Sunday, June 30, 2013

2nd and Final Shows Added for Fleetwood Mac in Brisbane and Perth, Nov 14th and Nov 23rd.

EXTRA FLEETWOOD MAC SHOWS ADDED FOR PERTH AND BRISBANE!

To keep up with the overwhelming ticket demand, extra Brisbane & Perth shows have been added to the legendary Fleetwood Mac’s forthcoming Australian tour!

A 2nd and final Brisbane show will take place on Thursday November 14 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre (which is actually their first date in Brisbane. The second date is Dec 2nd) and a 2nd and final Perth show will take place on Saturday November 23 at Perth Arena.

For details on the American Express pre-sale, My Live Nation pre-sale and general on-sale, head to livenation.com.au!

Live Nation

So that 3rd Sydney date ended up becoming a 2nd Brisbane date!

Dates confirmed for Australia and New Zealand:

AUSTRALIA
Nov 10: Sydney, AU - Sydney Entertainment Centre
Nov 11: Sydney, AU - Sydney Entertainment Centre
Nov 14: Brisbane, AU - Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Nov 16: Hope Estate Winery - Hunter Valley
Nov 19: Adelaide, AU - Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Nov 22: Perth, AU - Perth Arena
Nov 23: Perth, AU - Perth Arena
Nov 26: Melbourne, AU - Rod Laver Arena
Nov 27: Melbourne, AU - Rod Laver Arena
Nov 30: Geelong, AU - Hill Winery - A Day On The Green
Dec 02: Brisbane, AU - Brisbane Entertainment Center

NEW ZEALAND
Dec 04: Auckland, NZ - Vector Arena
Dec 06: Auckland, NZ - Vector Arena
Dec 07: Auckland, NZ - Vector Arena

Ovation Channel 134 Australia: Fleetwood Mac Destiny Rules and The Story of Documentaries Air July 1 & 2

JB Hi Fi - Australia
Two Fleetwood Mac Documentaries on Australian TV this week: 


Fleetwood Mac: Destiny Rules

The legendary band reunite to record their first studio album in 15 years. Follow the ups and downs as they write and record their album Say You Will from the very beginning to the opening night of their tour. Cameras capture every moment from start to finish, giving an intimate insight into this iconic group like no documentary before.

Genre: Documentary
Year: 2004
Duration: 90mins

Fleetwood Mac: Destiny Rules - Ovation Channel #134 
7:30pm - July 1st
3:30am - July 2nd
11:30am - July 2nd

The Story of Fleetwood Mac 
Fleetwood Mac broke all of the records when the band's 1977 album, 'Rumours' became the best-selling album of the year, and it sold over 19 million copies in the US alone and a total of 40 million copies worldwide making it one of the biggest selling albums of all time. The Fleetwood Mac story begins in London in 1967 with original members Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood, Jeremy Spencer, Bob Brunning (and eventually John McVie) gaining some initial success during the late '60s British blues boom. Various line-up changes would see them hit creative and commercial peak in 1975 with the release of their self-titled album 'Fleetwood Mac'. And the rest, as they say, is history. Featuring interviews with Christine McVie and Mick Fleetwood plus live footage and music videos, this insightful documentary follows the band through the highs and the lows and shows why they are one of the most famous rock bands ever.

Genre: Music
Duration: 60mins

The Story of Fleetwood Mac - Ovation Channel #134 
5:00pm - July 1st
1:00am - July 2nd
9:00am - July 2nd

Ovation Channel

Album Charts | Sales: Fleetwood Mac - U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Ireland, UK

U.S.A. July 7, 2013
TOP 200 BILLBOARD ALBUMS CHART
Rumours jumps up the Top 200 Albums Chart this week again from #135 last week to #117 even though sales declined by 1% selling 3,604 units vs 3,627 last week.  Total U.S. sales since November, 1991 = 3,202,566.

# 117 (135) Fleetwood Mac "Rumours"

TOP 200 CATALOGUE ALBUMS CHART
Fleetwood Mac have 4 Albums within the Top 200 Catalogue Albums Chart this week.  

Rumours moves up to #12 from #19.  

The Very Best Of moves down to #72 on a 19% sales decline selling 1,909 units during the sales period vs 2,346 the previous week.  Total U.S. sales since it's release in November, 2002 = 1,580,620.

Greatest Hits moves up to #87 from #108 with sales of 1,828 units in the U.S. up 4% vs 1,765 the previous week. Total U.S. sales since November, 1991 when soundscan began tracking actual sales = 4,668,032.

Fleetwood Mac, the 1975 white album moves down to #115 this week from #97 last week. Sales for the week were 1,591 down 13% vs 1,819 the previous week. Total U.S. sales since November, 1991 = 932,340.

# 12 (19) Fleetwood Mac "Rumours"
# 72 (52) Fleetwood Mac "The Very Best Of"
# 87 (108) Fleetwood Mac "Greatest Hits"
# 115 (97) Fleetwood Mac "Fleetwood Mac"

AUSTRALIA - July 1, 2013
TOP 100 ALBUMS CHART
In Australia with the tour announcement album sales have been steady.  Rumours moves down slightly to #69 from #53 last week. Greatest Hits moves down to #71 from #56 last week and The Very Best Of re-enters the chart at #93 and also re-enters the Top 40 Catalogue Chart at #32

# 69 (53) Fleetwood Mac "Rumours"
# 71 (56) Fleetwood Mac "Greatest Hits"
# 93 (R/E) Fleetwood Mac "The Very Best Of"

TOP 50 CATALOGUE ALBUMS CHART
# 18 (10) Fleetwood Mac "Rumours"
# 19 (12) Fleetwood Mac "Greatest Hits"
# 32 (R/E) Fleetwood Mac "25 Years The Chain" Box set

TOP 50 DIGITAL ALBUMS CHART
# 25 (20) Fleetwood Mac "Greatest Hits"

IRELAND - June 27, 2013
TOP 100 ALBUMS CHART
Two albums this week in Ireland making an impact.  The Very Best Of at #92 and Greatest Hits re-entering at #100.

# 92 (78) Fleetwood Mac "The Very Best Of"
#100 (R/E) Fleetwood Mac "Greatest Hits"

CANADA - June 27, 2013
TOP 200 CATALOGUE ALBUMS CHART
In Canada Rumours moves up to #17 from #21 and Greatest Hits moves up to #65 from #73.  Sales for Rumours in Canada since November, 1991 = 381,362 with Greatest Hits moving 196,436 in the same time frame.

# 17 (21) Fleetwood Mac "Rumours"
# 65 (73) Fleetwood Mac "Greatest Hits"

UK - July 6, 2013
TOP 100 ALBUMS CHART
# 56 (58) Fleetwood Mac "The Very Best Of"
# 75 (74) Fleetwood Mac "Rumours"

TOP 40 CATALOGUE ALBUMS CHART
# 4 Fleetwood Mac "Rumours"

SCOTLAND - July 6, 2013
TOP 40 ALBUMS CHART
# 20 (23) Fleetwood Mac "The Dance"

VIDEO | PHOTOS: Fleetwood Mac Live in Spokane

FLEETWOOD MAC LIVE
SPOKANE, WA - SPOKANE ARENA
JUNE 29, 2013
(Review to follow)




GOLD DUST WOMAN
SAD ANGEL / RHIANNON
BIG LOVE - PARTIAL
GO YOUR OWN WAY - PARIAL

FAN PHOTOS
View Gallery on Facebook

Three's a Charm for Fleetwood Mac Live in Auckland, NZ - 3rd and Final Show Added


FLEETWOOD MAC have announced a third and final New Zealand show for December 4th, to kick off their run of dates at Auckland's Vector Arena.

The band's Stevie Nicks says about the new show: "We get to come to New Zealand so seldom, that the longer we can stay the better we like it! So excited that we are able to add a third show in Auckland!"

American Express Card holders have the first opportunity to purchase tickets, during an exclusive pre-sale beginning 12pm NZST / 10am AEST on Wednesday, July 3rd.

My Live Nation members can access pre-sale tickets for the third show from 2pm NZST / 12pm AEST on Friday, July 5th.

Tickets to the general public for the December 4th show go on sale from 11am NZST / 9am AEST on Monday, July 8th.

Live Nation Australia

FLEETWOOD MAC - New Zealand 2013
AUCKLAND - VECTOR ARENA, WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 4. [NEW SHOW]
AUCKLAND - VECTOR ARENA, FRIDAY DECEMBER 6. [sold out]
AUCKLAND - VECTOR ARENA, SATURDAY DECEMBER 7. [sold out]

Review: Fleetwood Mac Live in Charlotte - Nicks and Buckingham Battle it out for stage supremecy

FLEETWOOD MAC LIVE
CHARLOTTE, NC - TIME WARNER CABLE ARENA
JUNE 24, 2013

Robert Lahser Photo
By Jared Faw
Salsbury Post

CHARLOTTE — More than 20,000 fans gathered in Charlotte’s Time Warner Arena to pay their respects to the mighty Fleetwood Mac – a band notorious for their love-affairs, drug use, and lethal amount of hits over the past four decades.

Although the longevity of the band has never been questioned, it was surprising to see so many 20-something year-olds in the crowd. There were plenty of Stevie Nicks impersonators, of course, draped in their black handkerchief-chiffon dresses and platform boots.

Fleetwood Mac is currently on a world tour, which will hit Australia and New Zealand before the year is over. The Australian leg of the tour sold out in a record breaking fifteen minutes, proving that the Mac still has quite the clout.

The band opened with a menagerie of hits from their landmark record, “Rumours,” which to this day is the third best-selling album in history with sales nearing 25 million. The first two songs, “Second Hand News” and “The Chain,” kept the crowd on their feet and fists pumping in the air, while the band effortlessly glided through hit after hit.

What was the most apparent all throughout the evening was just how hard this band rocks.

A special treat for more seasoned fans was the drop-jaw performance of their new single, “Sad Angel,” which was released a few weeks ago on their new EP, aptly titled, “Extended Play.”

The night became a bit more somber when Nicks introduced her signature song, “Landslide.” The definitive emotional peak of the evening, “Landslide” talks about growing older and coming to terms with both your mortality and the realization that some “mountains” simply cannot be climbed.

Friday, June 28, 2013

Stevie Nicks, still draped in diaphanous scarves and age-defying blond locks at 65

Fleetwood Mac: They may be paleolithic, but they have good bones
Oregon Live
by Michele Coppola

So you never got to see Queen with the incandescent Freddie Mercury, Journey fronted by Steve Perry, or U2 before Bono took himself so seriously. It's a loss, to be sure. But on Sunday at the Rose Garden, you'll have the chance to catch one of rock's legendary bands while they're mostly intact and can still bring it.

Fleetwood Mac is Paleolithic by pop music standards -- its first incarnation can be traced back to 1967 -- but recent reviews from previous stops on the band's current world tour attest to the fact that they're still more than the sum of their very individual, disparate parts.

Drummer Mick Fleetwood is the band's occasional manager and one of the Beatles-era originals, along with bassist John McVie. Fleetwood has also been described as the glue that's held the group together for decades, even back when they cycled through various members as a blues outfit in London.

In 1975, at a Los Angeles restaurant, Fleetwood hit the jackpot for the band's lineup, meeting the couple who would anchor the band's longest-running incarnation. Lindsey Buckingham and his girlfriend/partner Stevie Nicks brought pop and poetry to Fleetwood Mac, but like so many windfalls, they also brought more drama and turmoil to a group already rocked by substance abuse and the crumbling marriage of Christine and John McVie.

That drama eventually resulted in "Rumours," one of the best-selling albums in music history.

More telling of influence than album sales, however, is the number of 30-something women walking around today with the name Rhiannon. It's likely they've only seen videos of the person whose song inspired their name -- the band's enchanted front woman, Nicks.

There's an argument to be made that Nicks, still draped in diaphanous scarves and age-defying blond locks at 65, is the element that must be present in order for Fleetwood Mac 
to conjure magic.

And yet the creative process that resulted in some of pop's most enduring music rarely involved the band jamming together. "Rumours," as well as many subsequent Fleetwood Mac albums, came about through overdubbing and piecing together various bits and riffs recorded by the members individually, with almost all tracks written by Nicks, Christine McVie or Buckingham.

This dogged individuality has been both necessary to the band's success and nearly its undoing over the years; it's fitting that "The Chain" -- a song that the players themselves agree is the band's unofficial anthem -- is the only one in Fleetwood Mac's extensive catalog with a five-way writing credit.

It's a track that begins with one of rock music's most recognizable plucked-guitar intros, courtesy of Buckingham, Fleetwood Mac's youngest member. At 63, he remains the intense, guitar-shredding kid in the band who has always served as the catalyst for change.

Available on AmazonMP3 or iTunes
Buckingham is also the main reason Fleetwood Mac has a new four-song EP called "Extended Play," which landed in the iTunes Top 10 when it was released in April. 


At least a few of those tracks are incorporated into this tour's set, which has been running longer than 2 1/2 Hours.

While the new songs are unmistakably Fleetwood Mac creations, they are missing the sweet voice and polished keyboard work that Christine McVie brought to the mix. Retired to the English countryside since 1998, she was always the group's much-needed leavening agent. Some of her best-known songs are understandably absent from the current tour's playlist, and word is there's a thinness to the live show without her presence.

But there is still the drama of seeing Buckingham and Nicks trying to resolve whatever chemistry remains between them live on stage; lanky Mick Fleetwood hunched over a drum kit pounding out "Tusk"; John McVie's ominous vibrating bass lines; and the near-astral experience that is "Sara." Even after three decades, it's an alchemy that continues to produce gold.

Buckingham says the band's musicianship has not diminished with age, nor has the desire for most of them to make music together.

"After all this time you would think there was nothing left to discover, nothing left to work out, no new chapters to be written," he told Rolling Stone earlier this year. "But that is not the case." 

Tickets to Fleetwood Mac's Portland Oregon show are available at Comcast tickets

Video | Photos: Fleetwood Mac Live in Des Moines IA 6/26/13

FLEETWOOD MAC LIVE
DES MOINES, IA - WELLS FARGO ARENA
JUNE 26, 2013

Fleetwood Mac Concert: Memories, Gypsies, and Crazy Mick
by stephkocer

I think it is safe to make the assumption that after a while all bands get a little full of themselves. Especially when they have become uber successful. The band starts to forget how they even got there in the first place. No act would be successful without their fans, but it seems like the rockers that have been doing it for a long time don’t care about that anymore. They just like to know everyone is there to worship them. Now, I love cocky rock stars, don’t get me wrong, but imagine the surprise that I got when I went to see Fleetwood Mac in Des Moines this week. It was a surprise because Fleetwood Mac are not your typical rock stars. You would think that after the success of an album like “Rumours” the members of Fleetwood Mac would be lost in their own self-awesomeness, but they are not. In fact, I’ve never been to a show where the band was so appreciative of the crowd and genuinely happy to be there. I’ve never seen a band interact with the crowd that much and actually be that thankful for people coming out to see them. Aside from their gratefulness, they also moved to the very top of my list of best concerts I have been to. Here’s why they now rank number one:




Above 3 Photos: Patrick Finnegan | Earl Ramey | Jessica Krock

"NEVER GOING BACK AGAIN"
"GOLD DUST WOMAN" Love the ending of this where they alter her vocals and give it more echo
"RHIANNON"

Vinyl Boxed Set Spanning Fleetwood Mac's First Four Albums Available August 20th

Revisit The Mighty Mac’s Roots With Expanded And Remastered Version Of 1969’s Then Play On And Vinyl Boxed set Spanning The Group’s First Four Albums For Reprise Records

Both Will Be Available On August 20th

- 4LP 1969-1972 Vinyl Box Set: Amazon
- "Then Play On" Expanded Edition: Amazon

This summer, revisit the Fleetwood Mac’s early years with two special releases from Reprise Records.


The first is an expanded and remastered edition of THEN PLAY ON, Fleetwood Mac’s 1969 debut on Reprise. This reissue features the original U.K running order and track segues, with “One Sunny Day” and “Without You” making their first appearance on a CD issue of the album, as well as new liner notes by veteran rock journalist David Fricke and four bonus tracks, including the revered single “Oh Well – Pt. 1,” which boasts one of the great guitar riffs in rock history and has been covered by likes of Billy F Gibbons, Jimmy Page, and Tom Petty.

The second release is FLEETWOOD MAC: 1969-1972, a beautiful vinyl boxed set that collects four of the band’s classic albums, each lovingly reproduced on 140-gram vinyl. As a bonus, the set comes with an exclusive replica of the original 1969 7-inch single of “Oh Well – Pt. 1” b/w “Oh Well – Pt. 2.”

THEN PLAY ON: EXPANDED EDITION and FLEETWOOD MAC: 1969-1972 will both be available August 20.

Fleetwood Mac was already a popular blues band in 1969 when they released THEN PLAY ON, the group’s stellar third studio album. It was the first with guitarist-songwriter Danny Kirwan and ultimately its last with founding member Peter Green. The album’s powerful mix of blues and rock includes standout tracks like “Rattlesnake Shake,” “Searching For Madge” and “Coming Your Way.” Rhino’s newly re-mastered and expanded edition includes four bonus tracks originally released as singles: parts one and two of “Oh Well,” “The Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown)” and “World In Harmony,” which is available on CD for the first time.

FLEETWOOD MAC: 1969-1972 features four complete albums – Then Play On (1969), Kiln House (1970), Future Games (1971) and Bare Trees (1972) – housed in a striking black slipcase. To ensure superb sound quality, Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering cut the lacquers for all four albums. The records look as good as they sound thanks to authentically reproduced packages, including gatefolds for Then Play On and Kiln House and single sleeves for Future Games and Bare Trees.

The set follows the band through an early transitional period. With Kiln House, Fleetwood Mac began moving toward a more melodic pop sound on songs like “Mission Bell” and “One Together.” At the time, the band included: Jeremy Spencer (guitar, vocals, piano), Kirwan (guitar, vocals), John McVie (bass) and Mick Fleetwood (drums). Christine McVie was at the recording sessions and contributed backing vocals and the album’s cover art, but she did not join the band until shortly after the album was finished.

The band’s shift toward pop and folk styles continued on Future Games with songs like “Show Me A Smile” and “Morning Rain.” This marks the first Fleetwood Mac album with Christine McVie as a full band member as well as the Mac debut of Bob Welch on guitar.

The line-up stayed the same for Bare Trees, which boasts a consistently strong collection of songs like McVie’s “Spare Me A Little Of Your Love,” Kirwan’s “Dust” and Welch’s “Sentimental Lady.” Although Kirwan was a dominant figure during the recording, penning half of the songs, this would ultimately be his last appearance on a Fleetwood Mac album.


THEN PLAY ON: EXPANDED EDITION
Track Listing

Thursday, June 27, 2013

The Top 20 Concert Tours rank: Fleetwood Mac NEW at No.5


The Top 20 Concert Tours ranks artists by average box office gross per city and includes the average ticket price for shows in North America. The previous week's ranking is in parentheses. The list is based on data provided to the trade publication Pollstar by concert promoters and venue managers.

1. (1) The Rolling Stones; $7,969,276; $346.08.
2. (2) Taylor Swift; $2,072,961; $84.02.
3. (3) Kenny Chesney; $1,829,281; $76.47.
4. (4) Bon Jovi; $1,622,485; $106.01.
5. (New) Fleetwood Mac; $1,426,254; $111.75.
6. (5) Maroon 5; $879,457; $62.99.
7. (6) Jason Aldean; $754,571; $51.28.
8. (7) Brad Paisley; $578,398; $36.74.
9. (8) Carrie Underwood; $497,868; $62.07.
10. (9) Leonard Cohen; $489,734; $106.77.
11. (10) Green Day; $469,164; $50.47.
12. (11) Motley Crue; $332,400; $78.37.
13. (New) Widespread Panic; $281,496; $42.36.
14. (12) Bassnectar; $179,128; $36.44.
15. (13) Diana Krall; $176,499; $83.60.
16. (15) Chris Tomlin; $163,206; $28.29.
17. (17) Shinedown / Three Days Grace; $156,081; $39.40.
18. (16) Il Divo; $152,184; $76.21.
19. (19) Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds; $142,644; $52.23.
20. (20) Willie Nelson; $133,423; $55.67.

SF Chronicle

LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM Reveals Planning Behind Fleetwood Mac Setlist


Fleetwood Mac is winding down its massive North American tour before taking a well deserved couple of months off until its 30-date European and Australian leg. The band's recent setlists have been chock-full of the band's greatest hits from the '70s and '80's, but with absence of Christine McVie -- and most of her songs -- the band's setlist has been able to shine a light on some deep album cuts and personal favorites.

Lindsey Buckingham told us that a Fleetwood Mac show is pretty much pre-designed due to the band's hits -- but that filling in the gaps between the blockbusters takes real passion and artistry: "There was a kind of an openness to let people try what they want to try, so there's a few other songs that are a little bit more off to the left in the set this time, too, aside from new stuff. So, y'know, if you sort of come to the conclusion that maybe 75 percent of what you're going to do every time is, y'know, those things you can't get away without doing -- for lack of a better term -- it's really what you do around the edges. And I think we really found some interesting edges between some more obscure stuff and some of the newer stuff."

Fleetwood Mac's Remaining North American tour dates

June 29 - Spokane, WA - Spokane Arena - Ticketswest
June 30 - Portland, OR - Rose Garden Arena - Comcast Tickets
July 3 - Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center - Ticketmaster
July 5 - San Diego, CA Viejas Arena - Ticketmaster
July 6 - Sacramento, CA - Sleep Train Arena - Ticketmaster

WMMR

Review: Fleetwood Mac rocks Long Island, tours the U.S.

FLEETWOOD MAC LIVE
WANTAGH, NY - JONES BEACH
JUNE 22, 2013 

The band’s summer tour of classic rock and roll continues
Erika Norton | Echo

Between festivals like Bonaroo and Firefly, to country-wide and world tours from artists such as Bruno Mars and the Dave Matthews Band, summer is overflowing with smash-hit concerts for every musical taste.

Fleetwood Mac is one of those bands on tour this summer, and The Echo was onsite during the group’s stop at the Nikon Jones Beach Theater in New York on June 22.

With a full moon overhead, the lead singers Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham sang classic hit after hit.

Skyrocketing to rock and roll fame in the 1970’s with their Grammy-winning album Rumours, songs from the legendary album were featured heavily throughout the night. Nicks, who penned many of the hits from the album, kept to her gypsy persona, dancing across the stage wearing platform boots, flowy skirts and a top hat.

As she welcomed the audience to the show she exclaimed, “Let’s get this party started!” and began singing the band’s number one hit, “Dreams.” The amphitheater, which is located on a beach, gave lyrics such as “drowning in the sea of love” new meaning.

Some highlights of the night included Nicks’ and Lindsey Buckingham’s acoustic duet of “Landslide,” a song many artists have covered over the years due to its cross-generational lyrics. As the giant screen behind the stage sparkled with twinkling lights, Nicks and Buckingham’s famous chemistry exploded onstage.

Nicks and Buckingham surprised superfans with “Without You,” a song written before they were asked to join the band. Nicks’ enthusiasts got their fill as well, with hits written for the band such as “Rhiannon,” “Gypsy” and a rousing rendition of “Stand Back” from her solo career.

Buckingham showcased his unique plucking style of guitar playing with solos during “Go Your Own Way,” even wiping out onstage during his solo in “I’m So Afraid.” Thankfully he got right back up and kept shredding on his axe.

As Buckingham explained some of the meaning behind his lyrics, he spoke about the importance of transition.

“We need illusions to dream, but we need to discard some illusions to grow,” he said.

Mick Fleetwood, drummer and original founder of the band, showed he hasn’t lost his touch despite turning 66 years old on Monday. In between the first of two encores, Fleetwood, sitting on what the band has dubbed “his throne,” went into an impressive drum solo.

Despite the absence of Christine McVie, songwriter of “Don’t Stop” and former piano player for the band, the song still had the same energy as ever, turning into a giant audience sing-along.

The Mac still had one more trick up their sleeves. “Silver Springs,” a Nicks song originally intended for the Rumours album, has become a crowd favorite and was the second-to-last encore.

Before the band closed with “Say Goodbye,” Nicks left the audience with some parting words.

“You guys are the dreamcatchers,” she said. “I wish you love, I wish you happiness, and I wish you catch all your dreams in that dreamcatcher.”

Fleetwood Mac’s next two tour stops are the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, NC and the Wells Fargo Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

Kickstarter: The untold story of Waddy Wachtel, and the unsung heroes of Rock and Roll.

KING OF THE SIDEMEN
The untold story of Waddy Wachtel, and the unsung heroes of Rock and Roll.
This project will only be funded if at least $32,500 is pledged by Wednesday Jul 24, 5:03pm EDT.

KING OF THE SIDEMEN
Directed & Produced by Gary Simson. Edited & Produced by Andy Willinger.

They are the silhouettes on stage- far from the spotlight. Churning out the licks and holding down the beat- creating the musical magic that make the stars shine brighter. 

They are the SIDEMEN... ...The unsung heroes of Rock and Roll. 

These multi-talented virtuosos are some of the most sought-after musicians in the world. Yet, by playing exclusively in other people's bands, they are often unnoticed and under-appreciated. 

This is their story, and we need your help to tell it.

From skid row bars to massive coliseums and legendary recording studios, a rock sidemen’s life is like a wild, unpredictable rollercoaster ride, with soaring highs sandwiched between deep lulls.

Some thrive- and maintain long-standing relationships with hugely popular musicians. Some barely scrape out a living. And others have faded away. But ONE has survived the pitfalls of the brutal music industry and remains as relevant today as when he his career began in the late 1960s.  

WADDY WACHTEL’s resumé reads like a who’s who of rock and roll. He has played guitar on hundreds of hit records and has performed, recorded and collaborated with nearly every rock superstar imaginable, earning their respect and admiration along the way.

KING OF THE SIDEMEN is his story: a full-length documentary film that chronicles the struggles and successes of a rock-and-roll maestro and the making of some of the greatest songs ever recorded. The film spans his early days breaking into the business, to outrageous world tours with rock royalty, to Waddy’s pet project: the creation of an unlikely Supergroup made up of some of the best sidemen in the industry. The film documents the rise of one of rock’s greatest guns-for hire, with live performances from his band, vintage footage, personal photos, classic live and recorded music and exclusive interviews with rock icons including Keith Richards, Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, Jackson Browne, George Thorogood, Dave Stewart, Joe Walsh and more.

KING OF THE SIDEMEN includes the stories of the members of what may be the world’s greatest cover band: long-time Rolling Stones backup singer Bernard Fowler, guitarist and keyboardist Brett Tuggle (Fleetwood Mac), ex-Tom Petty drummer Phil Jones and Neil Young alum Rick “the bass player” Rosas, and others. They play to a packed house in an unassuming bar in Los Angeles. But this is no ordinary club. On any given night, legendary rockers like Robert Plant, Roger Daltry, Ron Wood, and Neil Young stop by to kick out the jams.

They may not have had all the glory, but the sidemen get what others dream about: the chance to rock with the best.

Contribute here

Stevie, Mick and Brett Tuggle appear in the documentary

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Mick Fleetwood and Lindsey Buckingham Get Cultured

 Whilst in Charlotte, Lindsey took in The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.  Here he's photographed with  Museum President John Boyer.  Mick below was spotted visiting the Nascar Hall of Fame with his Grandson.  Photos by: The Bechtler and Nascar Hall of Fame



A ‘Landslide’ of Appreciation: Stevie Nicks Thanks New York Mag’s Jada Yuan

By Kara Bloomgarden-Smoke
New York Observer

When New York magazine reporter Jada Yuan went to see Stevie Nicks at Jones Beach last weekend, she got more than a concert T-shirt. During the show, Ms. Nicks dedicated “Landslide” to the journalist, who had recently written a profile of the singer. (Read Article)

“I would like to dedicate this song to a girl, a lady. Her name is Jada and she wrote the most beautiful article about me,” the Fleetwood Mac singer said.

“She got something that nobody that has ever written about me before has ever gotten,” continued Ms. Nicks. “And I just wanted to tell her how much I appreciate that.”

“I’ll never, ever forget it. Her name is Jada, and I want to thank her so much.”

Ms. Yuan, who was in the audience, was stunned. “I cried through the whole song and don’t even remember at least the next five,” Ms. Yuan told OTR.

Weeping, even without having Ms. Nicks dedicate the song to you, is apparently a common reaction to “Landslide.”

In the profile, which ran in the June 17 issue of New York, Ms. Yuan wrote of the song: “Chances are, you or someone next to you was weeping during ‘Landslide,’ with that chorus you might casually dismiss as cliché until you find yourself singing it in unison with 15,000 fans: ‘Time makes you bolder / Children get older / I’m getting older, too.’”

Ms. Yuan spent about four months working on the 5,823-word feature and saw multiple concerts. Most profile writers say that after spending so long with a subject—during both the interview and the writing process—the illusion of familiarity often fades once the piece is published.

“Anyone who writes profiles knows you end up spending a lot more time with the subject than they do with you,” Ms. Yuan said. “For them, it’s an hour or two out of their lives, but you spend days or weeks with this person rattling around in your head, and you can get pretty invested and then never hear from them again.

“It’s rare to get any feedback, let alone that they thought you got it right. So to hear it from Stevie Nicks, who’s such a beautiful writer herself, was a really special honor.”

Ms. Yuan, who was at the concert with a friend, went backstage afterward and got to follow up in person with the singer.

While the mandate of a magazine profile isn’t to please the subject, Ms. Yuan’s article wasn’t a puff piece by any means—it tackled Ms. Nicks’ battles with drugs, her weight and relationships.

The singer’s honesty about her struggles is one reason she has so many fans. Her gracious reponse to the article, said Ms. Yuan, “says a lot more about Stevie than it does about me.”

Video below (be prepared to have the song stuck in your head for at least 24 hours):

Landslide:

Buckingham and Nicks finally achieved what they wanted with their 1973 debut album


Live Review: Fleetwood Mac, Jones Beach, NY, 6/22/13
By Larry Jaffee
Rocks Back Pages

The last time I saw a Fleetwood Mac concert was in 1979 on the heels of the last album of theirs that really mattered to me: Tusk, which for my money endures even more than the blockbuster Rumours.

Back then I was privileged to attend the band’s press conference that November at Manhattan’s St. Regis Hotel. Business matters, such as the then relatively high list price of $15.98 for the double album and why the album took so long to complete, dominated the proceedings. In response to the rumors that the bandmembers were on the verge of breaking up, bassist John McVie refuted that they were about to pack it in: “We’re doing all right, but I don’t see Fleetwood Mac in wheelchairs playing ‘Rhiannon.’”

Although the core don’t act their age (McVie, 68; Fleetwood, 66; Nicks, 65; and Buckingham, 64 this October), who thought that the Rolling Stones would be still be on the road?

Christine McVie was not at that 1979 press conference, nor is she on the current 49-date U.S. leg  of the tour wrapping up July 6, although she might very well “say hello” at two of the band’s O2 London dates in late September, Mick Fleetwood told some privy Live Nation fans who sprung for the VIP deluxe package.

The lanky drummer invited the fans to join him up on the stage at this meet-and-greet, and offered some tidbits, such as Charlie Watts is his favorite drummer, and the Rolling Stones would have been his dream band to join. He also is amazed how Charlie doesn’t appear to sweat while playing  a show. Fleetwood noted rather enviously that his good mate in Maui, Steven Tyler, is the same age as him.

More importantly, Fleetwood waxed poetically about how touching it has been on this latest tour from his vantage point, the drum kit perch, to watch the former high school sweethearts Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks bring out the best in each other musically, and leave their stormy past behind.

Fleetwood’s observation was evident on stage once the show started: they shared a genuine affection, and I’m hedging a guess that probably wasn’t the case during previous reunions, the most recent being 2009. This was most apparent when Nicks started rambling between songs about how they were asked to join Fleetwood Mac, and she asked Buckingham if she got the story right? He pointed out that she left out a key element to the story: Fleetwood called Buckingham to be their guitarist, and it was Lindsey who said the two of them were a package deal.

Stevie offered a belated thank you to her former boyfriend for insisting that they “take your hippie girlfriend too.” Nicks, wanting John McVie not be the forgotten man, said the bass player suggested back in ’75 gruffly that they “keep the girl.” And the rest is history, as they say.

The sound crew joked to me that they time Stevie’s story, which is repeated at every date on the current tour, and over 7 minutes it fell short of the previous record in Boston the night before. And yes, it all appeared to be a bit orchestrated, and in fact, the set list hadn’t changed since April show to show.

Musically, the band was in fine form during the 2 hour, 40-minute concert, particularly Buckingham’s cathartic acoustic guitar workout on “Big Love” and then again electric on “I’m So Afraid.” Nicks hit her high notes on “Sara” and “Gypsy.”

Playing a few songs from Tusk, including a punked-up “Not So Funny” and the percussion-heavy title track, Buckingham talked about how he would have loved to have been a fly on the wall to get the record company’s reaction to the album when they were expecting Rumours II. Knowing that the music holds up three decades later, he clearly feels vindicated.

Buckingham also made a point of noting that when they decided to go back on the road they felt it necessary to make some new music, and how proud they were of their recently released four-song EP. Two songs made it into the set, and while pleasant enough, it’s unlikely they’ll join the ranks of the FM hits.

A few times the audience was aware of Christine McVie’s missing harmony vocal, particularly on “World Turning.”

And then it hit me, with her out of the band – which has been the case since 1998 – Buckingham and Nicks finally achieved what they wanted with their 1973 debut album before they joined Fleetwood Mac: showcase their own songs, with a tight rhythm section, without having to share the limelight with another quality songwriter.

No doubt Buckingham’s conundrum is his consistently great solo records generally can’t get him arrested, and in concert the solo act is relegated to theaters. Nicks is still an arena draw, although perhaps her records don’t sell as well as they should either.

The only catch is that they must use the “Fleetwood Mac” brand to bring in the punters.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Fleetwood Mac performed their 40th show last night in Charlotte like it was their first!

FLEETWOOD MAC LIVE
CHARLOTTE, NC - TIME WARNER CABLE ARENA
JUNE 24, 2013

Another remarkable Gold Dust Woman! 


GOLD DUST WOMAN
I'M SO AFRAID
THE CHAIN
DREAMS
GO YOUR OWN WAY


More Video at the link below
Charlotte Review plus Photos here

Monday, June 24, 2013

Review: "Buckingham oozed energy and charisma even while playing songs he’s played hundreds of times before"

FLEETWOOD MAC LIVE
CHARLOTTE, NC - TIME WARNER CABLE ARENA
JUNE 24, 2013

Photo by Shane Arrington

Review: Fleetwood Mac at TWC Arena
by Courtney Devores

Fleetwood Mac celebrated founder and drummer Mick Fleetwood’s birthday Monday with several thousand fans at Time Warner Cable Arena. With no opening act, the core group - now all well into their sixties - opened the two and a half hour set with a bouncy “Second Hand News” and the harmony-driven “The Chain.”  


Although 2012 marked the 35th anniversary of its seminal “Rumours” album, the group seemed at its most reinvigorated playing new material like “Sad Angel” or celebrating its 1979 album “Tusk.” After noting how unconventional and confounding to record execs the 20-track double album was for its time, guitarist Lindsay Buckingham led the charge through “Not That Funny,” “Tusk,” “Sisters of the Moon,” and “Sara.”


Photo by Thomas Finke

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Rhino to Reissue Early Fleetwood Mac Classic "Then Play On"




By Matt Rowe, Columnist

If we begin to talk about Fleetwood Mac, most will immediately think of the version that employed Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. They will remember "Second Hand News," "Sara," and "Go Your Own Way," but likely couldn't hum the first note of a song called "Oh Well." What may surprise many is that the Fleetwood Mac they remember is a refresh of a much older band, older than they realize.


As a brief biographical sketch, Fleetwood Mac began way back in 1967, a full eight years before the self-titled 1975 classic that broke them wide open with "Over My Head," "Say You Love Me," and "Rhiannon." Moreover, the band had already released nine studio albums with several different incarnations of the band. Essentially, the band began with the highly regarded (among fans) but heavily underrated guitarist, Peter Green as well as Jeremy Spencer, soon transitioning with both Danny Kirwan and Bob Welch. The great thing was that all incarnations of the band were great in their own way. And they created vastly different sets of albums. All their albums are loved by various groups of fans. Believe it or not, some fans find earlier incarnations of Fleetwood Mac to be intrinsically better than the one that most know, you know—that famous version.


Without getting into a grand discussion of what albums preceded that groundbreaking 1975 classic, and their various virtues (and we could do that, easily), it is sufficient for the sake of brevity to just simply announced that Rhino Records will be releasing a deluxe edition reissue of the last Peter Green involved album, Then Play On (1969).

Then Play On was Fleetwood Mac's third studio album and is highly regarded by many FM fans. It comes as a bit of a surprise that the major label would green-light an early era reissue of this band that doesn't guarantee a rabid reaction by most people like Rumours would. But there we have it. They are. And early fans couldn't be happier.

The details are quite sketchy at this point concerning bonus track inclusions (if any) or whether they will go with the original UK track-listing rather than the punctured US release that left several songs off from the UK edition. Nevertheless, it's exciting news.

Currently scheduled for August 19 (UK) and August 20 (US), the Rhino-shine edition of Then Play On will make scores of early Fleetwood Mac fans very, very happy. And what is even more exciting is the possibility that if this does well, Rhino Records might revisit Heroes Are Hard To Find (1974), Bare Trees (1972), Kiln House (1970), and even Mystery To Me (1973). Of course, there are others. But the above mentioned hopefuls will be a great start if they see the light of day.

Fleetwood Mac – 1969-1972

As if this weren’t enough exciting Fleetwood Mac news, Rhino also has plans to release a 4LP set, Fleetwood Mac – 1969-1972, also on August 20.  Included in this massive LP collection will be a bonus 7″ vinyl single.

Charlotte, NC Welcomes Fleetwood Mac Live Tonight at Times Warner Cable Arena



THE MIGHTY MICK TURNS 66!

Mick Fleetwood celebrates his 66th Birthday tonight in Charlotte, NC.

Fleetwood Mac play the Time Warner Cable Arena tonight in Charlotte, NC.  Decent tickets still available at Ticketmaster.

Hey if you are down at the front close to the stage, get the ball rolling and start singing Happy Birthday... Maybe Stevie and Lindsey will join in.  Don't be shy... as Mick would say.

Mick and Lindsey were spotted last evening (June 23rd) at Flemings in Charlotte... a little pre-Happy Birthday dinner perhaps.  Photo by Angela Hardin.


Sunday, June 23, 2013

Cause and Effect: Big Business for Fleetwood Mac in 2013 - on the road and on the charts

IT'S BIG BUSINESS FOR FLEETWOOD MAC IN 2013:
7 shows reporting so far:  New additions to the Tour Stats list this week include Philadelphia, Toronto, Newark and Tacoma.  Massive numbers for Fleetwood Mac overall but especially in Philly, NYC, Toronto Newark and Tacoma. The important average ticket price overall is sitting at $110.00 per, which is huge, but this is based only on these 7 shows.  It likely comes down to a more reasonable number once you factor in the unreported shows. Still, some really healthy grosses on a per show basis.

Whether the live show drives cd sales or vise versa I'm not sure.  Used to be the live show drove your album sales and I'm sure it still does to a certain extent, but it's clear the money is definitely on the road.

Fleetwood Mac's catalogue has been making an impact on the charts world wide pretty much none stop since the promotional machine kicked in back in early 2011 for Stevie's solo album "In Your Dreams" and her subsequent touring.  It continued through Lindsey's released solo material and touring in 2011 and 2012. With each reminder of their vast catalogue through 2011 and 2012 like the Glee episode dedicated to Rumours, The Tribute Album release, the 25 Years: The Chain box set re-release outside North America, and the re-release of the multi-disc Rumours package this year - all this material just re-introduces the band to a whole new generation of music lovers/listeners. It almost seems calculated when you think about it. All these little promotional segments or events along the way over the last couple of years seemed like calculated moves to re-introduce the public to Fleetwood Mac and their catalogue and ultimately gear them towards this particular tour.  It's like cultivating an audience in a sense... Cause and Effect.  Just a theory.


U.S.A. - 6/29/13
Rumours hangs on another week on Billboards Top 200... The album has been bouncing in and out of the chart pretty much all year.  It's up this week to #135 from #163 last week.

Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart
# 135 (163) Fleetwood Mac "Rumours"

IRELAND - 6/20/13
The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac re-enters the Top 100 Irish charts this week at #78.

Top 100 Albums Chart
# 78 (R/E) Fleetwood Mac "The Very Best Of"

UK - 6/29/13
Moving up on the UK Charts, Rumours advances to #74 from #88 last week and The Very Best Of moves down a few notches to #58 from #52 last week.

Top 100 Albums Chart
# 58 (52) Fleetwood Mac "The Very Best Of"
# 74 (88) Fleetwood Mac "Rumours"

Top 40 Catalogue Albums Chart
# 7 Fleetwood Mac "Rumours"


Lindsey Buckingham takes agility to a whole new level during Fleetwood Mac Jones Beach show




















The Brooklyn Vegan website posted an amazing assortment of photos, like the one above by Photographer Greg Cristman, of last nights Jones Beach show.  The photos are captures from through out the show and what's really great to see are really great shots taken during the entire show!  Whether Greg was granted permission or not I'm not sure but over the course of this tour, professional photographers have been limited to taking photos of the band only during the first 3 songs of the night and from the soundboard area - hence the reason all the photos kind of look the same from each tour stop. These are a prime example of the missed moments not captured by professionals of the band in each city.  They should change that policy!  

Check out the Brooklyn Vegan site for more of Greg's work.

Also, according to Greg C. all those photos on the Brooklyn Vegan site, and possibly more, will be uploaded to his flickr page on July 6th after the exclusivity deal with Brooklyn Vegan expires.  He also indicates his photos will also be for sale.


LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM:
HE'S DOWN.... NOPE HE'S UP!
Photo by Amy Weisel

If you blinked last night at Jones Beach you may have missed it during all the excitement of "So Afraid", but Lindsey actually wiped out right near the end of the song just after hitting one of his foot pedals.  He likely was caught with the cord right behind him.  Reminds me of the time in Vancouver back in either 2006 or 2008 during his solo show, he kind of did the exact same thing, was backing up near the end of a tune and dropped to the ground, feet in the air... all the while still playing.  It happened in a split second and if your head was turned the other way for just a moment, you would have missed it.  He survived that and survived this as evident in the video below.

SO AFRAID

Here's more great video from last nights show:

LANDSLIDE: 
Dedicated to Jada Yuan who wrote the awesome "Stevie Nicks, the Fairy Godmother of Rock" ariticle in New York Magazine a few weeks ago.  If you haven't read it, check it out now here.

And also to Doug Morris, the President of Atlantic Records (back in the day) When Stevie first signed her solo recording career contract prior to releasing Bella Donna.

SARA

Below photos by Sara @SteviesSara... Thanks Sara!