Sunday, January 31, 2010

STEVIE NICKS BACKSTAGE AT THE GRAMMY AWARDS

Stevie and Sheryl Crow backstage at the Grammy's

(VIDEO) STEVIE NICKS PERFORMING ON GRAMMY'S WITH TAYLOR SWIFT

Taylor Swift Shares The Stage With Stevie Nicks At The Grammys
After 'Today Was a Fairytale,' Swift is joined by the former Fleetwood Mac singer for 'Rhiannon' and 'You Belong With Me.'
By Eric Ditzian
MTV.COM

Little over an hour after accepting the Grammy Award for Best Country Album, comparing the win to an impossible dream, Taylor Swift took the stage at the Staples Center to perform a medley of her own tunes, as well as a song from one of her childhood heroes, who joined her onstage.

Ditching her sparkling evening gown for a more casual blouse-and-jeans combo, Swift took center stage with her guitar strapped to her shoulder for "Today Was a Fairytale." Swift then announced, "It's a fairly tale and an honor to share the stage with Stevie Nicks."

The former Fleetwood Mac singer then walked onstage. The two stood side by side, singing Fleetwood's "Rhiannon," at times a tad less harmonically than one would have hoped. Nonetheless, the women made for a compelling twosome, a portrait of two generations separated by years but drawn together by music.

Swift then grabbed her guitar for the third and final part in her medley, jumping into a twangy version of "You Belong With Me." Nicks stood back, tapping her tambourine and nodding in appreciation, every so often stepping up to the mic to share singing duties with the young artist.

At the end, Swift and Nicks embraced. It would have already been a killer night for the 20-year-old singer: Before her Best Country Album win (Fearless), she notched victories for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song ("White Horse"). But there's a lot more still to come, including Swift's battle for Album of the Year against Beyoncé, the Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga and Dave Matthews Band.


Taylor Swift Duets With Stevie Nicks at the Grammys
Spinner.ca

It was a pairing with a legend and one in the making, as Fleetwood Mac's leading lady Stevie Nicks joined Taylor Swift onstage at the Grammys. Earlier in the evening, Swift described Nicks as "her hero" and she opened her performance with 'Today Was a Fairytale,' playing a quick version on the acoustic before bringing out Nicks for Mac's 'Rhiannon.'

"It's a fairytale and an honor to share the stage with Stevie Nicks," she said as Nicks walked out. The version was cut short so they could duet on a banjo-driven version of Swift's hit 'You Belong With Me.' Throughout the performance, Swift and Nicks were making constant eye contact, with Swift dancing up close to her while strumming the guitar and Nicks playing the tambourine.

While Fleetwood fans probably wouldn't say this was Nick's best vocal duet, it was still one of the nicer surprises of the evening. Earlier, Swift took home the Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal.





Taylor Swift and Stevie Nicks' Grammys duet: Out of sight, or out of tune?
by Clark Collis
Entertainment Weekly

The last thing I want to do is ruin another awards ceremony for Taylor Swift. But there’s no doubt that someone was badly off-key during the version of Fleetwood Mac’s “Rhiannon” that the country superstar just performed with Stevie Nicks at the Grammy Awards. And I’m afraid my money’s on Taylor. Moreover, I’m not the only person at the Music Mix who cringed at the sight of Stevie acting as Taylor’s backing singer on “You Belong To Me.” As one of my colleagues just emailed me: “Stevie Nicks is the ‘Gold Dust Woman,’ goddammit!”

(PHOTO) BEAUTIFUL SHOT OF MICK AND COLBIE WALKING ON STAGE

Presenters Colbie Caillat and Mick Fleetwood walk onstage during the pre-telecast of the 52nd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles January 31, 2010. Photo by: Danny Moloshok


THE MICK FLEETWOOD BLUES BAND ON THE RED CARPET

PHOTO CREDIT: CHRISBHARRISON

NO GRAMMY LOVE FOR THE MICK FLEETWOOD BLUES BAND

The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band featuring Rick Vito goes home empty handed during the Pre-Telecast Grammy show.

Nominated in the category of “Best Traditional Blues Album.” “BLUE AGAIN,” is released on the Savoy label Group’s 429 Records label, is a project showcasing iconic rock drummer and Fleetwood Mac co-founder Mick Fleetwood and his Mick Fleetwood Blues Band, a top notch quartet of musicians featuring Rick Vito. Produced by Mick Fleetwood and Rick Vito, the recording is equal parts blues rave-up and loving homage to the early incarnation of Fleetwood Mac, revisiting the blues-based classic songs of early Fleetwood Mac along with several new compositions in riveting live performance. Released on March 17 on 429 Records (home of last year’s “Best Contemporary Blues Album” Grammy winner Dr. John), “BLUE AGAIN” was an instant commercial and critical success which debuted in the top 20 on the iTunes Overall Chart and both the Billboard and iTunes Blues charts.

TAYLOR SWIFTS FIRST EVER GRAMMY PRESENTED BY MICK FLEETWOOD

Colbie Caillat and Mick Fleetwood present Taylor Swift with her very first Grammy Award and also her second.  View the clips here:
Grammy #1 | Grammy #2

Stevie and Taylor will duet later tonight on the main televised show... Should be good!!


(PHOTOS) MICK FLEETWOOD AND COLBIE CAILLAT PRESENTING PRE-TELECAST GRAMMY'S

Mick and Colbie are on right now presenting on the Pre-Grammy Telecast:  Go to Grammy.com to stream the show live.

STEVIE AND FERGIE

Fergie meets up with Stevie Nicks - one of her idols at the Grammy rehearsals.

Photo Credit: Fergie

Saturday, January 30, 2010

GRAMMY REHEARSALS DAY 1 (TAYLOR SWIFT AND STEVIE NICKS)

SWIFTWOOD MAC IN ACTION
Entertainment Weekly

Friday brought the chance to see Taylor Swift and Stevie Nicks collaborate in one of those moments the Grammys are known for. Swift — who has a very good shot at sweeping this year’s major categories, in my opinion — doesn’t wear her Fleetwood Mac fandom on her sleeve as a songwriter, but it is apparently there, for after running through her current single, “Today Was a Fairytale,” she used her very most dramatic voice to introduce her duet partner: “And now, my fairytale dream comes true: I get to share a stage with Stevie Nicks.” The two women’s voices complimented each other nicely on the harmonies of “Rhiannon,” before moving into a more awkward mandolin-fueled hoedown version of “You Belong With Me.” Never thought I’d see Stevie Nicks playing tambourine behind Taylor Swift, but that’s the magic of Music’s Biggest Night.

For Swiftwood Mac and all the rest of the action, tune in to the 52nd annual Grammy Awards, live on CBS, Sunday, Jan. 31, at 8 p.m. ET/PT

Friday, January 29, 2010

FLEETWOOD MAC - PUTTING THE SHOW ON THE ROAD "TECHNICALLY"

If you are into all the technical aspects regarding putting a tour together from the lighting to the mic's... hit the link to the full article.

FLEETWOOD MAC
TOTAL PRODUCTION INTERNATIONAL

Rumours of TPi’s backstage presence at Wembley Arena were true. Mark Cunningham met the Fleetwood Mac crew as the anglo-american legends prepared to unleash their greatest hits...

Fleetwood Mac’s 2009 Unleashed tour went through six weeks of rehearsals at Sony Studios in Los Angeles early this year, before playing its opening show on March 1 at Pittsburgh’s Mellon Arena. Managed by Marty Hom, the tour arrived in Europe on October 8 with a Copenhagen date, and hit the UK 14 days later.

Production manager Bobby Herr visited the UK a week early with rigger/carpenters Jack Deitering and Roland Castillo, and stage manager Larry Yager to meet the team at All Access Staging & Productions’ brand new UK operation in Woking, just off the M25.

FULL ARTICLE HERE: TOTAL PRODUCTION INTERNATIONAL

STEVIE NICKS AND TAYLOR SWIFT SINGING AT GRAMMY REHEARSALS

According to a twitter posting, Stevie is apparently singing with Taylor Swift at the Grammy rehearsals taking place in LA right about now... The suspense is over... I think. But what are they singing?!... One of Taylor's songs, or one of Stevies? Hmmmmmm

[edit]  Turns out they are rehearsing RHIANNON!

This is actually pretty awesome, but I have so many questions.  How do you duet on Rhiannon?  Are they trading lines?  Is Stevie up front, Taylor during the chorus?, or vise versa?

In any case, this is really great, looking forward to Sunday!

LIVEDAILY IS AT IT AGAIN.... FLEETWOOD MAC / EAGLES PAIRING FOR THE SUMMER

SO IS THERE STILL A POSSIBILITY THESE TWO BANDS WILL PLAY TOGETHER OR NOT?

First we get a report from Livedaily stating that "A Dream Tour of The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac has Reached the Proposal Stage" Then we heard from Timothy Schmidt of the Eagles that it's not going to happen.  Timothy Schmidt was recently in London promoting his own solo album and was interviewed by Simon Mayo on BBC Radio 2 and was asked point blank about the possible summer tour, the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac together.... His response was that he spoke to his manager and it didn't look like it was going to happen. You can here the portion of the radio interview here: "Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles Not Happening"

Now we get Livedaily again making a remark that the tour is reportedly in the organizers hands!!

It doesn't make sense!... Either it's still in the planning stages, or it's completely off.. It can't be both!

Livedaily, who are the ones that keep bringing this up would be connected to this situation more than anyone (or should be at least).  Livedaily is a company that is owned by Ticketmaster Entertainment... which owns controlling interest in Frontline Management.  Irving Azoff is CEO of  both Ticketmaster Entertainment and CEO of Frontline Management.  Irving Azoff also personally manages the Eagles.  Fleetwood Mac are also managed by Frontline Management.  So Ticketing, Band Managment and Livedaily are all under one big roof!  Maybe it's a case of a company being way too big and information doesn't filter around to all departments...or a rogue blog posters. I don't know... If it were not going to happen like Timothy suggested, why does Livedaily still mention it?  

Anyway, if this thing ends up going ahead, what I think will end up happening is the two bands won't be doing a complete co-headlining tour together this summer, instead if they are both out on the road separately they'll likely set aside the occasional date(s) in various cities for them to pair up... That's what I think... 

Here's today's Livedaily news.  

The Eagles have mapped a few additional West Coast dates that will follow their upcoming three-night engagement at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles this spring.

After tackling the April 16, April 17 and April 20 LA shows--the band's first-ever performances in the legendary venue--the group heads to Phoenix for an April 21 appearances, then back to California for concerts in Anaheim (4/25), Sacramento (4/27) and San Jose (4/30), before closing out the run May 9 in Vancouver. Dates are shown at right.

The new shows all go on sale to the public Feb. 8, with the exception of the Vancouver date, which becomes available beginning next Monday (2/1). Tickets will be available at all Ticketmaster locations, via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone (800.745.3000) or online at Ticketmaster.com. (LiveDaily is an operating unit of Ticketmaster Entertainment, which also owns Ticketmaster.)

During the run, the band--Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit--will continue to support 2007's "Long Road Out of Eden," which was the group's first new studio album since 1979's "The Long Run." The set debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 chart after posting first-week sales of 711,000 copies, and went on to become 2007's top-selling album by a group, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"Long Road Out of Eden" also earned the group Grammy Awards for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "How Long" in 2008, and Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "I Dreamed There Was No War" in 2009.

Late last year, the group confirmed to various industry sources that it was in the planning stages of a massive summer co-headlining tour with Fleetwood Mac. The union of the two '70s AOR heavyweights would likely result in one of the most-hyped tours of the year, and organizers are reportedly searching for football and baseball stadiums to host potential single-night components of the trek, along with multiple nights in smaller arenas in many cities.