SAVE THE DATE: BBC Radio 2 celebrates Christmas with the stars | Fleetwood Mac New Years Day

This Christmas, BBC Radio 2 will be welcoming some of the biggest names in showbiz to the airwaves to deliver a big, sparkly helping of festive frivolity to homes across the land.

Get the full schedule of who's on Radio 2 between December 21st to January 4th at the BBC

Johnnie Walker Meets… 
Fleetwood Mac, Wednesday 1 January, 5pm-7pm

Late last year, a packed audience at London’s O2 Arena went wild as Fleetwood Mac welcomed Christine McVie on stage - completing the line-up of the band that produced one of the biggest selling albums of all times - Rumours.

The success of Fleetwood Mac is without precedent considering the varying line-ups. However, the constants include their remarkable drummer and 'big daddy' of the group Mick Fleetwood and the 'quiet man', bassist John McVie. Which is fortunate, as that’s how the band’s name came about, combining their two surnames way back in 1967.

Across two hours, Johnnie Walker speaks to Mick Fleetwood, Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks and features a rare interview with pianist and singer-songwriter Christine McVie. Listeners will get to hear how they all had their part to play in the jigsaw puzzle of Fleetwood Mac’s enduring success. Despite the sometimes hedonistic lifestyle, divorces and ego clashes, they couldn’t have produced decades of hit records without love and friendship.

Tune in New Years Day to BBC Radio 2.  This program will be streamed on-line

[This just might be the interview that Johnnie Walker had with Christine back in the early fall in London that he never aired on his program]

Bank of America Flowers Commercial using Fleetwood Mac's "Never Going Back Again"

The commercial features a man in a taxi with a bouquet of flowers. He takes one flower up to an apartment of presumably a girlfriend. The commercial is part of Bank of America’s ‘Connect‘ campaign. There is a solo guitar song playing in the background and the tune is Fleetwood Mac‘s ‘Never Going Back Again.’ from the 1977 album "Rumours"

Australian | New Zealand and UK Release dates for STEVIE NICKS "In Your Dreams" DVD

Stevie Nicks "In Your Dreams" DVD 

UK: 
Release Date: December 9, 2013
Pre-Order via Amazon

Australia:  
Release Date: December 6, 2013
Pre-Order via JB-HiFi
Pre-Order via EZY DVD
Pre-Order via WOWHD

New Zealand:
Release Date: November 29, 2013
Pre-Order via Mighty Ape

US and Canada: 
Release Date: December 3, 2013
Pre-Order via Barnes & Noble | AmazonUS | AmazonCanada | Warner Bros.

Stevie's in the house... The Coven house! #AHSCoven #AHS #AHSFX

Photo by Ryan Murphy

American Horror Story: Coven Producer Ryan Murphy sent this photo out into the universe this afternoon of Stevie on the set of American Horror Story: Coven.

Stevie's gonna fit right in with the ladies of New Orleans!  Wow! She looks awesome!

Stevie's in New Orleans to film her appearance on the show which takes place in episode 10 - only a few episodes away. This Wednesday's show will be episode 7.

Can't wait to see what the Coven has cooked up for her!

Stevie's been an underlying thread throughout this season with her music played in half the season so far (3 of 6 episodes).  A reported 8 songs are to be used this season, and we've heard four so far.  One of the shows characters, Misty Day is a necromancer witch and is completely obsessed with Stevie referring to her as the white witch. For a run down of the show and particularly Stevie's presence, check out this post. and if you want a spoiler... Check out this post for details on Stevie's appearance.

Go Stevie!

Press Release PLUS Stevie Nicks "In Your Dreams" Documentary Excerpt

November 18, 2013 – Los Angeles, California – Rock legend Stevie Nicks, fresh off of Fleetwood Mac’s sold out worldwide tour, will be releasing her intimate DVD documentary “In Your Dreams,” it was confirmed today by Warner Bros. Records.

“In Your Dreams” is a portrait of the illusive Nicks as she and Stewart embark on a musical journey to write and record the critically acclaimed “In Your Dreams” CD , Nicks’ first studio album in over a decade. Nicks called this “the greatest year of my life” and felt compelled to share the joyful experience with her fans.

The DVD is currently available for pre orders. The limited edition deluxe dvd bundle that included a DVD personally signed by Nicks, a handwritten individually numbered limited edition of a letter by Nicks and never-before seen photos has already sold out its 1000 copy limit.

"In Your Dreams" The Album
Available at iTunes | Amazon
or a Deluxe Version
at Warner Bros.

Co-produced and co-directed by musical wizard Dave Stewart, “In Your Dreams” was shown at The Hamptons International Film Festival, Mill Valley Film Festival, SXSW and Toronto Film Festival, and had a theatrical release in 53 cities.

The inner life of the legendary Nicks has by her design long been kept at a distance from the public.. We learn in “Dreams” that her world features costume parties, elaborate dinner feasts, tap dancing, fantasy creations and revealing songwriting and recording sessions all of which are captured on film. Fans will also get to see cameo appearances by Edgar Alllan Poe, Mick Fleetwood, Reese Witherspoon, a massive white stallion in the backyard, owls and naturally a few vampires who appear in several “home movie” style music videos.

Along with tracking the Nicks/Stewart creative partnership, “In Your Dreams” has plenty of other cinematic payoffs including rare never before seen personal scrapbook stills from Nicks’ childhood and a wealth of candid backstage and performance shots taken over the last 35 years.

The documentary was produced by Dave Stewart’s Weapons of Mass Entertainment.

Pre-Order the DVD Now: Warner Bros. | Amazon  The Warner Bros. DVD is a "Region 0" DVD meaning: unrestricted international usage. It will work in all players.

DVD Signing

Stevie is scheduled to appear at a DVD signing in Los Angeles on December 4th at Barnes & Noble at The Grove in Hollywood at 7:00 pm.

Stevie Nicks "In Your Dreams" Documentary Excerpt

Movie Trailer

Want more In Your Dreams... 
Check out the official videos for the album, read reviews and see the timeline beginning in 2010 here


Related Articles:

Rollingstone

Stevie Nicks' 'In Your Dreams' Documentary Due in December

Film chronicles the making of her seventh album

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Stevie Nicks To Release "In Your Dreams" Documentary on December 3rd

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Stevie Nicks to release “In Your Dreams” documentary in December

Stevie Nicks Interviewed for new book: 1963: The Year of the Revolution

1963: The Year of the Revolution

How Youth Changed the World with Music, Art, and Fashion
By Ariel Leve, Robin Morgan

1963: The Year of the Revolution is the first book to recount the kinetic story of the liberation of youth through music, fashion, and the arts—and in the voices of those who changed the world so radically, from Keith Richards to Eric Clapton, Mary Quant to Vidal Sassoon, Graham Nash to Peter Frampton, Alan Parker to Gay Talese, Stevie Nicks to Norma Kamali, and many more. It is an oral history that records, documentary-style, the incredible roller-coaster ride of that year, in which a group of otherwise obscure teenagers would become global superstars. It serves not only as a fast-paced, historical eyewitness account but as an inspiration to anyone in search of a passion, an identity, and a dream.

Preview of Stevie Nicks' interview for Robin Morgan and Ariel Leve's book, 
1963: The Year of the Revolution:
How Youth Changed the World with Music, Fashion, and Art.

The book is available beginning November 19th at:
On Sale: 11/19/2013 - Harpercollins.com | iTunes | Amazon | Amazon UK
Mouche Gallery: Release Celebration and Exhibition

NEW US Festival 1983: Days 1-3 DVD Features Stevie Nicks @IconTVMUSIC @usfestmovie Out 12/3

US Festival 1983: Days 1-3

The ultimate concert took place on Memorial Day Weekend 1983. Curated by Steve Wozniak (Apple computers), the 3 days of New Wave, Heavy Metal and Rock are legendary. Features performances from U2, the Clash, Judas Priest, Stevie Nicks, Scorpions, INXS, Men at Work, Stray Cats, Triumph, Missing Persons and more

Available for Pre-Order at Amazon
DVD Release Date: December 3, 2013

Run Time: 135 minutes

Icon Television Music - Facebook
Icon Television Music - Website
Icon Television Music - Twitter

US Festival 1983 - Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3 are available beginning Tuesday, November 19th via iTunes as 3 separate digital documentary/films each running 44 minutes long.  Day 3 of the festival features "Outside The Rain" and "Stand Back" from Stevie's set.

US Festival 1983 - Day 3

The US Festival '83 Days 1-3 are the only Steve Wozniak & Unuson officially sanctioned programs available for release. From the archives of the world famous US Festival in 1983, this was a perfect follow up to the inaugural US Festival in 1982. Digitally remastered and restored, US Festival 1983 captures a unique part of music history as witnessed by 2 mllion fans that came through the gates. The real story is told with brand new interviews from Steve Wozniak, MTV VJ Mark Goodman and the artists who experienced one of the most amazing music festivals of our time. The never-before-seen archive of US Festival '83 includes Berlin (Sex (I'm A...), Quarterflash (Find Another Fool), Missing Persons (Word), U2 (Sunday Bloody Sunday, Electric Co.), Triumph (Magic Power), and Stevie Nicks (Outside The Rain, Stand Back).

Digital Release Date: November 19, 2013 - iTunes

Fleetwood Mac: John McVie's undisclosed cancer was caught early enough and he is in good spirits

FLEETWOOD MAC: McVie's Cancer Caught Early

John McVie's undisclosed cancer was caught early enough and he is in good spirits -- at least according to John Mayall, who employed McVie in the Bluesbreakers before he left to join Fleetwood Mac.

Mayall told 94.5 3WS he called his friend and says McVie is "very optimistic and together on it because it's such an early stage that it is treatable... He didn't seem like an ill person on the phone."

As a result of the treatments McVie is undergoing, Fleetwood Mac's Australian tour has been canceled, but their December 30th show in Las Vegas is still on their schedule.

94.5 3WS

Stevie Nicks on Off The Record with Joe Benson - Sunday 8pm 100.3FM The Sound Los Angeles

Sunday (November 17th) at 8:00pm on 100.3FM The Sound in Los Angeles, Stevie Nicks will be Off The Record with Joe Benson. 

The interview will feature the music and more of Joe's extensive conversation with Stevie Nicks. Not sure if this is new or not... it sounds like it could be from his archive.  Hear the promo. 

Stream the show on Sunday 8:00pm (local time) via the 100.3FM The Sound website.  Or check Uncle Joe's website for other stations in your area that may carry the show.

UK | US TV: A Weekend with Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks

Sky Arts 1 (UK)
Saturday, 16th November:
  8:00pm Lindsey Buckingham - Talks Music
  9:00pm Fleetwood Mac - Live in Boston (pt 1)
10:00pm Fleetwood Mac - Live in Boston (pt 2)
11:20pm Fleetwood Mac - Classic Albums Rumours




Sky Arts 1 (UK)
Sunday, 17th November:
  1:10am Stevie Nicks - Soundstage
11:30am Lindsey Buckingham - Talks Music
12:40am Fleetwood Mac - Video Killed The Radio Star
12:30pm Fleetwood Mac - Live in Boston (pt 1)
  1:30pm Fleetwood Mac - Live in Boston (pt 2)

On November 17th the ladies are taking over the AXS TV Concerts Sunday Lineup! Tune in all day long for great concerts from Blondie, Stevie Nicks, Alanis Morissette, and the PREMIERES of Sheryl Crow and Jewel.

AXS TV Concerts (USA)
Sunday, 17th November:
11:10pm ET Stevie Nicks - Sound Stage
  3:20am ET Stevie Nicks - Sound Stage

And the Winner is... Fleetwood Mac for "Reissue Of The Year" for "Rumours"

The Classic Rock Awards Ceremony was held tonight in London at the Roundhouse and Fleetwood Mac took home the award for "Reissue Of The Year" for the 3CD Rumours package that was released earlier this year. Congratulations Fleetwood Mac!

WINNER: Reissue Of The Year, sponsored by Alchemy – Fleetwood Mac, Rumours 35th Anniversary Edition

The 1977 classic has sold in excess of 45 million copies worldwide and includes the tracks Go Your Own Way, Don’t Stop and The Chain. The new three-disc edition includes additional live recordings, demos and early takes.

Mick Fleetwood has recorded a thank-you video in a hotel lobby, sitting on his suitcases. The band have been touring on the back of an EP release, which saw them reunite with Christine McVie as a special guest. But guitarist Lindsey Buckingham says it’s down to Stevie Nicks whether they record another album. Best wishes go to John McVie, who recently confirmed he was being treated for cancer.

Mick promises Mac will return to the UK next year as Fish promises the award will make its way to the US to the band.

Full list of winners and more from the ceremony at Classic Rock Magazine

Rumours 3CD Expanded Edition is available at Amazon for $19.08 or $24.99 at iTunes.

Speaking of the Classic Rock Magazine... Fleetwood Mac are featured in a full page review on the first London show back on September 24th.  The page can be found in the December, 2013 issue of Classic Rock Magazine.

Details on Stevie Nicks American Horror Story Appearance Revealed **SPOILER ALERT**

Ryan Murphy talks Stevie Nicks' guest spot

Entertainment Weekly
By Tim Stack

Soooo much happened on last night’s American Horror Story: Coven…but it’s all sort of trumped by the news that Stevie Nicks is coming to the show! Yes, Misty Day’s idol will be visiting AHS: Coven in a future episode as series co-creator Ryan Murphy announced this week on Twitter. EW talked to Murphy for our exclusive weekly chats about details on Nicks’ appearance as well as the latest Coven episode, “The Axeman Cometh.”

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: First tell me about how the Stevie Nicks thing happened. She’s actually going to appear?

** SPOILER ALERT BELOW **

#AHSCoven Recap... Episode 6 featured the Stevie Nicks track "Leather and Lace"

"Get him out of here. He broke Stevie"

Rollingstone recapped tonights American Horror Story: Coven beautifully... Here's where the Stevie track was placed in the show tonight.

Song used in the scene: Stevie Nicks "Leather and Lace" from the album "Bella Donna" $4.99 at Amazon. 

Misty Day is living her best life in the swamp, watering Myrtle's unyielding mound and bathing Kyle. I genuinely feel horrible for Kyle's character. Left to wander confused through the wilderness, Misty's attempts to scrub his wiener in the bathtub (and frankly, the fact she is sort of overbearing and possessive herself) triggers the memory of the abuse at the hands of his mother, and Kyle freaks out. He smashes her record player, (it's actually an 8-track player and it's playing "Leather and Lace") sending Misty weeping to the floor. "Get him out of here. He broke Stevie," she sobs as Zöe arrives at her door. Zöe instead takes Misty and Kyle back to the Academy, employing Misty's powers to bring Madison back from the dead. "There's too much death inside her. Put your hands on her stomach and push," Misty instructs Zöe, and they physically shove Death from Zöe's decayed body. Madison makes a pretty solid recovery, save for the blurry fish-eye vision and inability to drink ginger ale. Unfortunately Madison doesn't yet remember her murder, though she does have some other useful information: "There's nothing on the other side. Just black. Forever." Hoo boy.

Full show Recap at Rollingstone

Stevie Nicks was trending on Twitter tonight in the U.S.A., and it looked like there were people disappointed that Stevie wasn't in tonights episode obviously misinterpreting the news of her appearance where it said she would appear in an UP COMING episode.  It'll be fun the night she's actually on... If you're not on Twitter, get yourself an account and follow along.  Search hash tags #AHSCoven #AHS #AHSFX.

Until next week..... American Horror Story: Coven airs on FX on Wednesdays at 10pmET.

Lily Rabe Opens Up About Her Stevie Nicks-Obsessed “American Horror Story” Turn
“I’m seeing spots actually,” the actress told BuzzFeed about the Fleetwood Mac frontwoman’s upcoming stint on the show.
Buzzfeed
by Jaimie Etkin

"Stevie Nicks... She's a real artist" @LadyGaga to Howard Stern - Audio

"Stevie Nicks... She's everything" NOT a disappointment!

Lady Gaga was interviewed on the Howard Stern radio program yesterday. During the interview on his radio program one of the audience questions that Howard asked was "Have you ever met a hero that was a dick to you, someone you were excited to meet but were disappointed after the fact" coupled with the question "Would she ever do an unplugged album" Lady Gaga talks about meeting Stevie and how she was not a disappointment at all.  Listen in below at the 1:08:40 mark... The Stevie bit comes in about 1:10. 

Gaga's new album ARTPOP is pretty amazing front to back... Check it out if you get a chance.

Here's the full 90 minute interview... The Stevie bit comes in at 1:08:40

"From our Tribe to yours"... Stevie Nicks letter to her Brisbane fans

Letter provided by Rodney Ward

My Dearest Friends,

I am so so excited for you to see my little film.  It is, to say the least, the diamond in my very long career.  To be able to invite you into my house for a year never seemed to be very possible but as the days flew by, that is exactly what happened. We started in Feb. 2010 and finished in Feb. 2011.  Moments like this just don't come along very often (if ever) so I feel very lucky that the harmonic convergence of the stars happened for Dave and I and all the crazy people who were involved.  I hope you love it as much as we do.

From our Tribe to yours

Stevie Nicks & Dave Stewart


This letter from Stevie and Dave was given to everyone attending the In Your Dreams film premiere in Brisbane tonight (Nov 13th).  Stevie was initially scheduled to attend the premiere which was to include a Q&A but with circumstances surrounding the cancelled Fleetwood Mac AU/NZ tour, she had to cancel.

In Your Dreams screens again in Brisbane on November 15th. Buy Tickets

Fleetwood Mac Kick Off 2014 in Vegas - Right Where They Leave 2013 Behind

It was announced today that Fleetwood Mac would be the headliner at this years Monster Retail Awards presentation being held at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas on January 8th.

Three Las Vegas Shows

Fleetwood Mac currently have a date booked in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand on December 30th - tickets are available at Ticketmaster. The band is also reportedly set to play the MGM Grand again the following night on New Years Eve at the Annual New Years Eve Party thrown by the MGM Grand Hotel (invite only).  Now a third show... Hope John's up to it.

The Rumours Are True: Fleetwood Mac Set For Monster Concert at CES

Photo by: @mpetricone

The annual awards ceremony/concert put on by Monster at International CES in Las Vegas traditionally features a top musical act, and this year, Monster has booked one of the highest-selling acts in music history. Jeff O’Heir of our sister site Dealerscope reported Tuesday that Fleetwood Mac will headline this year’s Monster Retail Awards presentation and party.

The event is set for Wednesday, Jan. 8 at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, and will mark Monster’s 35th anniversary.

Full Article at Technology Tell

Stevie Nicks to Guest Star on American Horror Story: Coven

Well this just makes so much sense!!! and takes this show and the Stevie Nicks connection about 10 notches up!!

Stevie Nicks Headed to 'American Horror Story: Coven'
RollingStone

Stevie Nicks to Guest Star on American Horror Story
E-online

Stevie Nicks is set to make a guest appearance on FX's hit series American Horror Story: Coven later this season, creator Ryan Murphy revealed on Tuesday. "Guess who's visiting the Coven? The legendary Stevie Nicks!" he tweeted to his followers. (Let's all do a Stevie Nicks shawl twirl over this epic casting news, shall we?!)

While she's yet to pop up in New Orleans, Nicks has had quite the presence on the witchy series thanks to Lily Rabe's kooky hippie character Misty Day, who idolizes the legendary singer-songwriter. And a source who works on the show exclusively spills to us that Misty's dreams come true when Nicks "comes to meet her biggest fan. And maybe sing with her." We. Die. Expect to see Nicks pop up in the Big Easy in episode ten.

Murphy recently revealed Nicks was a huge inspiration for the character of Misty.

"I love her character, she is obsessed with Stevie Nicks. The season really is an allegory and a metaphor for any minority group in the country where you feel alone, so she's a girl that has never known any other witches and all she's ever known is Stevie Nicks," he explained. "So I reached out to Stevie Nicks and asked her if we could use her music, and she thought about it for a while and then she said, "Oh OK, since it's you, I'll do it." Lily has an amazing Stevie Nicks shawl twirl scene in episode three. It's really fun and great and we use I think eight Stevie Nicks songs this year, so that's our musical stuff that we do."

American Horror Story was recently renewed for a fourth season, surprising no one given Coven's monster ratings: It's averaging 7.7 million viewers per episode, a franchise-best.

American Horror Story: Coven airs Wednesday at 10 p.m. on FX.

Guess who's visiting the Coven? The legendary Stevie Nicks!
— Ryan Murphy (@MrRPMurphy) November 12, 2013

'The white witch lives!' Stevie Nicks to guest star as sorceress on American Horror Story: Coven
By CASSIE CARPENTER
The Daily Mail

She crafted an ethereal, mystical persona as the shawl-twirling frontwoman of Fleetwood Mac.

And Stevie Nicks will make her acting debut as the 'White Witch' on an upcoming episode of American Horror Story: Coven.

Series creator Ryan Murphy made the announcement on his Twitter page Tuesday, writing: 'Guess who's visiting the Coven? The legendary Stevie Nicks!'

The 65-year-old rock goddess - born Stephanie - was already a major source of inspiration for the show's necromancer witch, Misty Day.

Lily Rabe, who plays Misty, is just as obsessed with the eight-time Grammy nominee as her ethereal character.

'If I meet her, I actually think I might die on the spot,' the 31-year-old actress told Entertainment Weekly.

'I don't get that crazy about a lot of people. I’m usually pretty cool, calm, and collected. But I don’t know if could behave properly. I love her so much. She's just a beautiful creature.'

According to Celebuzz, Stevie 'comes to meet her biggest fan and maybe sing with her' on episode 10.

Eight of Nicks' songs will also be used this season, including Edge of Seventeen and Rhiannon.

Murphy first connected with the Gold Dust Woman singer when they used her music for his Fox series Glee.

'I called Stevie Nicks and first I said, "I want to use you in the show,"' the 47-year-old producer told EW.

'But she was very resistant because from the beginning of her career people who are in the Wiccan community had given her a hard time thinking she was a witch and she got a lot of scary fan letters. She didn’t like the darkness of that, and I explained to her the part and she’s like, "Aw f***, let's just do it. OK, I love it.'"

Stevie suddenly found herself with more free time after Fleetwood Mac were forced to cancel their tour Down Under due to bass player John McVie's cancer treatment.

Nicks and her band won't take the stage again until December 30 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

American Horror Story: Coven - which recently got renewed for a fourth season -  currently airs Wednesday nights on FX.

Related Articles:

Stevie Nicks: Singer to guest on 'American Horror Story: Coven' - LA Times
'American Horror Story' Welcomes Stevie Nicks to 'Coven' - Hollywood Reporter
Stevie Nicks Joins ‘American Horror Story: Coven’ - Variety
Stevie Nicks is scheduled to move from singing about witches to maybe playing one on TV. - USA Today
Fleetwood Mac songbird will appear on upcoming episode of Ryan Murphy’s creep-fest - The Wrap
Fleetwood Mac singer will make a cameo in the current 'Coven' season of the US show - NME
Stevie Nicks to Appear in American Horror Story: Coven - Paste Magazine
Digital Spy
Perez Hilton

Iconic Fleetwood Mac / Stevie Nicks Photographer Herbert W. Worthington III has passed away

Sad news!  Iconic Photographer Herbert W. Worthington II has passed away.

Mr. Worthington is responsible for many many iconic photos of Fleetwood Mac and of Stevie Nicks stretching all the way back to the early 70's. His photos of Stevie in particular are revered and loved to this day by fans within the Fleetwood Mac fan community. If you see a studio shot of Stevie in the late 70's or 80's it most likely was taken by Herbert... He seemingly was at her side every step of the way. In fact I think they were roommates at some point in the early days if I'm not mistaken.

Some of his album covers include the 1975 "Fleetwood Mac" album, "Rumours" and Stevie's first solo album cover "Bella Donna" among others.

Thank you Mr. Worthington for your work and for capturing a large part of this bands history!

My condolences to his family and to those that new him.

Friends have gathered at this Facebook page posting photos and stories about Herbie... Check it out:
In Memory of Herbert W. Worthington III

Obituary
Famed Fleetwood Mac photographer dies at 69
Pasadena Star-news

South Pasadena Now

Lindsey Buckingham "The ever youthful 64-year old singer/ guitarist fizzed and buzzed through his trip down memory lane"

Lindsey Buckingham Talks Music, Sky Arts One
AOR craftsman on how he sprinkled fairy dust over Fleetwood Mac's songs
by Russ Coffey
The Arts Desk

Sometimes TV doesn’t need to be “challenging” or “groundbreaking” to be thoroughly worthwhile. The first episode of Sky Arts new “…talks music” series saw the familar format of a live, seated interview applied to one of pop music’s highest achievers: Lyndsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac. TV producer, Malcolm Gerrie led proceedings in an attractive theatre in front of an audience of students. Most memorable were some blistering live demonstrations of Buckingham’s craft.

Gerrie’s interview style may have been a little more One Show than Parkinson but still he kept the singer/guitarist well at ease. The ever-youthful 64-year-old fizzed and buzzed through his trip down memory lane. First, we learnt how he met Stephanie “Stevie” Nicks at high school when he was a music geek in the junior year, and she a feisty free spirit in the year above. The two met again a couple of years later and a romantic and musical union blossomed. After joining Buckingham's college band, the two then split to form Buckingham-Nicks.The singer's description of moving down to LA and scoring a record deal after six months conjured up images of palm trees and wide-eyed hope. Then, after hearing how Mick Fleetwood hired them almost on a whim, one imagined wild stories of Fleetwood Mac’s legendary excess to be just around the corner.

In the end, however, we didn’t get much gossip - at least not directly. Buckingham told us in broad terms how the studio during the recording of Rumours consisted of two pairs of feuding exes and a whole lot of drugs. But, for all the dirt he didn't spill about the personal dynamics, his manner and expression gave a vivid sense of the tension. Moreover, his dissection on the nuts and bolts of the album revealed the barbed subtexts to the words. Gerrie’s cue card then prompted a question on how the band survived the emotional and physical turmoil of this period. Buckingham’s reply was “youthful resilience”.

That still didn’t explain why he now look healthier than the others. Maybe it is just genetic? Buckingham’s healthy tan and cheerful philosophising certainy seemed like the product of alpha genes. Also his Californian manners betrayed no sense of the volatilite and difficult nature some have accused him of. Instead the impression he gave was of a well-centred man of huge natural talent - a craftsman whose forte is arranging and completing half-finished ideas. The various demonstrations he gave on an acoustic guitar prompted open-mouthed expressions of awe from the young audience. His rendition of "Big Love" was stunning.

Of course, after Rumours, the only way was down. When given the job of producing the follow-up, Tusk, Buckingham said he didn’t think it was worth even trying to compete with what had gone before. In a series of mischievous understatements he described how, despite the album being a creative success, the others took against him for his role in making it a, relative, commercial flop.

So, he then decided to look to solo albums for his personal expression. He called his own stuff the “small machine”, where instead of “bringing a script to the actors” he was able to “splash paint on canvass like an abstract artist”. At the end Gerrie asked Buckingham what his favourite Fleetwood Mac album was. The response was, predictably, Tusk. Unsurprisingly for such a thoroughly well-mannered chap, when then asked about his greatest achievement he said it was his children. Edgy stuff this series may not be but with the right guests – Tony Bennett next up looks promising – expect it to provide reliably fascinating chat that focuses on the music.

Talks Music will air again in the UK on Sky Arts 1 November 13th at 10:30pm and November 16th at 8:00pm and November 17th at 11:30am

Reminder: "Talks Music" w/ Fleetwood Mac Guitarist Lindsey Buckingham Monday 9pm Sky Arts1

Sky Arts’ Talks Music Show Debuts Monday, 11th November
Intimate music strand brings "masterclass" treatment to Nile Rodgers, Ray Davies, Graham Nash and Jeff Beck. First up: Lindsey Buckingham

By DANNY ECCLESTON
Mojo

A ROOM, TWO CHAIRS, a musician and instrument, an audience drawn from the ranks of earnest young musicians and producers, and a host with a ridiculous track record in music TV. Malcolm Gerrie, all-time music telly hall-of-famer having produced irreverent '80s trailblazer The Tube, '90s Britpop showcase The White Room and more, is the man asking the questions on Sky Arts 1 HD's Talks Music, TV's latest attempt to dive deep into the minds of legendary musos.

Debuting at 9pm next Monday, November 11, subject/victim #1 is Fleetwood Mac maestro Lindsey Buckingham (pictured above), and MOJO's preview "screener" promised a revealing programme where Buckingham’s still-febrile intensity comes through loud and clear.

Over an hour prog that fair skips by, Buckingham gets the axe out for The Chain, Big Love and other classics. Although, just like anyone who’s ever sat with an artist in an "intimate environment" while they wail on their thing, Gerrie’s not quite sure what to do with himself, and settles for grinning awkwardly while slapping his thigh in time. Something to look at for later episodes, perhaps.

Continue to the full article at Mojo

Repeat air dates: 
November 13th at 10:30pm
November 16th at  8:00pm
November 17th at 11:30am