REVIEW | PHOTOS: First night: Fleetwood Mac, The 02, Dublin

"The mighty Mac are back" 

BY PIERRE PERRONE
The Independent

Photos by Debbie Hickey
Studio 10 Media
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Three songs into the first European date Fleetwood Mac have played since 2009 comes the first of several magical moments as mad-eyed drummer and ringmaster Mick Fleetwood suddenly hits his monogrammed kit harder to underpin the “loneliness of a heartbeat drives you mad” lyric of the US chart-topper ''Dreams'' Stevie Nicks is delivering in her trademark low yearning voice. This perfect marriage of musicians from two different countries united by a common language and purpose is part of what makes the Mac such a compelling concert attraction and must-see act into their fifth decade.

However, the main ingredient remains the soap opera of their intertwined relationships, acknowledged from the off with ''Second Hand News'' from 1977's epochal Rumours, and given a sense of closure with the apposite ''Say Goodbye'' at the end. Not many set lists have a narrative arc or the feel of a group therapy session but no band, not even ABBA, have lived their personal lives in public and used this emotional roller-coaster as inspiration like the Mac. Guitarist Lindsey Buckingham, wearing a Ramones-like tight jeans and leather jacket combo, admits as much, talking about “the power of change” before an impassionate solo version of ''Big Love''. He has just been hugged by Nicks after a sublime double whammy of ''Sisters Of The Moon'' and ''Sara'', two of four selections from Tusk, the somewhat self-indulgent double set the Mac issued in 1979, since reclaimed by left-field acts like Camper Van Beethoven.

Nicks has made a specialty of these ethereal, floating ballads, mining the same rich seam from ''Rhiannon'' to

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the Velvet Underground-referencing ''Gypsy'', but they all prove so affecting it would be impossible to pick a favourite or indeed to omit any of them. Their inclusion also illustrates why Nicks has been such a strong influence on Florence Welch and Natasha Khan, aka Bat For Lashes. Her writing remains as distinctive as the gothic, timeless look she fashioned for herself in the mid-seventies and she twirls around the stage – without quite essaying an Irish jig, an impossible feat in the high-heel boots she favours – and drapes herself dramatically in yet another shawl during ''Gold Dust Woman''.

Try as he might, including the dazzling solo which rescues a listing ''I'm So Afraid'', Buckingham knows that Nicks is the star of the show, even as she rambles on while introducing the sweet ''Without You'', the mid-70s demo they recently revisited for a digital download EP. She shoe-horns her own eighties electro hit ''Stand Back'' to add pop heft – and a groovy John McVie bassline – to a lengthy, nuanced, contrasting set which closes with the cross-generational audience on its feet for the evergreen ''Go Your Own Way''. Even Fleetwood's demented drum solo can't spoil the fun. The mighty Mac are back.

Fleetwood Mac play the 02 in London 24, 25 and 27 September, the LG Arena Birmingham 29 September, the Manchester Arena on the 1 October and the Hydro in Glasgow on the 3 October

GO YOUR OWN WAY

WITHOUT YOU (With intro)

SAD ANGEL

Spotlight: Stevie's prediction for Fleetwood future

The singer is relieved her tip about the band’s big return has

come true, writes Sarah Walters
Manchester Evening News

‘I TOLD the press last year that 2013 was going to be the year of Fleetwood Mac,” comes the nervous confession of Stevie Nicks, the band’s vocalist and songwriter. “I was just hoping with all my heart that this big statement was gonna come true!”

Certainly, the UK hasn’t made a liar out of Nicks who, at the age of 65, is about to embark on a headline trip around the country’s biggest arenas. Nor, in fact, has the rest of the world: the band’s biggest selling album, 1977’s Rumours, found itself nearing the top of several worldwide charts again this year – adding hundreds of thousands more sales to the 40m copies shifted since its release.

Nicks is still a blonde stunner, and it’s hard to believe she’s preparing to celebrate her 40th year with the group in 2014; in that same year, Fleetwood Mac – completed by Mick Fleetwood (drums), John McVie (bass) and Lindsey Buckingham (vocals, guitar) since the departure of Christine “Perfect” McVie in 1998 – will reach the grand age of 47.

They lost years to drugs, in-fighting and line-up changes, but since the Anglo-American blues-rock band dropped to a four-piece they’ve seemed unstoppable, their international live shows grossing millions at the box office. And that’s, in part, because of the longevity of their back catalogue; Albatross, Go Your Own Way and Nicks-penned Dreams and Rhiannon have endured through musical fads and fashions.

Fleetwood Mac, O2 Arena, Dublin, Review ★★★★ out of 5 stars

Watching Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham sing into the same microphone in a surprisingly edgy set is the musical equivalent of seeing divorced parents back together, says Neil McCormick.

By Neil McCormick
Telegraph
September 20, 2013 Dublin, Ireland

Amidst an absolute thunder of drums, a sleek, racing Formula One bass line and a fuzzed-up guitar attack, a high male and low female voice coalesce in a gorgeous California sunshine harmony to deliver Fleetwood Mac's key message: "You can never break the chain."

Apparently not. They've been going 45 years in one incarnation or another, yet they still seem quite unlikely, a fundamentally disparate and unstable set of elements forced through sheer popularity to share a stage together with results that may well be greater than the sum of the parts but still teeter on the brink of a kind of explosive disintegration. This long-running soap opera of conflicting personalities and opposing musical styles remains extraordinarily alive and compelling.

Even without the perfect pop songs of Christine McVie (who left the soap at the end of the last century but is rumoured to be returning for a guest appearance at their London concerts this week) and unwilling to draw on nine early albums of blues rock, Fleetwood Mac still seem to comprise at least three groups in one. There's the British rhythm section of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, looking all Chas & Dave in waistcoats and flat caps, driving everything along with a propulsive pub rock efficiency. Then there's Lindsey Buckingham's new wave art rock energy, hopping up and down on the spot in tight pants and leather jacket as he rips out trippy, echoing guitar parts and sings snappy songs like he's going to combust if he doesn't get the words out. Meanwhile Stevie Nicks, the hippie wet dream now looking like a dark folk witch, still waving her scarves about and drawling poetic fantasies in a voice that no longer floats ethereally but cuts and thrusts with the Americana grit of a female Dylan. On paper, this is a combination that shouldn't work. Yet that sense of hanging together by a thread is part of what lends the old troupers such vitality. This may be the least comfortable excercise in nostalgia I have ever seen and all the better for it.

There is nothing smooth about Fleetwood Mac. Somehow, even after all this time, they don't have the polish of a west coast harmonic rock machine like The Eagles. Their set is surprisingly gnarly and edgy, constantly being dragged between all these opposing musical poles. Indeed, they seem to delight in contrariness, filling up a nearly three hour set with offbeat selections from the provocatively odd and unloved Tusk and new material from a recent EP, frequently preceded by rambling monologues from Buckingham or Nicks that are longer and more involved than the songs themselves. "If we're looking a little frazzled it might be because we are a little frazzled," apologises Nicks, blaming the stresses on it being the first date of a European tour. But actually Fleetwood Mac are a group who are permanently frazzled by the intensity and complexity of their relationships, particularly that of teenage sweethearts Nicks and Buckingham, who still seem to be working out their separation and reconciliation onstage in the longest and most public group therapy session ever. Nicks introduces a new song, Without You, by telling us that "before fame and all the creepiness creeped in there was a really sweet boy and a really sweet girl" but then almost undermines the sentiment by briefly bickering with Buckingham about who said what when. "I always agree with you!" insists Buckingham. "No you don't!" snorts Nicks.

The crowd love it, of course. When Nicks and Buckingham sing into the same microphone or walk out for encores hand in hand, it is the musical equivalent of seeing divorced parents back together. Their legendary album Rumours and long career of conflict and reconciliation have provided a narrative to parallel relationships in listeners' lives, only with better melodies, virtuoso playing and even a startlingly impressive drum solo.

The audience delight in the continuing saga of Fleetwood Mac is manifest. What is even more striking is the band's delight. Indeed, if there is a new development on their first tour in three years it is that they seem to be falling in love again. "There are still chapters left in the Fleetwood Mac book," enthuses Buckingham. This one is going to run and run.

GOLD DUST WOMAN

NEVER GOING BACK AGAIN
Photos by Debbie Hickey

Photos | Review | Setlist: Fleetwood Mac Live in Dublin...

FLEETWOOD MAC LIVE IN DUBLIN

O2 ARENA - September 20, 2013

Photos by Kieran Frost Photography

GALLERY: Kieran Frost Photography | Flickr

Here's what we know about Dublin - night #1

- Christine McVie did NOT perform with Fleetwood Mac tonight in Dublin - But there's always tomorrow.
- No change to the setlist vs the North American setlist.
- Tour Books are now available at the Merchandise stands - filled with lots of live shots taken during the North American leg of the tour.
- The Irish had a good time!

“The Mac… Is Back”…
BY MARTY MILLER
Radio Nova

…screams Mick Fleetwood in his very fine and grand British accent which after so many years on the other side of the Atlantic shows no signs of softening.

With that he turns and walks off stage wearing a red top hat… And that was that.

Fleetwood Mac had indeed been back! For just under 3 hours!

Dublin is the first stop of their European tour and the O2 was jumping from start top finish.

The show does take a bit of a “storytellers” feel at times with some story telling and even friendly banter/arguing from Stevie Nicks & Lindsey Buckingham. (They’re just GOOD friends!)

I won’t go into setlists, but you will not be disappointed.

There are some really nice acoustic moments in the middle with Lindsey alone on stage giving his all.. including some great “blue steel” looks straight into the spotlight!

Expect one or two new tunes, some solo Stevie, some solo Mick and not one word from John McVie! Oh, Saturday goers could have that ‘surprise’ appearance from Christine Mc to look forward to.

The band seemed genuinely thrilled to play our capital city again, very appreciative of us coming out and  spending our hard earned on tickets for their show and they put one on!

Clocking about 2 hours 55 mins, it does end on a quiet note with Stevie and Lindsey playing ‘Say Goodbye’, acoustically, which Lindsey wrote for Stevie, after everything they had been through as a couple and as bandmates.

But remember:

They’re JUST GOOD FRIENDS!

Here's an example of one of the covers of the tour book.. Note that they flipped Mick and John around.

SETLIST
01. Second Hand News
02. The Chain
03. Dreams
04. Sad Angel
05. Rhiannon
06. Not That Funny
07. Tusk
08. Sisters of the Moon
09. Sara
10. Big Love
11. Landslide
12. Never Going Back Again
13. Without You
14. Gypsy
15. Eyes Of The World
16. Gold Dust Woman
17. I'm So Afraid
18. Stand Back
19. Go Your Own Way

Encores #1
20. World Turning
21. Don't Stop

Encore #2
22. Silver Springs
23. Say Goodbye

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Photo by Michael Murphy

Photo by @finlaydee | Photo by Emma Comerford

Photo by Jillkeene | Photo by Simon Kelly

Photo by Aul lads at funerals

Christine McVie to make a return.. and it’s no rumour... But will she join Fleetwood Mac in Dublin tonight?

By James Ward
Irish Mirror

Fleetwood Mac fans set for treat as former key band member gets ready to make Dublin appearance

Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll! If ever there was a band that followed that mantra to the letter it was Fleetwood Mac.

The long-lasting British- American group may be remembered for such hits as The Chain, Little Lies and Go Your Own Way, but in terms of booze and drug-bingeing, partnerswapping and back-stabbing drama, it makes the Rolling Stones look like a church choir.

This year marks 35 years since the release of the band’s masterpiece ‘Rumours’ that would go on to become one of the most successful records in history selling over 40 million worldwide.

The rock icons are currently on a critically acclaimed world tour that reaches Dublin for two sold-out shows on Friday and Saturday night.

The band have been rehearsing in the capital and spotted in the five-star Four Seasons hotel on Wednesday night.

If that wasn’t exciting enough, frontwoman Stevie Nicks has revealed that former key member Christine McVie, who left the band over 14 years ago,

has been in Dublin rehearsing with the band.

“She’s coming to do two nights (in London) and probably do ‘Don’t Stop’. I’m not sure, but she’s coming to Dublin to rehearse whatever song she’s going to do. We never wanted her to leave, so for us it’s amazing that she is going to come,” Nicks said.

McVie won’t accompany the tour beyond London, apparently down to her fear of flying.

British drummer Mick Fleetwood, the only original member in the present line up, revealed earlier this year that there is a new Fleetwood Mac album in the pipeline and that new songs will be released online in the coming months.

Fleetwood Mac’s 46-year dark history is the stuff of legend but t begins long before the destruction of love affairs that is chronicled in painful detail on Rumours.

Set lists from the US leg of the tour show the band playing the lion’s share of Rumours with smatterings from Tusk, Fleetwood Mac and only one, Big Love, from their 1987 album Tango in the Night.

Fans disappointed that they didn’t snap up a ticket to see the Mac in Dublin may get a second chance to see them live as they have said they would like to be included on the Glastonbury 2014 bill.

Speaking to music site Gigwise, Fleetwood explained that although last year’s rumoured festival slots came to nothing due to touring commitments, next year could be a different matter.

“Hopefully Glastonbury will ask us again,” he said, “although they’ve probably got fed up of asking us!”

Birmingham's set for return of Rock Legends Fleetwood Mac

Stevie Nicks is back on tour with Fleetwood Mac. Steve Adams chats to her about what fans should expect.

by Steve Adams
Coventry Telegraph

Rock legends Fleetwood Mac are back on the road for their first UK shows in four years and the buzz is that keyboardist Christine McVie – who quit the band in 1998 – will rejoin other members of the band’s classic line-up for at least a couple of performances.

The move has delighted singer Stevie Nicks as much as the fans, as she formed an instant bond with the band’s only other female member when she joined in 1975 alongside guitarist Lindsey Buckingham.

“I knew from the beginning when Lindsey and I joined Fleetwood Mac, that Christine and I had to really stand our ground,” says the enigmatic singer.

“We had to be a force of nature or we would be considered second-class rock stars. And between the two of us that was never gonna happen!

“We made a pinky swear pact – ‘we will never, ever walk into a room that’s full of rock stars and not be treated as if we’re not as good as them.

“Because we are as good as them.’”

The duo more than proved their point, writing many of the band’s biggest hits, including a huge chunk of seminal album Rumours, which has now sold a staggering 45 million copies worldwide. Nicks has also enjoyed a successful solo career alongside her four decades in and out of Fleetwood Mac – the band have a habit of splitting and reforming – but is happy to be back performing, even though the recent US tour schedule was gruelling.

“For me it’s not such a big deal because I stay up really late every night anyway. But for Lindsey, Mick (Fleetwood) and John (McVie), they go back to their rooms and go to sleep.”

The singer believes the effort has been worth it though, rating the shows as some of the best they’ve played.

“When people in Britain see the show they’re gonna be blown away!” she says.

“Honestly, rock bands that are 30 years old would baulk at this schedule, the amount of songs we’re doing and the length of the show. They would go, ‘you are kidding? Two hours and 40 minutes a night?’”

The gigs also include the band’s first new music in a decade, after they released an EP earlier this year. The music was recorded just after Nicks’ mother died last year, which left her so devastated she was unable to go to the studio.

“I didn’t want to go anywhere,” she admits. “I didn’t leave the house for almost five months. I worked on the edit of my documentary about the making of (solo album) In Your Dreams, and then I got pneumonia.

“I watched the entire first season of Game Of Thrones – so that was great! That certainly took my mind off everything.”

Not surprisingly the almost ethereal pop star is quite a fan of the fantasy show.

“The author (George RR Martin) is my age and it blows my mind that he’s able to create this vast, interlinked world,” she says.

“As a songwriter I write little movies. But I can’t imagine sitting down and writing even one small book. I would love to write some music for Game Of Thrones. I’ve written a bunch of poetry about it – one for each of the characters.”

* Fleetwood Mac perform at the LG Arena in Birmingham on September 29. For tickets, call 0844 338 8000.