonderful music.

Rather than save it all for a Behind the Music special or an unauthorised biography, the Mac poured all these dramas into some of the greatest and most emotionally naked pop songs the world has ever heard.

And three decades later, four survivors of those tumultuous times are still reliving those painful, joyous and ultimately legendary episodes on stage for a fan base that clings to those memories, perhaps living through a few similar scenes themselves.

So it was that 12,000 Perth music lovers tuned in at ME Bank Stadium on Friday night for the first of two big gigs on the Australian leg of Fleetwood Mac’s Unleashed world tour.

The Mac always draw on the drama at concerts, with evergreen guitarist and singer Lindsey Buckingham — one-third of the Stevie Nicks love triangle with drummer Mick Fleetwood — underselling the incredible turmoil experienced by the great British-American band.

“We’ve had a fairly complex, convoluted and emotional history — it’s not always been easy,” Buckingham said on Friday night. “But in the long run, it’s been worth it.”

Fans would agree. After all, we got the songs, not the heartache.

As the Mac unleashed these emotions, it was clear that there is still a lot of love between the members, particularly Nicks and Buckingham, who embraced frequently during the performance.

Maybe it was staged, but the audience lapped it up.

They also loved the greatest hits set, dominated by classics from Fleetwood Mac’s incredible trio of 70s albums; 1975’s self-titled effort, 1977’s mega-selling Rumours and 1979’s wild Tusk.

Plenty of people were still finding their seats as the Mac opened with Monday Morning, before they kicked into the familiar thud of The Chain — a Rumours track about solidarity that perhaps rings truer than it has for many years.

Many Mac fans were there simply to see Stevie Nicks and while her husky voice can’t hold the high notes these days, she inhabited the classic Dreams and her unofficial theme songs Gold Dust Woman and Gypsy.

The latter song, as she explained during one of the many times she, Buckingham or drummer Mick Fleetwood addressed their fans, was inspired by her time alongside Buckingham in San Francisco band Fritz, playing with the likes of Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix.

There’s some more history for you.

Nicks and her old flame swapped the lead throughout the night, with her blonde hippie offset by his virtuosic guitar playing and eccentric, but powerful vocal performance.

Buckingham provided several highlights: Second Hand News was rollicking fun, the folky Never Going Back Again had the crowd on their feet and his solo rendition of the acoustic rocker Big Love was a master-class for guitarists in the crowd.

At 22 years old, the latter single off Tango in the Night was the youngest song played on Friday night as the Mac remained stuck in the 70s — in more ways than one.

They went back even further, to 1969 for Peter Green’s Oh Well — a reminder that Fleetwood Mac were an acclaimed British blues band before Buckingham was recruited and insisted that his girlfriend should also join.

In the set that stretched for more than two hours there were too many highlights to list, ranging from the sublime Landslide to the ridiculous (but rocking) Tusk.

One of the few steps away from the expected was Tusk track Storm, which fell flat, as did the turgid Pink Floyd-esque I’m So Afraid. At least the latter was followed by Stand Back, a fizzy pop song from Stevie Nicks’ 1983 solo album The Wild Heart.

Fleetwood Mac finished the main set with their best song ever, the bittersweet rocker Go Your Own Way. By the time they dished up the encore of World Turning and the stamping Don’t Stop, many fans were racing for the gates, having ticked all their favourite boxes.

However, the Mac weren’t done; returning for the excellent Nicks ballad Silver Springs before Buckingham, then Nicks and finally Fleetwood warmly thanked the audience for coming to see them.

Will the Mac be back?

Friday night’s performance suggests at least one more rerun.

KEEPING TENSIONS UNDER CONTROL

FLEETWOOD KEEPING TENSIONS UNDER CONTROL

'Stevie and Lindsay do have an element of coexisting which requires walking on eggshells . . . but they know that'

Townsville Bulletin

Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham are getting along fine, thank you very much. The state of play between two of contemporary music’s most famous star-crossed lovers has fascinated Fleetwood Mac fans since Rumours laid bare the emotional turmoil within the California rock band in the late 1970s.

The band’s co-founder and charismatic drummer Mick Fleetwood admits with some relief that their hugely successful Unleashed world tour, which winds up in Brisbane next week, has been a ‘relaxed’ affair. Yet, even older and wiser, Fleetwood says care is required not to provoke flareups.

‘‘Stevie and Lindsay do have an element of co-existing which requires walking on eggshells . . . I can say they know that,’’ he says.

The tour, a greatest-hits waltz through their considerable catalogue, was instigated by the band.

Fleetwood says they knew the fans would rally to seethem perform the songs that soundtracked millions of lives since the breakthrough of Rumours, which remains the 10th highest-selling record of all time.

The timing of the Unleashed tour was serendipitous as anew wave of songwriters reclaim Fleetwood Mac’s west-coast sound, including their Australian support actThe Verses, featuring Killing Heidi’s Ella and Jesse Hooper.

The drummer credits the inevitability of the band’s influence reaching a critical mass in 2009 to the fact Fleetwood Mac remain respectful of the songs and the fans who fell in love with them. ‘‘We put a lot of diligence into the way we make records but when we are on stage, we are not a slick band; we’re quite childlike really. It’s a good thing to make mistakes. It keeps you from being blase or bored.’’

The drummer lets loose a hearty chuckle when asked if the goofy facial expressions that punctuate his performance signal he’s just made one of those child-like mistakes.

‘‘I learned I pulled those faces whenI was a long-distance runner at boarding school and one of the teachers warned I would bite my tongue off if I kept doing them,’’ he says.

‘‘But there could be another reason. I am, by nature, a vicarious creature — I love being around passionate beings and for whatever reason, I love being around guitar players so I think the face might be me thinking secretly that I wish I could do what Lindsay and John are doing.’’

The question of whether the band will record a new album is still in doubt.

Their last studio album, Say You Will, was released in 2003. It hit No. 3 on US charts.‘‘I don’t feel like we have finished yet, in terms of recorded output. But it is a matter of having to work closely and it means Stevie and Lindsay have to see eye-to-eye about who they are, what they are and howit is. It’s always an ongoing and delicate balancing act.

‘‘Being in a studio offers a microcosm for potential angst butmygut tells me we will pull it off and you’ll have new Fleetwood Mac music, sooner (rather) than later.’’

(REVIEW) PERTH, AU - FLEETWOOD MAC DON'T DISAPPOINT

Fleetwood Mac don't disappoint at Members Equity Stadium concert
Jay Hanna, STM Entertainment Editor
PerthNow

THERE are few bands who could weather the storms that have rained down on Fleetwood Mac.

By guitarist and singer Lindsey Buckingham's own admission the band's history is "complex, convoluted and emotionally wrought".

However standing in front of an audience of 12,000 Perth fans, Buckingham acknowledged that "in the long run it's made us stronger".

Buckingham went on to say that when the band, which includes singer Stevie Nicks, bassist John McVie and drummer Mick Fleetwood, decided to come together once again it was a with a feeling of "new possibility".

And while the absence of retired singer Christine McVie could not be overlooked, especially during Go Your Own Way, the crowd was willing to explore the possibilities along with their heroes.

Billed as a greatest hits concert, the set list delivered almost everything a fan could wish for.

Monday Morning from the band's self-titled 1975 album kicked off proceedings, followed by The Chain from 1977's Rumours, which remains one of the highest selling albums of all time.

It was the seemingly eternally youthful Nicks who first greeted the crowd with a drawn out shout of "Perth, Australia. Welcome." Before stating it was time to "get this party started".

Sporting her trademark gothic gypsy look of velvet and lace, long black gloves and flowing blonde tresses, Nicks looked years younger than her 61 years.

However it was clear that time has diminished Nicks' vocal range, robbing her of the ability to hit the high notes in songs such as Rhiannon and Sara. But thankfully Nicks refrained from straining and squealing, instead she stayed in her lower range using her unique voice to convey the emotional depth of the lyrics.

Sharing the spotlight with his former love, Buckingham was simply mesmerising. The lithe 60-year-old has lost none of his guitar prowess or agility as was particularly evident on I'm So Afraid and Big Love.

Nicks and Buckingham made a great show of affection, frequently holding hands and embracing, much to the crowd's pleasure. Buckingham famously refused to join Fleetwood Mac, unless they also took his partner in love and music, Nicks. While the pair split in 1976 and have endured a turbulent relationship in subsequent years, they seem to have found renewed pleasure in working together. There is no doubt a strong musical bond remains between the two and it was a pleasure to witness their love and appreciation for the music they make together.

In introducing Gypsy, Nicks spoke of her early days jamming with Buckingham in San Francisco in the late 60s and early 70s. She spoke of opening for Janis Joplin in front of 35,000 people and Jimi Hendrix in front of 70,000 and how Buckingham's constant guitar playing "drove the gated community crazy".

Prior to the brilliant Second Hand News Buckingham responded to a punter's call of "I love you Stevie" by confessing: "We all love Stevie".

Go Your Own Way ended the first set, with Buckingham taking over the vocal duties for the song he penned. The crowd were on their feet for what is possibly the band's greatest song.

While Nicks and Buckingham may be the face of Fleetwood Mac, it's the rhythm section of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie that remains its backbone.

Famously founder Peter Green named his band for Fleetwood and McVie, as attempt to lure McVie away from John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. He finally succeeded in acquiring McVie in August 1967. On stage some four decades later, Fleetwood and McVie were still a rhythmic force to be reckoned with.

Fleetwood got his chance to truly shine in an extended drum solo during World Turning. It was also Fleetwood who introduced the band, albeit belatedly, during the encore. Fleetwood took the chance to pay tribute to the reticent McVie calling him his right hand man.

Don't Stop seemed to spell an end to the concert, but the band returned for a second encore of Silver Springs.

While no one was under the illusion that we were watching a band in their prime, what we got was more than we could have hoped for.

We got to see legends at play, reveling in their love of music. And maybe, just maybe, their enduring love for one another.

Fleetwood Mac

Members Equity Stadium

Fri, Dec 11

EAGLES / FLEETWOOD MAC DREAM PAIRING EYED FOR STADIUMS

Eagles/Fleetwood Mac dream pairing eyed for stadiums

LiveDaily
(for those unaware, Live Daily is owned by Ticketmaster, Ticketmaster's CEO is Irving Azoff, Irving Azoff Manages both Fleetwood Mac & the Eagles)

DREAM PAIRING EYED FOR STADIUMS

A dream tour of the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac has reached the proposal stage.

The concept of a summer US tour featuring the two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members and consistent concert draws of the last decade is being presented to stadium and arena operators and promoters. The double bill is being considered for a combination of single nights in baseball and football stadiums and multiple nights in arenas.

The supply of national stadium tours has been slimming over the last several years. U2 was able to fill the 70,000-seat venues in cities across the country this year, but most stadium shows have been one-offs. Madonna and the reunited Police also had recent successes in stadiums.

The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac have shared a stadium bill only once--July 25, 1976 at Schaefer Stadium in Foxboro, MA. The Eagles were the headliners, having released a greatest hits album earlier in the year. Fleetwood Mac was still touring in support of their self-titled disc that was the first to feature Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. Within a year of that show both bands would release the albums that elevated them to superstar status, "Hotel California" and "Rumours."

ROCK LEGEND GOOD AS GOLD

Caught in the act - shopping for jewellery in Perth, Australia December 10th.

Photo taken from the West Australian 11/12/09 and provided by: chain2destiny on The Ledge

Can't say I would have recognized her if I passed her on the street

FLEETWOOD MAC - SECOND WEEK IN THE "HOT TOURS" CATEGORY

Hot Tours: Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Mannheim Steamroller, Fleetwood Mac

Billboard.com

Fleetwood Mac ranks among the Hot Tours for the second week in a row with the first reported totals from the veteran band's December tour dates in Australia and New Zealand. Sydney's Acer Arena reported $2.8 million ($3.1 Australian) from two shows on Dec. 7-8. The short trek down under follows successful tour legs during 2009 in North America and Europe. The Unleashed Tour began on March 1 in Pittsburgh and has grossed more than $68 million.

#1 TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA

$8,532,304

#2 MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER

$3,859,633

#3 FLEETWOOD MAC

$2,861,280

Dec. 7-8

Acer Arena, Sydney (2/0)

19,400 (20,230)