FLEETWOOD MAC
GREATEST HITS
PRESS KIT
FLEETWOOD MAC
Fleetwood Mac -- Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie, Stevie Nicks, Billy Burnette and Rick Vito -- is a band which has always thrived on change. "As one of rock's preeminent and most enduring groups, they continue to grow with each new development in their career, enjoying commercial and critical success that has resulted in the sale of more than 40 million records worldwide.
In the 20 years since a blues-based Fleetwood Mac first emerged on the scene as a quartet composed of founders Mick Fleetwood and John McVie with guitarist Peter Green, changes in personnel and an ongoing evolution of musical styles have only served to define Fleetwood Mac as one of the most adventurous and innovative entities in rock music.
Coming off the eight million in worldwide sales of Tango In The Night and a triumphant international concert tour in 1987 and 1988, Fleetwood Mac have now released their long-awaited Greatest Hits collection. It chronicles the band's last 13 years of classic hit singles and captures the distinct character and sound of the musicians who produced such timeless hits as "Don't Stop," "Rhiannon," "Go Your Own Way," "Gypsy," "Hold Me," "Little Lies" and "Dreams."
While Greatest Hits stands as a musical tribute to the past (it contains 13 songs, with the compact disc and cassette configurations featuring three extra tracks, "You Make Loving Fun," "Over My Head" and "Big Love"), the LP also ushers in a new era with the group's two new members, guitarist-vocalist Billy Burnette and lead guitarist-vocalist Rick Vito. Introduced on Fleetwood Mac's 1987 North American concert tour (they joined when Lindsey Buckingham left to concentrate on a solo career), Burnette and Vito make their recording debut on the LPs two new songs: the first single, "As Long As You Follow," written by Christine McVie and Eddy Quintela, and "No Questions Asked," penned by Stevie Nicks and Kelly Johnston.
Burnette and Vito are also highlighted on the non-LP flip side of "As Long As You Follow," a particularly electrifying version of the early Fleetwood Mac blues nugget "Oh Well," which was recorded live at the Cow Palace in San Francisco at the finale of the 1987 North American concert tour. Two nights at the Cow Palace were also captured on film by director Wayne Isham, resulting in the newly released Tango In The Night long-form concert home video, originally seen as a Showtime cable network special in May 1988.
Burnette is hardly a stranger to Fleetwood Mac. Prior to joining the group for their Tango In The Night tour, he had toured and recorded with Mick Fleetwood's side group, the Zoo (which has occasionally featured surprise guest appearances by Stevie Nicks). Burnette also co-wrote a song with Christine McVie, "So Excited," that appeared on her 1984 solo album, Christine McVie. The son of '50s rock musician Dorsey 'Burnette, Billy Burnette is a singer/songwriter/guitarist who has released his own albums and whose songs have been covered by the likes of Gregg Allman, the Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, Ray Charles and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Rick Vito also had a link with Fleetwood Mac. Back in the mid-'70s, he and Fleetwood Mac bassist John McVie recorded together with John Mayall. Vito came to Fleetwood Mac after having made his presence strongly felt as the lead guitarist for the Bob Seger Like A Rock album and tour. Vito has also played lead guitar for Jackson Browne (Lawyers In Love album), Bonnie Raitt, and Roger McGuinn, among others.
Speaking about the band's longevity, Mick Fleetwood says: "As long as things aren't forced, I don't see any reason why the band shouldn't be there for its various members to use and be a part of. After all, it's still a very creative situation." Christine McVie concurs: "As long as the music we play is rewarding and sounds special, then I think we should keep on doing it. I'm excited about Billy and Rick," she adds. "Mick has always had a strong intuition about guitarists. Even if Lindsey had stayed in the band and toured, there was talk about adding another guitarist. Billy and Rick have two completely different styles of playing, and they finely complement each other."
Stevie Nicks adds, "The variety that we're capable of within this band is amazing. Given our different styles and backgrounds, when all of us really get together, what comes out of it is amazing...There's no reason in the world for this band not to do another record. Because I don't even think that we have touched the surface of what we could really do yet."
Describing their musical relationship, John McVie says, "It's honest and I unpretentious. We don't try to be what we're not. And first and foremost, we're friends. Obviously there are times -- well, you live with anyone for ten or twelve years and there are disagreements -- but the bottom line is our friendship and respect for each other."
As one of the most successful groups in popular music, the members of Fleetwood Mac have pursued a variety of solo projects, but they returned in grand style in 1987 with their double platinum album for Warner Bros. Records, Tango In The Night. The LP spun off four major hits: "Little Lies," "Seven Wonders," "Big Love," and "Everywhere." Outside of America, Tango In The Night had a similarly impressive performance. It vaulted into the Top Ten in no less than 12 countries: Australia, Canada. Belgium, Denmark, England, Sweden, Germany, Holland, Japan, Switzerland, South Africa and New Zealand. In addition, Tango In The Night was certified platinum in the following territories: Germany, Japan, and Sweden. And multi-platinum in: England (5 x platinum), Ireland (2 x platinum), New Zealand (3 x platinum) and Holland (2 x platinum).
In addition to their critically acclaimed and triumphant 1987 North American concert tour, Eluted Mac headed to Europe and the U.K. for the first time in eight years, and were greeted with an equal fervor from audiences overseas. Highlighted by ten sold-out shows at London's famed Wembley Arena and three SRO shows at Birmingham's N.E.C., the tour also found the band journeying to West Germany, Holland,' and Sweden. Another highlight of the tour came when the group performed at the annual music festival in Koblenz, Germany -- an outdoor event that attracted some 80,000 fans.
Fleetwood Mac's ascent to super stardom began in 1975, when Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham joined Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and Christine McVie and together they recorded their first number one album, Fleetwood Mac. With the release of Rumours in 1977, the band achieved a level of success that most had only dreamed about. Rumours has sold over 20 million copies worldwide and remained at number one for 31 weeks (a record for longevity topped only by Michael Jackson's Thriller in the last 20 years), and earned Fleetwood Mac a Grammy award as Album Of The Year. All four singles released off of Rumours made the top ten, with "Dreams" becoming their first number one single.
The release of the albums Tusk (quadruple platinum), Live (platinum) .and Mirage (triple platinum) further solidified Fleetwood Mac's position as one of the least predictable and most creative bands in rock & roll. With the release of Tango In The Night (double platinum), Fleetwood Mac once again ventured into the realm of the unpredictable.
Greatest Hits represents a reinspired Fleetwood Mac. While the LP pays homage to an era, it also paves the way for Fleetwood Mac to continue its _ reign as one of rock and roll's most successful and innovative bands. Just as Fleetwood Mac has rolled with the changes in the past, look for them to rock into the future.
11/88
