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Fleetwood Mac, Reviews, Tour Info, UK Articles

Isle of Wight Festival 2015: Fleetwood Mac, Paolo Nutini, review: ‘the best Isle of Wight in years’ | The Telegraph

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The Telegraph
By Patrick Smith
14th Jun 2015

Fleetwood Mac managed to do the impossible at Isle of Wight: top Blur’s performance from the previous night, says Patrick Smith

*****

Fleetwood Mac performing on the Main Stage at the Isle of Wight Festival Photo: Rex Features/Shutterstock
Fleetwood Mac performing on the Main Stage at the Isle of Wight Festival Photo: Rex Features/Shutterstock
Fleetwood Mac performing on the Main Stage at the Isle of Wight Festival  Photo: Rex Features/Shutterstock

If any act were to top Blur’s glorious Saturday-night set, it would surely be folk-rock behemoths Fleetwood Mac. And so it proved, as the sun went down on what’s been the best Isle of Wight festival in years, overflowing with nostalgia thanks to its affectionate nod to the 45th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix’s famous performance here.

Weary bodies, battered by rain on the Friday night, hauled themselves to the Main Stage to witness the English-American quintet, who seemed to have shrugged off the illness that forced them to cancel their Birmingham and Manchester gigs earlier in the week.

Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac (Rex)
Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac (Rex)

It was marvellous to behold. Making their first ever appearance at Isle of Wight, this volatile soap opera of a group are now restored to their classic configuration, with singer-pianist Christine McVie returning after a 16-year hiatus. That they were here to close proceedings represented a major coup for the festival – especially when you consider Michael Eavis has been trying to sign them up for Glastonbury for ages. Continue reading Isle of Wight Festival 2015: Fleetwood Mac, Paolo Nutini, review: ‘the best Isle of Wight in years’ | The Telegraph →

Fleetwood Mac, Reviews, Tour Info, Video Clip

Fleetwood Mac Rebound From Illness to Close Isle of Wight Festival | Utimate Classic Rock

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By Jeff Giles June 16, 2015 9:51 AM

Fleetwood Mac have had to cancel some shows due to illness lately, but they didn’t name their latest tour On With the Show for nothing: In spite of rampant speculation that they’d be no-shows for their headlining slot at the Isle of Wight festival yesterday, the band took the stage and — by all accounts — delivered a triumphant set.

NME reports on the scene, starting with the cancellation of Mac gigs in Birmingham and Manchester prior to the festival, and describing the mix of anticipation and worry that ran through the crowd up until the moment the band took the stage.

A no-show would have been a disaster for festival organizer John Giddings, who admitted to the London Evening Standard that Fleetwood Mac were the “jewel in the crown” for this year’s lineup. “Getting them was a fantastic result. I’d approached them repeatedly and they hadn’t had much interest in it,” he explained. “They said they weren’t keen on playing in the open air, but they spoke to Tom Petty and the Kings of Leon, who said they had a great time at the festival. They managed to convince them.”

As you can see from the fan-shot footage above, Fleetwood Mac had no trouble running through a 20-song set that included a healthy selection of their greatest hits — and was punctuated with small asides from the stage such as the moment when Stevie Nicks dedicated the evening’s performance of “Landslide” to Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, saying, “Falling offstage, getting up and playing a two-and-a-half-hour set. I think that’s awesome.” Continue reading Fleetwood Mac Rebound From Illness to Close Isle of Wight Festival | Utimate Classic Rock →

Fleetwood Mac, Tour Info, UK Articles

Fleetwood Mac statement on IW Festival after 2nd gig cancelled | Isle of Wight News

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Friday, 12th June, 2015 6:41pm
By Simon Perry

After the latest two big nights of their ‘On with the show’ are cancelled due to illness, the band make a statement about Isle of Wight Festival.

Fleetwood-Mac-Rumours-on-Compact-Cassette-Tape-by-petersell

Getting Fleetwood Mac to play the Isle of Wight Festival was a real coup for John Giddings, indeed, once he’d got them for this year, he admitted to Music Week that it had taken him ‘six or seven years’ to get the band.

Islanders are now getting a bit jittery about the legendary, 100-million album selling group playing, after the band cancelled their second big gig in a row this week. Words of reassurance are being provided.

Birmingham, then Manchester stopped
This evening the band were due to play the massive Manchester Arena, a venue with a 21,000 capacity, but announced this afternoon that they won’t be playing ‘due to illness’. This was even after Manchester fans were reassured that their gig would go ahead, despite the Birmingham problems earlier in the week.

On Tuesday this week they cancelled their second night in Birmingham, at 16,000 capacity Genting Arena, rearranging to return in July. Illness was also cited.

It’s been known for a while that John McVie has cancer, but it’s not known if he is the band member that has been declared as ill this week.

Isle of Wight Festival update
The official word (at 1:38pm) on the Festival organisers Facebook page was, “Following recent cancellations Fleetwood Mac have confirmed that they will be restarting their tour at the Isle of Wight Festival on Sunday 14th June.”

OnTheWight spoke to an spokesperson for Isle of Wight Festival this afternoon, who sought to assure fans, “As far as we know, it’s still going ahead.”

Fleetwood Mac’s official page on Facebook saw a statement released at 4pm: “The band intend to resume the tour with their scheduled performance at the Isle of Wight Festival on Sunday 14th June.”

A slight difference between the two
There’s a slight, very small, difference between the words from the band and that of the Festival. The band says ‘intend to resume’, the festival says, ‘have confirmed that they will be restarting their tour’.

Crossed fingers!
Let’s hope the illness is overcome as many of the older Isle of Wight Festival goers are really looking forward to Fleetwood Mac playing.

 

 

Fleetwood Mac, Tour Info, UK Articles

Fleetwood Mac fans vent disappointment after Manchester Arena gig is cancelled | Manchester Evening News

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BY EMILY HEWARD

The news has come as even more of a blow as it is Christine McVie’s first tour in 16 years with the band

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Gutted Fleetwood Mac fans have vented their disappointment at tonight’s cancelled Manchester Arena show.

Promoters announced earlier today that their On With The Show tour could not go on after all due to a band member falling ill.

It is the second date the 60s and 70s rock legends have had to call off on the UK leg of their tour after dropping out of their Birmingham gig at the last minute on Tuesday.

But while the Genting Arena show has been rescheduled for July 7, it is understood promoters have failed to find another Manchester date to fit the band’s tour schedule.

The news is especially disappointing as it is Christine McVie’s first tour in 16 years with ex-husband John McVie and bandmates Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. Continue reading Fleetwood Mac fans vent disappointment after Manchester Arena gig is cancelled | Manchester Evening News →

Fleetwood Mac, Tour Info, UK Articles

Fleetwood Mac CANCEL Manchester Arena gig due to illness | Manchester Evening News

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12th June 2015
BY DENISE EVANS

Fleetwood Mac have been forced to cancel their Manchester Arena gig due to illness.

Stevie Nicks and John McVie on stage in Manchester in 2003
Stevie Nicks and John McVie on stage in Manchester in 2003

It is the second gig in a week the British-American band has cancelled, after Birmingham’s gig on Wednesday was postponed and rescheduled for a later date.

The concert at the Arena scheduled for July 1 is due to go ahead as planned.

A tour promoter statement said: “We are very sorry to announce that tonight’s Fleetwood Mac ‘On With The Show’ tour date in Manchester has been cancelled due to illness.

“Refunds for tonight’s cancelled date in Manchester will be issued automatically within 14 days.

“The 1 July show will go ahead as planned.

“Should you need any further assistance, please contact your ticket seller directly.”

No further details, such as which member has taken ill, have been made available and the MEN understands tour promoters have failed to find a date to reschedule tonight’s Manchester show.

Fleetwood Mac are also scheduled to headline the Isle of Wight Festival on Sunday.

Stevie Nicks and co are in the middle of their On With The Show Tour, which takes in the UK and Ireland before the band jet off to play arenas in Australia.

 

Fleetwood Mac, Reviews, Tour Info, UK Articles

Review: Fleetwood Mac at Genting Arena, Birmingham | Birmingham Mail

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Birmingham Mail
8th June 2015
By Enda Mullen

Band firing on all cylinders with former Bearwood native Christine McVie back on board, says Enda Mullen

fleetwoodmac

Birmingham marked a homecoming of sorts for Fleetwood Mac as they played their 88th date on a world tour that started out in the US in September 2014.

This tour sees the welcome return of singer-songwriter and keyboard player Christine McVie, the former Bearwood native making a big deal of the fact she was back in her old stomping ground.

“Well, hello Birmingham,”she said, as she stepped up to the mic to sing the smash hit Everywhere.

“This is my old stomping ground, many many years ago I used to go to art college here.

“It’s fantastic to be back playing with Stevie, John, Lindsey and Mick.” Continue reading Review: Fleetwood Mac at Genting Arena, Birmingham | Birmingham Mail →

Christine McVie, Fleetwood Mac, Tour Info

Christine McVie: Why I went back to Fleetwood Mac | NZ Herald News

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Lynda Jenkin
Saturday Jun 6, 2015
The New Zealand Herald

She wrote some of the band’s best known hits but walked away for a quiet life in the country. But now Christine McVie is back with Fleetwood Mac on a tour which is heading to New Zealand. She talks about her return to the fold.

Fleetwood Mac, from left: Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, John McVie and Christine McVie.
Fleetwood Mac, from left: Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, John McVie and Christine McVie.

Speaking from London, Christine McVie sounds a bit like a more mellow, less posh Patsy from Absolutely Fabulous.

There’s a lovely, light, warm huskiness, and plenty of character in the voice that’s been missing from the Fleetwood Mac line-up for the past 17 years – the voice (and pen) behind many of their hits, like Don’t Stop, Little Lies, Songbird, and You Make Loving Fun.

But now that voice is back.

Rumours swirled after McVie appeared on stage with the band in Dublin and London during their 2013 tour, and in January 2014 it was announced that she was officially back in the band.

And now, more than halfway through their current world tour – entitled On With The Show – the 71-year-old sounds totally convinced she made the right decision, and is thrilled to be touring again. Continue reading Christine McVie: Why I went back to Fleetwood Mac | NZ Herald News →

Christine McVie, Fleetwood Mac, John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, Tour Info, UK Articles

Pills and joints on Fleetwood Mac’s 18th world tour now all about arthritis | Daily Mirror

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BY HALINA WATTS
5th June 2015
Daily Mirror

Mick Fleetwood snorted seven MILES of cocaine while Stevie Nicks has a hole bigger than a 5p piece in her septum – but those hellraising days are behind them

Cleaning up: Stevie, Mick and Lindsey at O2 Arena last week
Cleaning up: Stevie, Mick and Lindsey at O2 Arena last week

Multi-million dollars of cocaine ordered in bulk, 14 black limousines on tours where pink-painted dressing rooms had to have a white piano installed, and, of course, alcohol. Lots of it.

For years Fleetwood Mac rode a wave of drug-fuelled excess. Drummer Mick Fleetwood last year revealed how he’d worked out that all the cocaine he’d snorted would make a line seven miles long. And singer Stevie Nicks took so much she has a hole bigger than a 5p piece in her septum.

They once hired Hitler’s private railway car to travel across Europe, allegedly to avoid drug searches. It even came with the same elderly attendant who served the Fuhrer.

1975: Mick, Stevie, Lindsey, Chrissie and John
1975: Mick, Stevie, Lindsey, Chrissie and John

But as we meet it’s clear their days of hell-raising are well and truly over. They’ve swapped cocaine and champagne for, er, ice baths and physio. Cornwall-born Mick says he has ice wraps in his dressing room to help combat arthritis. “I’m like an old race horse – it’s not like I’m ancient ancient, but these things are sort of worn out a bit,” says Mick, rubbing his shoulders. He’s has wristbands for his tendonitis too. “I’ve got a deep-freeze in my room in order to do what I’m doing… you take care of yourself.” He’s 70 this month but insists: “I’m not letting up any – I’m playing harder than I ever played, apparently.” Continue reading Pills and joints on Fleetwood Mac’s 18th world tour now all about arthritis | Daily Mirror →

Fleetwood Mac, Reviews, Stevie Nicks, UK Articles

Unutterably thrilling: Fleetwood Mac at the O2 reviewed | The Spectator

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6 June 2015
The Spectator

When they spoke, they made little to no sense, but when they sang and played they came close to perfection, says Melissa Kite

How can Stevie Nicks be 67? Is this possible or has Wikipedia made a mistake?
How can Stevie Nicks be 67? Is this possible or has Wikipedia made a mistake?

Fleetwood Mac
O2

‘I can’t tell you what a thrill it is to get this chance in life,’ said Christine McVie, as the opening jangle to ‘Everywhere’ rang out. Judging by their ecstatic reaction, the audience felt much the same way.

Look, I’ll be honest. I’m not going to give you a dispassionately critical review of Fleetwood Mac, together again in their classic line-up — Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and, for the first time in 16 years, Christine McVie. But then, who would give you that? A puritan arrived on a time machine from the 16th century? A shadow minister for work and pensions? Who could possibly be so joyless as to not enjoy the Mac being well and truly back?

From the minute the fab five wafted on stage and began thumping out ‘The Chain’ in glorious abandon, this was a show that was as near perfection as it is possible to calibrate. It wasn’t just good. It was so good I was jealous of myself for being there.

This was the 82nd gig of Fleetwood Mac’s On With the Show tour, and they delivered an impeccable showcasing of non-stop hits. For such diverse, eccentric talents to come together and gel at all is a miracle. To gel for so long, how does that work? But perhaps that’s the point. The band makes a wonderful sound in the way that only musicians who have been together a long time, gone through fire, and learnt to accommodate each other, can. Continue reading Unutterably thrilling: Fleetwood Mac at the O2 reviewed | The Spectator →

Christine McVie, Fleetwood Mac, Tour Info, UK Articles

Why we’re excited about seeing Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie at Isle of Wight | The Guardian

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Tim Jonze
Wednesday 3 June 2015 14.00 BST
The Guardian

Those heading for the Isle of Wight festival will see something Mac fans feared they would never see again: Christine McVie’s return after a 16-year absence

McVie (second from left) with the rest of Fleetwood Mac, 1975. Photograph: Sam Emerson
McVie (second from left) with the rest of Fleetwood Mac, 1975. Photograph: Sam Emerson

To listen to Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie speak, you’d never guess she was a member of one of the world’s most successful – not to mention debauched and dysfunctional – bands of all time. Level-headed and prone to understatement when I interviewed her for the Guardian in 2013, she described the songwriting gift that enabled her to knock out such hits as Don’t Stop and Little Lies as follows: “I don’t know what it is really … I think I’m just good with hooks.”

During that interview, she went on to discuss the band’s legendarily gargantuan drug intake without a hint of romance – “Well, I’d be lying if I said I was sober as a judge” – and described the crazy routine the band adhered to at the peak of their success in similar terms: “You look at tennis players; it’s the same kind of thing.”

So grounded can McVie appear that it’s almost surprising that the songs she writes take flight so effortlessly: heartfelt and clear, they’re given extra wind beneath their wings by her pure, songbird falsetto. This summer, those heading to the Isle of Wight festival will get to see her perform them, something many Mac fans feared they would never see again: McVie left the group in 1998, succumbing to a fear of flying and longing for a quiet life in the country; she rejoined in 2014.

She always seemed capable of rising above the tangled love dramas that caused jealously and tantrums among the men

Continue reading Why we’re excited about seeing Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie at Isle of Wight | The Guardian →