Sunday, June 13, 2010

Today In Entertainment History June 13

Today In Entertainment History June 13
In 1970, Christine McVie released a solo album, then announced her retirement from music. She was back within a year, joining her husband, John McVie, in Fleetwood Mac.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

COVERING FLEETWOOD MAC: DIXIE CHICKS "LANDSLIDE" LIVE TORONTO JUNE 8th

DIXIE CHICKS - LANDSLIDE
TORONTO, CANADA JUNE 8th

SALES UPDATE: FLEETWOOD MAC "GREATEST HITS"

US BILLBOARD TOP 200 CATALOGUE CHART
ISSUE DATE: JUNE 19, 2010
Fleetwood Mac's 1988 Greatest Hits for the week ending June 6, 2010 will chart at #62 on Billboards Top 200 Catalogue Charts. Sales for the week were: 2,055 units in the US.

The previous week it sold 1,941 units and charted at #58, prior to that it was #69.

Since Soundscan began keeping track of over the counter sales in 1991, and subsequently digital CD sales, Fleetwood Mac's Greatest Hits has sold 4,356,480 units in the US. It's moved 708,009 units since February, 2003 - basically 100,000 average per year.

History of Soundscan Sales:
4,356,480 - June, 2010
4,271,984 - September, 2009
4,229,451 - May, 2009
4,071,254 - October, 2007
3,768,006 - April, 2004
3,598,471 - February, 2003

Thursday, June 10, 2010

FLEETWOOD MAC PHOTOGRAPHER NEAL PRESTON PRESENTS EXHIBIT


NEAL PRESTON has been with Fleetwood Mac pretty much from the beginning, or at least since the beginning of the Buckingham Nicks era... photographing the band on tour, in the studio, at events, at home, pretty much everywhere.  He's presenting his next exhibit of his work in Las Vegas at Skybar beginning on June 18th:

This is an excerpt of a much larger article - the full article can be found here

I've included many iconic photos of Fleetwood Mac and it's members that Neal has taken over the years - courtesy of Corbis.





Paparazzi and publicists are not two of Neal Preston’s favorite things



Legendary rock music photographer Neal Preston is presenting an exhibit of his work that includes a never-before-seen oversized proof sheet of Led Zeppelin. The Hard Rock Hotel unveiling features some 40 prints from his extensive collection, and the Led Zeppelin is being releasing as a limited edition to be sold exclusively one week from today when the exhibit opens at Skybar. The photos will be displayed throughout the hotel and available for purchase in the Hard Rock Retail Store.

With a staggering 40-plus-year career in photography that started while still in high school, Preston has made significant contributions to pop culture history. His photos have appeared in every conceivable media outlet literally everywhere, and his client list is a who’s who of rock royalty. His body of work is regarded as one of music’s most extensive and significant photo collections, and it was the key source of photographs for VH1’s acclaimed documentary series Behind the Music, providing more than 1,000 images for 50 episodes.

Rock fans know Preston best as the photographer who has toured with Led Zeppelin, The Who, Queen, Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Springsteen and countless others, and his travels have included touring Europe (Bruce, Queen), Canada (Heart), Russia (Billy Joel), Japan (Bruce, Duran Duran), China (Wham!), South Africa (Whitney Houston) and South America (Queen).

Las Vegas Sun: Did you pick all the photos for the new exhibit at the Hard Rock? Was it tough to choose? You can’t have one favorite kid, so to speak.

Preston: It’s beyond tough. In fact, it’s the most stressful part of my day every day. I’m very fortunate I have a fairly deep catalog, and I have a lot of kids to choose from. When you do a gallery show or an exhibition, you try to gear yourself to the people you know who will be looking at the photography. ... But like any other photographer, you get a certain amount of your “greatest hits.” The final count is about 40 — black and white and color. There will be some of the obvious things I’m known for shooting, like Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Nicks, Queen. I try to put in a couple oddball things that people might not expect.









Wednesday, June 09, 2010

DIXIE CHICKS / EAGLES STADIUM TOUR INCLUDES FLEETWOOD MAC

Even though the Eagles/Fleetwood Mac Stadium Tour ended up not happening this time around, the Dixie Chicks brought the band to the masses anyway covering "Landslide" last night (June 8th) during the opening night Eagles/Dixie Chicks show in Toronto at the Rogers Centre. This shouldn't be a surprise considering "Landslide" is their biggest crossover hit from their 2002 release HOME - reaching #2 on Billboards Country singles chart, #1 on the AC chart, #7 on Billboards Hot 100 singles chart and #2 on Billboards Hot AC chart.

Full Review - Toronto Sun

"Landslide" is also included on the newly released "Playlist - The Very Best of Dixie Chicks" released June 1st.

AMAZON

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS TAKE FLEETWOOD MAC'S "OH WELL" ON TOUR

3 shows into their current MOJO Tour - and once again, as was the case on their last tour - Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers are covering Fleetwood Mac's "Oh Well".  The song fits the bluesy theme of MOJO and the setlist on tour leans heavily on tracks from MOJO - with 5 or 6 songs from the album making it into the show. 

If you are interested in hearing the new album, their first in 8 years, being released on June 15th, you can stream the full album at ESPN MUSIC.

Monday, June 07, 2010

DAVE STEWART Stands Up To Cancer, Talks New STEVIE NICKS SOLO

Dave Stewart Stands Up To Cancer, Talks New Solo Album
BILLBOARD BIZ

June 4, 2010 - Billboard Biz Article:
Aside from his charitable work, Stewart says he's been writing songs with Stevie Nicks for her forthcoming solo album. "We're going to start recording the album ... in three weeks time," he says. And in mid-July, he'll travel to Blackbird Studio in Nashville to record a new album of his own.

CHRISTINE MCVIE KEEPING IT REAL IN '76

KEN REGAN VINTAGE PHOTOS
1976, OAKLAND, CA

Previously Auctioned Off Ken Regan Photos From This Day

Sunday, June 06, 2010

FLEETWOOD MAC - UK ALBUMS CHART RE-ENTRY


Chart week: June 12, 2010
FLEETWOOD MAC'S "THE VERY BEST OF" Re-Enters The UK Top 100 Albums Chart moving up 10 spots to #98 from #109 last week. This will mark it's 31st non-consecutive week in the Top 100.

NEW HEIGHTS FOR STEVIE NICKS ON AUSTRALIA'S ALBUM CHARTS

Week 5 puts Stevie's "Crystal Visions The Very Best Of Stevie Nicks" at #13 up from #18.


Fleetwood Mac's Rumours drops out of the Top 50 this week after spending last week at #13.

Friday, June 04, 2010

GLEAN FROM THIS WHAT YOU WILL... @DaveStewart @RealStevieNicks

A rundown or timeline of twitter Q & A's and postings starting February, 2010 between Dave Stewart and various Stevie Nicks fans with other notable mentions thrown in of their working together.  All of this regarding a project that for all intents and purposes appears to be a Stevie Nicks solo album.

Without official word from either a record company, anyone from the Nicks camp or from Nicks herself this is all we have to go on up to this point.  It looks promising that new music from Nicks is definitely on the way!  Maybe in August she'll throw something out there at one of her shows to either confirm this or totally confuse the situation even further.

This has actually been kind of fun, being led along like this, it's like following bread crumbs!  Gotta hand it to Dave, these past 5 months have definitely been interesting - waiting on the edge for the next minimum 140 character posting on twitter!

I think I've managed to collect all the postings regarding them working together.  Feel free to correct or add to this in the comments section and I'll add it to the timeline.

Keep up with Dave Stewart... Follow him on Twitter

LATE FEBRUARY, 2010
"wrote a great song with Stevie Nicks on Monday called "Everybody Loves You"
when asked if this means Stevie's making a new album?.... He responded with:
"she's on top form and I see that possibility"

MARCH 3, 2010
"back to Stevie Nick's house more songs on the go :)"

MARCH 4, 2010
With references to Fleetwood Mac meets the Beatles meets Tom Petty meets the Eurythmics...
"Now driving over to Stevie Nick's place to make more majik"

"working on 4 songs with Stevie now very fast capturing the essence of the music and poetry keeping it spontaneous ,sounds amazing"

"yep it is awesome stuff , Stevie's Voice is soaring !!!"

MARCH 5, 2010
March 5th - 11am Dave Stewart provides a 38 second snippet of a duet he and Stevie were working on called "Everybody Loves You" DOWNLAD

Q "Demo is amazing! Is this for a new Stevie Solo project? We miss her!"
A "yeah we are making "album" in a very new way"


Q "hi Dave, any news on what Stevie's doing? When will your album be out? Did she record the New Orleans song yet?"
"album could be out this year for sure"


MARCH 11, 2010
Dave Stewart in Canada appeared on "The Hour" and spoke briefly about writing with Stevie Nicks.


MARCH 16, 2010
"recorded all day yesterday with Stevie Nicks and never once took off my favorite Alexander McQueen Hat! "

MARCH 31, 2010
"Just finished playing guitar with Mike Campbell (tom Petty) in studio and Stevie Nicks singing".

APRIL 17, 2010
Q "Is it true that Stevie's gonna be coming out w/ a CD in June?!"
"not June but maybe this year"

APRIL 25, 2010
Q "How are things going with Stevie Nicks?
A "starting again on Tuesday"

MAY 4, 2010
Q "Hey Dave! Doing any more work with Stevie Nicks?"
A "yes whole album with Stevie Nicks"


MAY 4, 2010
Dave Stewart in the UK was interviewed on BBC Radio 2 - Dave says he's working with Stevie Nicks, will become an album recording it in June this Summer.


MAY 6, 2010
PerezHilton broadcasts on his blog that "New Stevie Nicks Album In The Works!"


JUNE 1, 2010
Q "is there any news about Stevie's new album?"
A "still working on it"


Q "its about that time to tell us about stevie nicks' new album? :P"
A "it's amazing"

JUNE 4, 2010
Q "Have you and Stevie hit the studio yet this month?"
A "yep Stevie and I are about to lay down the album in two weeks time (special people playing on it too)"



JUNE 6, 2010
Response from Dave Stewart on the above....
@Nickslive good work spot on , you won't be disappointed :)

Dave Stewart Stands Up To Cancer, Talks New Solo Album
June 4, 2010 - Billboard Biz Article:
Aside from his charitable work, Stewart says he's been writing songs with Stevie Nicks for her forthcoming solo album. "We're going to start recording the album ... in three weeks time," he says. And in mid-July, he'll travel to Blackbird Studio in Nashville to record a new album of his own.

ZZ TOP CANCELS TELLURIDE - THE MICK FLEETWOOD BLUES BAND STILL ON BILL

ZZ TOP cancels Telluride visit.
Telluride News

Much to the dismay of ‘70s hard rock fans, ZZ Top has cancelled its stop in Telluride for the Blues & Brews Festival in September.

The band, known for their long beards, dark shades and black clothes, has cancelled 22 tour dates this fall in order to tour with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

“This has never happened to me in 17 years,” said the festival’s producer Steve Gumble.

Tom Petty is touring the United States this summer and into the fall to support the upcoming release of his new album “Mojo.”

ZZ Top announced on May 17 they would be sharing the stage with Petty beginning Sept. 16 in Tampa through Sept. 26 in Phoenix.

“I don’t think they were being very up front and honest with these 22 promoters at the same time knew they were negotiating with Petty,” Gumble said. “That’s not the way I do business.”

Artists who are still confirmed to play at Blues & Brews include BB King, The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band, (note:  The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band doesn't actually appear any longer on the official site: Telluride Blues Fest  - so it's not looking good at this point that Mick and the boys will appear.)  Galactic, Allen Toussaint, JJ Grey and Mofro and Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears.