Review Fleetwood Mac Live in Melbourne, Australia November 2, 2015

FLEETWOOD MAC ★★★1/2
Rod Laver Arena, November 2
Sydney Morning Herald

Photo: Pat Scala

Like superheroes. Five mysterious individuals with unique powers, reunited against incredible odds to save the free world one more time. Like Kiss with better tunes, Fleetwood Mac is a band inseparable from its own mythology.

There's mad uncle Mick Fleetwood in his eccentric country gentleman's attire, biting bearded lips with bug-eyes rolling. He's an inseparable bloc with his "truly dearest friend" John McVie, quietly plucking bass in the shadow of a flat golfer's cap.

Messianic ringleader Lindsey Buckingham and witch-fairy Stevie Nicks are another unit: eternal king and queen of the Heartbreak High prom, playing up the sexual tension through misty eyes in the whispers of Landslide then re-enacting the finger-pointing rage in Go Your Own Way.

Then there's Christine McVie, returned at last to quietly steal the show with You Make Loving Fun and the gentle coda of Songbird, as if the 22 songs preceding hadn't already made their case for one of the most fertile hit factories of the modern age.

Sure, some of the moves may have felt a little stilted. Tusk wasn't quite the climactic eruption with its marching band horns caged inside a synthesiser. Nicks did duck out of few high notes in Dreams and elsewhere.

But from Buckingham's psychobabbling song introductions and anguished six-string pyrotechnics to Fleetwood's nutty crowd-baiting drum solo, to nearly every damn track plus B-sides of that album, Rumours, the world felt as harmonious as it'll ever be.

Review: Fleetwood Mac Live in Perth, Australia - October 30th

Mac make loving them fun, even in the rain
The West Australian

Thunder only happens when it rains, according to Stevie Nicks, whose legendary band Fleetwood Mac turned on a dream gig in the wet last night.

Playing to 25,000 adoring fans at Domain Stadium, the megastars promised a party in the rain. “My limousine driver told me it never rains in Perth,” Nicks said. “We bring the rain.”

The mighty Mac also brought the hits, plus an old friend in Christine McVie, much missed on the past two Perth visits.

The English singer, songwriter and pianist retreated from the spotlight after the band’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1998.

Fleetwood Mac were to visit in 2013 but cancelled after bassist John McVie was diagnosed with cancer. During the delay while McVie had treatment, drummer Mick Fleetwood convinced McVie’s former wife to rejoin the band. Christine McVie’s return meant Fleetwood Mac’s three great songwriters — the others being American ex-lovers Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, who joined the English blues band in 1974 —were back in the saddle for the band’s first Aussie tour since 2009.

After hitting the stage with The Chain, the Rumours rocker credited to the whole band, the trio shared the songs.

Other Rumours favourites — McVie’s You Make Loving Fun, Nicks’ Dreams and Buckingham’s Second Hand News — came in quick succession.

Classic pop hits —Landslide, Everywhere, Little Lies — rained down on fans as the Mac clung tight to their golden era.

The famous five, plus extra musicians and singers, delivered a marathon set at the fifth of 13 scheduled Australian dates for their On With the Show world tour. Classic songs, classic line-up and still plenty of drama.

Truly classic.

THE CHAIN

Fleetwood Mac Announce "TUSK" 5CD / 1 DVD 5.1 Surround Mix / 2 Vinyl Reissue - Avail. December 4th

Tusk (Deluxe Edition 5CD/1DVD-A/2 Vinyl)

Fleetwood Mac builds on its formidable legacy as one of rock’s most legendary acts as they re-visit

their most ambitious album with deluxe and expanded editions of TUSK.

Originally released in 1979, the Grammy® Award-nominated, double-album sold more than four million copies worldwide, and reached number 1 in the UK album charts, and included hits like “Sara,” “Think About Me,” and the title track.

The announcement comes as the band – Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham  Stevie Nicks and now of course Christine McVie,  – continues it’s acclaimed, “On With The Show” world tour which recently including 6 sold out shows at London’s 02 Arena.

To follow the historic, global success of 1977’s Grammy-Award winning Rumours, Fleetwood Mac chose to take a more experimental approach on Tusk. The most famous example has to be the unexpected and beloved inclusion of the University of Southern California’s marching band on the title track.

TUSK will be available on December 4 

This DELUXE EDITION delves deep into the vaults with five CDs including the remastered original album, an alternate version of the complete album made up of session outtakes, most of which have never been released, as well as an additional selection of singles, demos and remixes, including an outtake of “Think About Me,” an early version of “That’s Enough For Me” called “Out On The Road,” plus several incarnations of “I Know I’m Not Wrong.”

Also included are two discs loaded with 22 unreleased performances from the band’s 1979 Tusk tour with selections from concerts in London, Tucson, and St. Louis. It includes live versions of album tracks like “Sara, “Over And Over” and “Save Me A Place,” as well as favorites like “Landslide,” “You Make Loving Fun,” “Rhiannon,” “Don’t Stop” and “Go Your Own Way.”

Completing  the Deluxe Edition is a 5.1 surround mix of Tusk on DVD-Audio and vinyl of the original album on 2-LPs. 

The collection comes housed in an elegant box reminiscent of the acclaimed Rumours Deluxe Edition with a booklet that has extended liner notes that feature new interviews with all the band members. 

TUSK will also be available as a single disc of the original album remastered this year by Lindsey Buckingham.

The 3 cd digi-pack expanded edition includes the remastered original album, an alternate version of the complete album made up of session outtakes, most of which have never been released, as well as an additional selection of singles, demos and remixes, including an outtake of “Think About Me,” an early version of “That’s Enough For Me” called “Out On The Road,” plus several incarnations of “I Know I’m Not Wrong.

"Sara" Live in Tucson, AZ 8/28/80

US - Amazon Pre-Order

TUSK: DELUXE EDITION

TUSK: (Expanded 3CD Digi-pack)

TUSK: (1CD Jewel Case - 2015 Remaster)


THE DELUXE EDITION:
Disc One: Original Album Remastered

01. “Over & Over”
02. “The Ledge”
03. “Think About Me”
04. “Save Me A Place”
05. “Sara”
06. “What Makes You Think You’re The One”
07. “Storms”
08. “That’s All For Everyone”
09. “Not That Funny”
10. “Sisters Of The Moon”
11. “Angel”
12. “That’s Enough For Me”
13. “Brown Eyes”
14. “Never Make Me Cry”
15. “I Know I’m Not Wrong”
16. “Honey Hi”
17. “Beautiful Child”
18. “Walk A Thin Line”
19. “Tusk”
20. “Never Forget”

Disc Two: Singles, Outtakes, Sessions

01. “Think About Me” (Single Remix)
02. “That’s All for Everyone” (Remix)
03. “Sisters of the Moon” (Remix)
04. “Not That Funny” (Single Remix)
05. “Sara” (Single Edit)
06. “Walk a Thin Line” (Song #3 – 03/13/79)
07. “Honey Hi” (Alternate Version – 10/18/78)
08. “Storms” (Alternate Version – 11/30/78)
09. “Save Me a Place” (2nd Version -10/10/78) *
10. “Never Make Me Cry” (Version – 04/17/79)
11. “Out On The Road” (aka “That’s Enough For Me” – Demo – 12/19/78) *
12. “I Know I’m Not Wrong” – Lindsey’s Song #1 (Demo)
13. “I Know I’m Not Wrong” (10/10/78 Version) *
14. “I Know I’m Not Wrong” (11/3/78 Version) *
15. “I Know I’m Not Wrong” (4/25/79 Version) *
16. “I Know I’m Not Wrong” (8/13/79 Version) *
17. “I Know I’m Not Wrong” (1/23/79 Version) *
18. “Tusk” (Demo – 01/15/79) *
19. “Tusk” “Stage Riff” (Demo – 01/30/79) *
20. “Tusk” (Outtake Track – 02/01/79) *
21. “Tusk” (Outtake Mix – 01/23/79) *
22. “Tusk” (USC Version – 06/04/79) *

Disc Three: The Alternate Tusk

01. “Over & Over” (04/02/79) *
02. “The Ledge” (03/13/79)
03. “Think About Me” (02/18/79) *
04. “Save Me a Place” (10/18/78) *
05. “Sara” (03/10/79)
06. “What Makes You Think You’re the One” (02/24/79) *
07. “Storms” (06/02/79) *
08. “That’s All for Everyone” (10/20/78) *
09. “Not That Funny” (05/19/79) *
10. “Sisters of the Moon” (11/12/78)
11. “Angel” (04/02/79) *
12. “That’s Enough for Me” (09/29/78) *
13. “Brown Eyes” (with Lindsey & Peter Green, 09/20/78) *
14. “Never Make Me Cry” (02/08/79) *
15. “I Know I’m Not Wrong” (11/02/78) *
16. “Honey Hi” (10/11/78) *
17. “Beautiful Child” (10/09/78) *
18. “Walk a Thin Line” (04/06/79) *
19. “Tusk” (07/19/79) *
20. “Never Forget” (06/29/78) *

Disc Four: Tusk Tour Live 1

01. Intro (Wembley, 06/26/80) *
02. “Say You Love Me” (Wembley, 06/26/80) *
03. “The Chain” (Wembley, 06/20/80) *
04. “Don’t Stop” (Wembley, 06/27/80) *
05. “Dreams” (Wembley, 06/20/80) *
06. “Oh Well” (Wembley, 06/20/80) *
07. “Rhiannon” (Tuscon, 08/28/80) *
08. “Over and Over” (St. Louis, 11/05/79) *
09. “That’s Enough for Me” (Wembley, 06/21/80) *
10. “Sara” (Tuscon, 08/28/80) *
11. “Not That Funny” (St. Louis, 11/05/79) *
12. “Tusk” (St. Louis, 11/05/79) *

Disc Five: Tusk Tour Live 2

01. “Save Me a Place” (St. Louis, 11/05/79) *
02. “Landslide” (Omaha, 08/21/80) *
03. “What Makes You Think You’re the One” (St. Louis, 11/05/79) *
04. “Angel” (St. Louis, 11/05/79) *
05. “You Make Loving Fun” (Wembley, 06/20/80) *
06. “I’m So Afraid” (St. Louis, 11/05/79) *
07. “World Turning” (Wembley, 06/22/80) *
08. “Go Your Own Way” (Wembley, 06/22/80) *
09. “Sisters of the Moon” (Wembley, 06/22/80) *
10. “Songbird” (Wembley, 06/27/80) *

* Previously Unreleased

Review | Photos: Fleetwood Mac Live in Adelaide, AU October 28, 2015

Fleetwood Mac family finally felt complete
by Nathan Davies
The Advertiser

Photos Simon Cross - VIEW GALLERY

FEW bands have been through as much as Fleetwood Mac and lived to tell the tale.

They took the ’70s ethos of sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll to its limit, with the sex and the drugs threatening to end the rock ’n’ roll on more than one occasion.

Perhaps that’s why Wednesday night’s show at Coopers Stadium had such a feel-good vibe – the Mac are like a dysfunctional family who’ve had some therapy, buried the hatchet and turned up for Christmas lunch with smiles on their faces. And the family finally felt complete, with songwriter/keyboardist/vocalist Christine McVie back where she belongs after 16 years away from the band.

“This is quite an auspicious occasion,” McVie told the full stadium. “I haven’t been to Adelaide for 30 years.”

The crowd welcomed her with open arms – her voice and her songs are a vital piece of the Fleetwood Mac puzzle.

McVie looked effortlessly cool behind the keys, standing at the right hand of former husband and bass player John McVie who was, together with mercurial drummer Mick Fleetwood, rocking the “Morris dancers on acid” look. Stevie Nicks was front and centre, the eternal waif, and next to her was guitarist and vocalist – and former lover – Lindsey Buckingham, looking youthful and handsome in jeans and a sports coat.

The night began with The Chain, the stomping country rock anthem from Rumours, and from there on it was just a cavalcade of hits – Dreams, Rhiannon, Everywhere, a brilliant rendition of Tusk complete with a big-screen remix of the iconic marching band film clip, Sara and Say You Love Me, a song that showed off the McVie-Nicks-Buckingham harmony machine to full effect.

After that the band went off for a well-deserved breather while Buckingham laid down a truly beautiful solo version of Big Love. His guitar playing is a breathtaking mix of folk-styled fingerpicking and rock riffing, and his voice cut through the warm night as a full moon rose over the stands.

The band came back on for Landslide, and we got the first of Mick’s drum solos on Think About Me, before Nicks told the story of the inspiration behind Gypsy (it’s about an expensive San Francisco dress salon, Janis Joplin, and the moment she knew she was going to be a famous singer). I’m So Afraid saw Buckingham wowing with his guitar antics once more before the main set closed with a rousing rendition of Go Your Own Way that had the crowd on its feet and singing along (and one lady in the front row filming on an iPad. Get a phone, lady!)

There was an encore – that’s a given – and it started with World Turning complete with a five-minute Fleetwood drum solo/comedy routine, followed by Don’t Stop and Silver Springs. The night wound up, fittingly, with Christine McVie on a grand piano singing Songbird, accompanied by Buckingham on an acoustic guitar.

The applause was heartfelt, and the band genuinely seemed to appreciate it. The final word went to Fleetwood, the giant ringmaster, who thanked the fans for their support over almost five decades and implored everyone “in this seemingly crazy world that we live in” to “take such very good care of one another”. Yeah, Mick!

Review: Theaureview.com

Review & Photos: 4kq.com

Fleetwood Mac: Supergroup being pretty low-key ahead of their Adelaide concert

THE members of legendary supergroup Fleetwood Mac are being pretty low- key during their Adelaide stay.

AdelaideNow

Heading out of the band’s city hotel yesterday wearing jeans and a T-shirt Lindsey Buckingham, greeted our shutterbug telling him to stay put because “there will be a raft of people for you to photograph’’.

He wasn’t telling Little Lies eitherbecause soon after appeared Christine McVie, who is back with Mac after 16 years, with an entourage. Like Lindsey, she was casually dressed and looking relaxed as she left to take in some city sights.

Mick Fleetwood was even more chilled out, rocking a beanie.

Fleetwood Mac is performing at Coopers Stadium on Wednesday night and there are Rumours the band will be at the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

“Fleetwood Mac has been invited and inundated with requests to attend Cup Carnival events,” a source close to the band tells Confidential.

Fleetwood Mac Start Australian Tour In Sydney With A Few Rarities

by PAUL CASHMERE
Noise11

Fleetwood Mac kicked off the first shows for their Australian tour in Sydney last night (22-10-15) with two rare songs added to the setlist.

‘Bleed To Love Her’ from the 1997 album ‘The Dance’ was performed for the first time since 1997 and for the first time ever outside North America.

Christine McVie’s ‘Think About Me’ from the 1980 ‘Tusk’ album was performed for the first time in 35 years. It was only the 16th time Fleetwood Mac had ever performed the song. It had previously never been performed live outside of the USA.

Fleetwood Mac will perform again in Sydney on Saturday night.

Fleetwood Mac setlist

The Chain (from Rumours, 1977)
You Make Loving Fun (from Rumours, 1977)
Dreams (from Rumours, 1977)
Second Hand News (from Rumours, 1977)
Rhiannon (from Fleetwood Mac, 1975)
Everywhere (from Tango In The Night, 1987)
Bleed To Love Her (from The Dance, 1997)
Tusk (from Tusk, 1979)
Sara (from Tusk, 1979)
Say You Love Me (from Fleetwood Mac, 1975)
Big Love (from Tango In The Night, 1987)
Landslide (from Fleetwood Mac, 1975)
Never Going Back Again (from Rumours, 1977)
Think About Me (from Tusk, 1979)
Gypsy (from Mirage, 1982)
Little Lies (from Tango In The Night, 1987)
Gold Dust Woman (from Rumours, 1977)
I’m So Afraid (from Fleetwood Mac, 1975)
Go Your Own Way (from Rumours, 1977)

World Turning (from Fleetwood Mac, 1975)
Don’t Stop (from Rumours, 1977)
Silver Springs (b-side Go Your Own Way, 1977)

Songbird (from Rumours, 1977)