Tuesday, January 14, 2014

After those brutal break-ups and angry punches Fleetwood Mac return


More on Sunday.  Article published in the Irish Mail on Sunday Supplement (January 12, 2014). This article was originally published by The Daily Mail December 28th.  

Check it out on-line at Daily Mail-Online


Don't miss Stevie Nicks in her first appearance on American Horror Story!  
Episode 10 of the series airs in the UK and Ireland TONIGHT (Jan 14) on FOX at 10PM.
Stevie also appears in the season finale episode which is scheduled to air on January 29th 
in the U.S. and Canada on FX and a week later in Australia, UK and Ireland.


Fleetwood Mac's original songbird is to rejoin the band, and will bring optimism, beauty and bittersweet melancholia

With Christine McVie back, Fleetwood Mac will return to their magical best
The Guardian
by Tim Jonze

When Mick Fleetwood announced to a Hawaii audience that Christine McVie would be rejoining Fleetwood Mac on a permanent basis, you couldn't really argue with his assertion that it was the "the worst kept secret there is". During an interview in December 2013, McVie surprised me by saying she would be "very delighted" to reclaim her place in the group she left in 1998. Not long after, Steve Nicks responded by telling Billboard that McVie "didn't need to ask". You hardly needed Hercule Poirot's mobile number to work out what "woman wanting to rejoin a band" plus "band happy to let woman rejoin band" might equal.

Still, the fact that McVie, who turned 70 last year, wants to renounce a hermetic life in a mansion in Kent, which seemed to consist largely of cooking, gardening and looking after dogs, in favour of stepping back on the road with one of the best and most dysfunctional bands of all time is cause for celebration.

It's pointless to talk about a "best" member of Fleetwood Mac, for without any of them the band are significantly depleted. But McVie was always my personal favourite. Compared to the other two songwriters – Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham – her songs had a simplicity and clarity to them. This was partly down to the fact her music stemmed from the blues she played growing up: Don't Stop and Say You Love Me, the band's first top 40 hit with the classic 1970s lineup, both get their momentum from what McVie terms "that left-hand boogie bass thing".


Monday, January 13, 2014

Welcome Back Christine McVie! Fleetwood Mac hope to make a tour announcement in 2014

Christine McVie is back with Fleetwood Mac officially.

The band's publicist, Liz Rosenberg, has confirmed to Billboard that McVie has rejoined the band after departing the group in 1998.

Rosenberg says that McVie "has indeed re-joined Fleetwood Mac and we are hoping to make an announcement about a possible tour for the full tilt Macsters some time in 2014."

Billboard

Welcome back Christine!!

Fleetwood Mac had the 7th highest grossing North American Tour of 2013 earning 67m from 47 shows

Pollstar have released their year end 2013 North American Tour Numbers and Fleetwood Mac as expected were one of the top grossing North American tours from 2013. With gross earnings in North America of just under 67 million derived from 47 shows in 46 cities, playing to 604,000 people, the band came in at No.7 on Pollstars Top 200 listing.

On the world-wide stage, they ranked 14th with total gross box office receipts totaling 94 million.  To view the complete Top 200 North American Tour Numbers and the Top 100 Worldwide Tour Numbers, head on over to Pollstar


Sunday, January 12, 2014

Stevie Nick sat down with Ultimate Classic Rock to speak about her new documentary "In Your Dreams"

Stevie Nicks Explains How Dave Grohl Jump-Started Her Documentary

Stevie Nick sat down with Ultimate Classic Rock to speak about her new documentary "In Your Dreams". part of the group of interviews Stevie conducted in early December right around the release of the film.

Continue at Ultimate Classic Rock

Clearly all these little video interviews are longer than 2 minutes. It's unfortunate that those that conducted the interviews don't post the full version... looks a little disjointed when it's only one segment.

Chart Update: Fleetwood Mac back on US Charts, No.1 in Austrlia + Stevie Nicks is up on US charts

USA - January 18, 2014
Fleetwood Mac re-enter the Top 200 Albums Chart in the U.S. this week with "Greatest Hits" coming in at No.192. The album also moves back into the top 40 on the 50 top selling catalogue titles.

On the Top 40 Music Video Sales Chart Stevie's "In Your Dreams" DVD logs a 5th week on the chart up one place to No.21.

BILLBOARD TOP 200 ALBUMS CHART
# 192 (R/E) Fleetwood Mac "Greatest Hits"

TOP 50 CATALOGUE ALBUMS CHART

# 40 (R/E) Fleetwood Mac "Greatest Hits"

TOP 40 MUSIC VIDEO SALES CHART
#21 (22) Stevie Nicks - In Your Dreams DVD

Chart run thus far:
TW     LW    Weeks On
21       22      5 In Your Dreams Stevie Nicks
22       18      4 In Your Dreams Stevie Nicks
18       12      3 In Your Dreams Stevie Nicks
12         7      2 In Your Dreams Stevie Nicks
  7         -      1 In Your Dreams Stevie Nicks

UK - January 18, 2014
Second week in a row "The Very Best Of" is up on the charts in the UK. Two weeks ago it was No.70, last week No.60, this week up seven spots to No.53.

TOP 100 ALBUMS CHART
# 53 (60) Fleetwood Mac "The Very Best Of"

Mick Fleetwood Announces Christine McVie's return to Fleetwood Mac

[updated 6:00pm Monday, Jan 13th]

It's Official: 
Christine McVie is back with Fleetwood Mac
The band's publicist, Liz Rosenberg, has confirmed to Billboard that McVie has rejoined the band after departing the group in 1998.

Rosenberg says that McVie "has indeed re-joined Fleetwood Mac and we are hoping to make an announcement about a possible tour for the full tilt Macsters some time in 2014."

Billboard

Original Post:
It's no secret that something has been brewing with Christine McVie and the possibility of her return to Fleetwood Mac. If you're a fan of the band and have been following along this past year, it's clear Christine underwent some sort of transformation and a big shift in terms of mindset. She's kind of been everywhere (no pun intended) when you consider Christine's basically been out of the spotlight since 2004 after her last solo album was released and hasn't performed with Fleetwood Mac since she retired from the group, sold her piano and her house, and packed her bags and moved back to England in 1998. Except for a couple of public appearances in London over the years at one or two award ceremonies, she's been completely under the radar.

Well this past year Christine put travel anxiety aside and returned to the stage for the first time in 15 years, visiting with Mick and John in Hawaii she performed with Mick and his blues band on Maui (Maui in February, 2013) and again appeared with Fleetwood Mac live in London in September, 2013), plus she traveled to Dublin for rehearsals and also to Amsterdam, although she did not perform. She also granted new interviews to the british press and BBC radio indicating that she's had a change of heart (and possibly some therapy) and would like to rejoin her band mates, if they'll have her. This news was huge and made headlines around the world and made fans extremely happy and hopeful! Subsequent interviews with Mick, Lindsey and Stevie haven't been so clear on the subject with all three hesitant in saying whether this was a definite go or not - only indicating it was Christine's decision and that she is more than welcome to return and that they were looking forward to the year ahead and what the possibilities could bring.

Both Stevie and Lindsey made it clear in Las Vegas in December that Fleetwood Mac will be going back out on the road in 2014 with Lindsey being a little more specific telling people in the front row they'll be touring this Summer. Prior to this, Rumours producer, Ken Caillat also indicated in a 2013 radio interview that it looked like Christine would be joining the band for more tour dates on the summer leg (2014).

From my point of view, if the band and more specifically Christine is going to go through all this effort of putting this type of information out there to begin with to a fan base that has largely been begging for her return, and with Fleetwood Mac adding more dates this year (yet to be announced), then it's basically going to happen and everything else from here on out is just formality.

MICK FLEETWOOD - January 11, 2014
During last nights Uncle Willie K's BBQ Blues Fest on Maui at the Maui Tropical Plantation, Mick Fleetwood and Willie K. performed an acoustic version of Christine's "Songbird".  Following the performance, Mick apparently let the audience, and essentially the world know, that Christine will be rejoining Fleetwood Mac! His exact phrase below, was from someone in attendance. Obviously something a little more official will eventually be provided... but this is probably the clearest sign the Rumours line-up has reformed:

"This is the worst kept secret there is, 
but Christine McVie will be rejoining Fleetwood Mac!"


IT HAPPENED: Jan 12, 1998 Fleetwood Mac are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

16 years ago today, on January 12, 1998 Fleetwood Mac took their rightful place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with The Eagles, Santana, Gene Vincent, The Mamas and The Papas and Lloyd Price.



Fleetwood Mac inductees include: 

- Lindsey Buckingham (guitar, vocals)
- Mick Fleetwood (drums)
- Peter Green (guitar, vocals)
- Danny Kirwan (guitar, vocals)
- John McVie (bass)
- Christine McVie (keyboards, vocals)
- Stevie Nicks (vocals)
- Jeremy Spencer (guitar, vocals)


The Fleetwood Mac story is an episodic saga that spans more than 30 years. It is the saga of a British blues band formed in 1967 that became a California-based pop group in the mid-Seventies. In between came a period where Fleetwood Mac shuffled personnel and experimented with styles, all the while releasing solid albums that found a loyal core audience. Despite all the changes, two members have remained constant over the years: drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie, whose surnames provided the group name Fleetwood Mac. Although most rock fans are familiar with the lineup that includes Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks – by far the longest-running edition of the band, responsible for the classic albums Fleetwood Mac and Rumours – the group possesses a rich and storied history that predates those epics. Earlier Fleetwood Mac lineups included guitarists Peter Green, Jeremy Spencer, Danny Kirwan and Bob Welch. 

Full bio at Rockhall.com


Sheryl Crow introduced the band in New York City on this night and gave the opening speech with "Say You Love Me", Big Love and "Landslide" performed afterwards.




Same night... Peter Green joined Carlos Santana during "Black Magic Woman" a song made famous by Santana, but actually a Fleetwood Mac song.

Friday, January 10, 2014

Video: Stevie Nicks speaks to @RollingStone about Christine McVie's return to Fleetwood Mac

Hanging Out at Stevie Nicks' House 
The iconic singer tells us about her new documentary and Christine McVie's return to Fleetwood Mac
By Gavin Edwards
RollingStone


We recently visited the Los Angeles home of rock goddess Stevie Nicks, and while we can neither confirm nor deny the existence of a dedicated shawl closet and a tambourine vault, we can report that the kitchen TV was tuned to HGTV and the chandelier was fabulous. That house is featured throughout In Your Dreams, the entertaining film documenting the recording of Nicks' underrated 2011 solo album of the same name. Album producer Dave Stewart (of the Eurythmics) is also a compulsive videographer; he and Nicks are named as codirectors, although she dismissed the credit, saying, "It was very nice of them, but I didn't direct this." The documentary, recently released on DVD, was spurred by Dave Grohl: when Nicks lamented to him that her album had died, he told her that the only way to revive it was to release a film. "Go home and call Dave Stewart right now," he instructed her.

Continue to RollingStone for the full article

Stevie Nicks Takes Over @AXSTVConcerts Monday Jan 13th starting at 7pm PT @KatieDaryl



Monday, January 13, 2014
10:00 PM ET | 7:00PM PT
STEVIE NICKS "Live in Chicago"
A radiant Stevie Nicks captivates in her first solo performance to be filmed since 1987. Clad in her trademark look of high heels and lace, she elegantly showcases her vocal abilities with stunning performances of her best, along with carefully chosen covers for a comprehensive career retrospective.

Monday, January 13, 2014
11:00 PM ET | 8:00PM PT
BELLA DONNA, a tribute to Stevie Nicks
Hosted by Katie Daryl live from the world famous “Whiskey A Go-Go” club on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood.

Bella Donna will appear on AXS TV Season Three of the hit show "The World's Greatest Tribute Bands" Monday night, January 13, 2014. Doors at 7:00pm Show at 8:00pm PST sharp!

This is a LIVE broadcast in real time. No video tape delay! Come be with us for this exciting and unique evening celebrating classic rock and the all time favorites by the Reigning Queen Of Rock, STEVIE NICKS!

Limited FREE TICKETS! Go to OFFICIAL TICKET WEBSITE and ORDER NOW!!!!

Thursday, January 09, 2014

Cable Ratings: American Horror Story Wins Night! Wednesday's Top cable program @StevieNicks #AHSCoven

American Horror Story was Wednesday's top cable program 
with a 1.8 adults 18-49 rating down from a 2.1 for its most recent episode and 4,807 million (live and same day viewers).  This entire season of American Horror Story has routinely been the No.1 cable program on Wednesday nights and has outpaced both of the previous seasons in terms of ratings.

The first episode with Stevie is still to air in the UK and Australia... That happens next week January 13th and 14th.



Don't miss finale night:
American Horror Story: Coven airing Wednesdays at 10:00 PM ET/PT with the finale scheduled to air on January 29.

Here's an interview with Stevie from Entertainment Weekly on SiriusXM from January 8th.  She's talkin' a mile a minute, so listen close... She's excited!



The below is a piece from Inside Entertainment that hasn't been posted.

'American Horror Story': Stevie Nicks on her 'Coven' cameo: 'Don't you know? I have powers now!'
By Ray Rahman
Inside Entertainment

The White Witch has arrived! As promised, tonight’s new American Horror Story: Coven will feature a special guest turn from rock legend Stevie Nicks. It’s shaping up to be an exciting episode for Fleetwod Mac fans and Lily Rabes everywhere: Nicks will not only cross paths with her biggest fan, the supernatural swampstress Misty Day (Rabe), but she’ll also perform a certain witchy Fleetwood Mac classic.

Plus, she’s bringing a new course to Miss Robichaux’s Academy: Shawl Twirling 101 (which you can catch a sneak peak of in the video below). EW talked to Nicks about her AHS: Coven debut, meeting Rabe and the gang, and the presents she brought to the set. And if you’re worried about those old rumors about her being an actual real-life witch resurfacing, don’t be: “Don’t you know? I have powers now!” she says.

EW: Ryan Murphy had told us that when he first pitched you to be on the show, you were hesitant. What ultimately made you decide to do it?

STEVIE NICKS: When they called and asked me if they could use my music, they just explained it a little bit: there’s a character, and you’re a muse because she listens only to you — and she lives out in the swamp. And that was good enough for me! I’m like, sure you can! So whether it was a Fleetwood Mac song or Stevie Nicks song, they were going to choose a song that fit into their story. I thought, fantastic — as a songwriter, you could not ask for anything more. And I’m pretty close to them because of Glee, of course. So I said, sure, take my music — absolutely.

#AmericanHorrorStory Coven Finale Ep. to feat "Stevie Nicks music video extravagaaaaanza!"

'American Horror Story': Ryan Murphy talks Stevie Nicks' debut on 'Coven' and which witches are actually dead 
by Tim Stack
Entertainment Weekly


The “White Witch” finally made her much-anticipated debut last night on American Horror Story: Coven. Yes, the one and only Stevie Nicks popped up as a pal of Fiona’s and gave the Miss Robichaux ladies a little private concert. Elsewhere, Nan, Joan and (maybe?) Misty perished. Plus, Marie did an awesome thing her tongue. EW talked to co-creator Ryan Murphy about all this and more, like which witches are gone for good.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Let’s talk about Stevie first. Did she have a blast? How did she feel about the experience?

RYAN MURPHY: She did have a blast. She was nervous because she’s never acted. But it’s one of those weird things where you mythologize somebody for months and months and months in the scripts and then you tell the actors “Oh by the way, that person is coming.” So the anticipation for her on the set with the cast and the crew was great and everybody wanted to meet her and take pictures with her and talk to her. She’s one of those ladies that’s so gracious. She’s just an amazing soul and kind. I love that she did those songs. She just had a ball. She was also very interested in the acting part of it so she spent a lot of time on set watching them and really getting into it. Everybody couldn’t say enough good things about Stevie Nicks nor could I. She’s a great person.

How did you come up with which songs she sings?

I chose “Rhiannon.” At the end, I definitely knew I wanted her to do “Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You” which is one of my favorite songs. I thought it oddly applied to the Jessica Lange character where Fiona has had all these great opportunities and squandered them and is just looking for some peace after her horrific acts. So that was great and Stevie loved that idea. And “Rhiannon,” we put that in the script months ago and at that point I hadn’t even imagined Stevie could do the show. That song is very witchy and fun.

Now, everyone at home can learn to twirl like Stevie Nicks.

I’ve seen her in concert and Stevie Nicks is famous for her twirling and her shawl changes. I said to the writers, “Do you think Stevie would have a sense of humor about this?” Knowing her I thought I think she’ll go for it and she did. Nobody twirls like Stevie Nicks.

Lily is a pretty good twirler.

All the girls watched Stevie Nicks on repeat to get that twirl down, believe you me. And she’ll be back still?

Yes, she’s the complete cold opening of the last episode.

Can you say if she sings?
Oh yes! Yes! It’s a Stevie Nicks music video extravagaaaaanza!

Continue to the full article at Entertainment Weekly

Check out the two videos in this post of Stevie singing Rhiannon and Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You.