Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Top 25 Live Artists Since 1990 >> Fleetwood Mac / Stevie Nicks at No.24


More than a dozen of the most in-demand headlining tours this summer testify to a refusal to burn out or fade
away, including The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Fleetwood Mac, Kiss/Def Leppard, Journey/Steve Miller Band, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, Elton John, The Eagles, Aerosmith, Motley Crue/Alice Cooper, Cher and Prince.

For nearly 25 years, acts that first broke in the 1970s or early '80s have dominated the Billboard Boxscore year-end charts. The list of the 25 highest-grossing touring artists from 1990 through 2014 includes just three acts that released their first albums in the '90s - Dave Matthews Band and Toby Keith (both of whom released debut albums in 1993), and Kenny Chesney (who debuted in 1994). Only one act that broke through in this century makes the list: Coldplay (which released its first album in 2000). Among the top 10 earners since 1990, the average age of vocalists - upon whom touring takes the hardest toll - is 56-and-a-half, and not one is younger than 46.

Meanwhile, the old guys aren't ready to pass the baton just yet. The road offers lucrative income when other revenue streams dry up, and the sweat equity they earned through relentless touring when they were young hitmakers continues to pay dividends at the box office, as original fans (many now blessed with sizable discretionary income) return again and again and new generations turn out to hear classic songs.

Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks make the list... their boxscore numbers combined for both band and solo touring.

24. Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks
Gross: $349,906,931
Attendance: 4,906,995
Shows: 483

Continue to the full article at Billboard along with the stats for the Top 25.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Some great news on Mick's New book... #FleetwoodMac

Author Anthony Bozza began working with Mick in April, 2013 compiling his life story for a book tentatively titled "Play On". The release date hasn't been determined yet, but according to Anthony's Twitter post today, things are progressing nicely and it won't be long now until we can pre-order.  For more info on the book check out these posts

The Essential Stevie Nicks: Ranking Her 66 Greatest Songs “Don’t listen to her … listen through her.”

Stevie Nicks is the undisputed Goddess Of Rock, and has influenced a generation of female artists with her style, her music, and the fact that she’s a survivor.

For forty years, she’s seen firsthand the ups and downs of the rock star life, and she’s managed to emerge and thrive, and is more respected and beloved now more than ever.

Today is her 66th birthday, so let’s attempt the impossible. Let’s rank her 66 greatest songs, both solo and with Fleetwood Mac. If you don’t agree with the rankings, well, tomorrow they might be totally different, but this is a good place to start to begin your Essential Stevie Collection.

Click through to The Backlot for the 66!

Happy Birthday Stevie! Visit Stevie's official website Rockalittle.com to send a Birthday Greeting

Happy Birthday Stevie Nicks
Wishing you a lovely day, not just today, because it's your birthday, but every day! Thank you for the music.

Visit Stevie's official website The Nicks Fix and send her a Birthday Greeting.


Sunday, May 25, 2014

Mick Fleetwood column: Talking Drums (via @daily_express) #FleetwoodMac

Mick Fleetwood Goes His Own Way: Talking Drums: Part One 
WHY we are all dancing to the beat of the drum 
By: Mick Fleetwood
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Full article at Sunday Express













Friday, May 23, 2014

Fleetwood Mac for Glasto! "If Michael Eavis provides the wellies I'll be there." Christine McVie

Fleetwood Mac have opened the door to headlining Glastonbury Festival next year.

The Anglo-American supergroup had been rumoured for this summer.

But after nabbing her Lifetime Achievement gong, returning member Christine McVie, 70,  told me: "If Michael Eavis provides the wellies I'll be there."

She added: "We are making new music right now. It's half done, then the world tour starts in September."

James Cabooter's Playlist
Daily Star - May 23, 2014

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Christine McVie Presented With Prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award

Fleetwood Mac star honoured at awards
By Tim Masters
Entertainment correspondent, BBC News



Photos Mark Allan
Fleetwood Mac's Christine McVie has been honoured with a lifetime achievement at this year's Ivor Novello songwriting awards which took place today (May 22, 2014) in London at The Grosvenor House Hotel.

McVie played with Fleetwood Mac for 28 years and wrote some of their most famous songs, including Don't Stop and Little Lies.

The annual awards, now in their 59th year, are voted for by songwriters.

Picking up her award, McVie confirmed she had rejoined Fleetwood Mac after a 15-year absence and would join them on a world tour.

The 70-year- old was presented with the tribute by 12-time Ivor winner Sir Tim Rice, who said: “She lives her songs, she has been through it all and she oozes class and style. Christine, whatever you’re doing, don’t stop.”

“I can announce that I have rejoined Fleetwood Mac. We are in the process of recording another album which should be out next year and we will tour Europe.” she added.

Congratulations Christine!!

Arrival Photo: Christine McVie attending the Ivor Novello Awards in London May 22nd

Photo: Eamonn M. McCormack
CHRISTINE MCVIE Presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2014 Ivor Novello Awards.

Christine McVie attended the Ivor Novello Awards at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London - May 22, 2014 where she was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Tim Rice.

Also, Christines was interviewed yesterday by Darren Haynes for "The Works" a magazine published by BASCA which presents the Ivor Awards Presentation.  You may recall last month submitting questions for Darren to ask Christine regarding her songwriting etc. He said, and I quote "she was absolutely brilliant".  The interview should be published next month. Will advise when it's available. 


Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Dave Mason on his short 2 year stint in Fleetwood Mac

Dave Mason Interview with Technology Tell
by Howard Whitman
Time Era Fleetwood Mac 1995
John McVie, Becka Bramlett, Mick Fleetwood, Dave Mason
Christine McVie and Billy Burnette

“Feeling alright? I’m not feeling too good myself …”

Many a musical jam has cooked along to those words, and the absolutely classic song that goes with them. That’s the work of Dave Mason, the legendary English guitarist / singer / songwriter who began his professional career with the band Traffic in 1966 but went on to a successful solo career in the 1970s.

In 2014, Mason is looking back on his Traffic and solo days with his Traffic Jam tour—as well as looking forward with a new CD, Future’s Past.

When we spoke to Mason (who was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Traffic in 2004), he was resting up after his first swing of Traffic Jam shows, and prepping for the release of the new album (funded in part by his fans online).

In the following interview, Mason discusses these projects, as well as his celebrity-created album art, future plans, his feelings on new tech, and his little-known stint as a member of Fleetwood Mac.

(excerpt of the full interview)

Whitman: One interesting chapter in your history that I haven’t heard much about and was curious about was … you were in Fleetwood Mac for a time?

Mason: For two years.

Whitman: How did that come about, and how was that experience for you?

Mason: Well, they weren't together. Mick was calling me one day and said, “Hey man, can we meet? want to talk to you about something.” He asked me, would I be interested in being part of reforming Fleetwood Mac? It was in a period where I was still working solo but I was free enough to say, “Well yeah, OK. Let’s give it a shot.” And we did an album called Time (1995), which unfortunately never really got promoted by Warner Bros. at all, they let it sort of die. And it lasted two years and it was over. They went back to the original lineup … well, not the original lineup.

Whitman: But the one everybody knows (with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham). Not the Peter Green version.

Mason: No.

Whitman: But I thought it was very cool when you were in the band, what you brought to it was very interesting.

Mason: Well, yeah. It had the potential to be there. It was a little hard, because Christine (McVie) did the album, but she wouldn't go on the road, so it was like “OK.” And you’ve got three or four different managers, everybody’s got a manager … that part was a little [difficult]. But otherwise, we did some touring, we went to Europe—and it was fun while it lasted, but it just sort of ended very abruptly.

New Interview | New Photo: Fleetwood Mac's New Music Will Override 40 Years Of Gossip

by Jessica Goodman
Huffington Post


The most interesting narrative of Fleetwood Mac -- one every music writer hopes to chronicle and every fan dreams about when reading between the lines of "Rumours" -- involves romance and adultery. The stories behind lyrics of heartbreak and betrayal and love and acceptance are well-documented, but in recent interviews with Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie, the bandmates assert that the past is just that.

Fleetwood Mac released its best-selling album "Rumours" 40 years ago; Christine McVie left the band 16 years ago. Now, the original five members have reunited for an album and an international tour, "On With The Show."

"It’s been the most profound experience of my entire life," Christine McVie said of returning to the group in an interview with HuffPost Entertainment. "The chemistry between the band is stronger than it ever was." 

In March of this year, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie joined Buckingham and Christine McVie at Studio D in the Village Recorder in Los Angeles, where they made 1979's "Tusk." (Nicks was unable to be there due to prior scheduling conflicts, Buckingham and McVie said.) They laid the groundwork for eight tracks, mostly written by Christine McVie and began to reestablish the legacy and future of Fleetwood Mac.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

"The Harmonica Killer" Filmed During Fleetwood Mac Tusk Sessions at Village Recorder Studios

I've never seen this before... What a little treasure! Thanks Richard for posting it!


From Richard Dashut:

"Many moons ago I had posted on YouTube by an old and great friend of mine Kevin Moran, a video we shot while recording the album Tusk at the Village Recorder in 1980. During some down time while Ken was dealing with some broken equipment, Mick, Lindsey, Myself and with some help from Raymond Lindsey, (Lindsey's guitar tech at the time) decided to make a horror movie to stay creatively engaged. Up stairs from the studio was the Transcendental Meditation Center for the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, (hope I got that right), which used to be an old theatre complete with seats and when empty was a bit creepy. Perfect setting for a horror movie, right? Well with Lindsey (Buckingham) as director, Mick as the monster and myself as a truly bad actor, (I really suck) we went at it without even a hint of a script. What you will bear witness to is called The Harmonica Killer. My sincere apologies if this attempt at humor offends any one in anyway. PC wasn't a top priority back in 80 but I think will get by. Anyway, why do you think they call it dope, right? So as long as it is still up there, if you have a few minutes to spare, just punch up The Harmonica Killer, Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac on YouTube and feel free to comment on just how bad a short movie (edited in camera, on the fly) this really is. Enjoy, with luv and laughter......r"

The Harmonica Killer
Starring Richard Dashut (self) & Mick Fleetwood (harmonica killer). Written, Directed, and Filmed by Lindsey Buckingham.

While cleaning out Dashut's storage unit one hot day in vegas, i found this dvd labeled "fleetwood mac -tusk 1980 - "The Harmonica Killer" in an old box with a bunch of cassettes in it. Turns out to be a "horror movie" they filmed while a tape machine was being fixed and they had the day to mess about.

ON TV: Fleetwood Mac | Stevie Nicks UK, US Behind The Music, Rock Hall Marathon



UK TV: Behind The Music: Fleetwood Mac 
Sky Arts 1 - Wednesday, May 21, 2014 5:00pm


Concert Marathon on AXS TV
Memorial Day Monday, May 26th
Celebrate the past and present of the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame with AXS TV

Fleetwood Mac, Live in Boston
Monday, May 26th at 10:35 ET|7:30 PT

Tom Petty, Live from Gatorville (Feat. Stevie Nicks)
Tuesday, May 27th 1:55a ET|10:55p PT



2014 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Saturday, May 31, 2014 at 8pm/7c on HBO
Linda Ronstadt - Inductee
Stevie Nicks performed in a musical tribute to Linda Ronstadt Thursday, April 10th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY along with Bonnie Raitt, Carrie Underwood, Emmylou Harris and Sheryl Crow.

Glenn Frey inducted Linda and also sang with the girls.