Category Archives: UK Articles

ELLE Exclusive: Watch Stevie Nicks Perform Beloved Secret Track, “Lady”

SERGIO KLETNOY  | CULTURE NEWS | ELLE ONLINE

It’s a new song. Well, only sort of. “This is a song that has really stayed in my head all these years,” Stevie Nicks says of “Lady,” from her soon-to-be-released eighth studio album, 24 Karat Gold – Songs From The Vault, out October 7.

“Sometimes I’ll find myself humming it, or whistling it, and this has been going on since I wrote it…in 1971.” According to Rolling Stone, “Lady” was so sacred to Nicks that she buried the demo deep inside her mother’s vintage trunk for decades. Adding to its lore: Not a single one of her Fleetwood Mac bandmates had previously heard the final cut of “Lady,” or any of the tracks off the forthcoming EP. “Each song is a lifetime,” Nicks says of the tracks, all of which were written between 1969 and 1995. “Each song has a soul. Each song has a purpose. Each song is a love story. They represent my life behind the scenes, the secrets, the broken hearts, the brokenhearted, and the survivors.”

10514512_811854445505734_5162143947030131567_n

Of course, her bandmates will soon have the chance to get acquainted with the new material: On September 30, they’ll hit the road together as the originalRumours five (Christine McVie included), for the first time in 16 years, as part of the highly anticipated “On With The Show” tour.

Here, we deliver an exclusive first look at “Lady.”

And in the exclusive footage below, Nicks opens up about writing the song while living with bandmate and lover Lindsey Buckingham at legendary producer Keith Olsen’s house shortly after the couple moved to Los Angeles. According to Nicks, the song, in its original form, was “pretty perfect.” So what’s changed? “It’s just like, you know, better piano playing,” she says, her fingers effortlessly dancing to the melody that’s had her heart for 45 years. Magic.

Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie is ready to Rock again | Elle Magazine

Elle Magazine
August 25, 2014
By Ann Friedman

McVie gave up her glamorous life as pop royalty for a quieter existence. Now, after taming her demons, she’s thinking about tomorrow.

elle-fleetwood-mac-h-lgn

Christine McVie looks into the camera and asks, “How does it feel being a sex symbol in rock ’n’ roll?” Hanging out backstage on Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 world tour, McVie, the band’s keyboardist, looks as if she’s had a few vodka tonics (and if this night was like most on the Rumours tour, probably a fair amount of 
cocaine, too). She pauses for the perfect comedic beat, then delivers: “I don’t know; ask Stevie Nicks.” Her blond shag and shiny caftan shake as she emits a husky laugh. “Oh, listen, Stevie’s gonna know I’m kidding,” she says in her proper English accent. The two women of Fleetwood Mac have always been friends. There’s no need for competition when their roles are so clear: Nicks in front, twirling seductively in her shawls; McVie in back, stealthily ruling the keyboards. If Nicks is the band’s witchy goddess, McVie is its warrior queen, strong and steady. She’s also one of its key creative forces, having written half the songs on the band’s Greatest Hits album. Continue reading Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie is ready to Rock again | Elle Magazine

Stevie Nicks to release double album of songs from her past | The Guardian (UK)

Sean Michaels
the guardian.com
Friday 25 July 2014 08.53 BST

The music on 24 Karat Gold – Songs from the Vault represents ‘the secrets, the broken hearts, the broken-hearted and the survivors’, Nicks says

Stevie Nicks performs at Hard Rock Calling 2011 - 26/06/11

Stevie Nicks has announced details of a new solo album comprised of songs written almost half a century ago. 24 Karat Gold – Songs from the Vault was inspired by Nicks’ dozens of unreleased bootlegs, from which she recently rerecorded a selection of songs in Nashville.

“These songs are the memories – the 24-carat gold rings in the blue box,” Nicks said. “Each song has a soul … They represent my life behind the scenes, the secrets, the broken hearts, the broken-hearted and the survivors.”

Beloved as these songs may be to her, it appears Nicks lost track of them: the singer used YouTube to uncover unfinished material that was being traded by fans. “[They’re] songs that, somehow, were taken from my house or picked up or loaned out or whatever,” she told the Associated Press in May. Working with co-producers Waddy Wachtel and Dave Stewart, she laid down 18 old tracks in three quick weeks – the “fastest I have ever recorded”.

Most of 24 Karat Gold was written between 1969 and 1987, with two more tunes from the mid-1990s. In keeping with the nostalgic theme, the album’s artwork will be peppered with candid Polaroids of Nicks throughout her career. A deluxe version of the album includes 48 pages of pictures from the 66-year-old’s private collection. Continue reading Stevie Nicks to release double album of songs from her past | The Guardian (UK)

Could Fleetwood Mac headline Glastonbury? | Gigwise


by Andrew Trendell
Gigwise.com

Industry website tips classic rockers as ‘to be confirmed’ for Worthy Farm next year

This year’s event may have only just passed, but Fleetwood Mac are already being tipped to headline Glastonbury Festival 2015. 

The ‘Go Your Own Way’ classic rockers were long-rumoured to headline this year, but this became impossible after bassist John McVie fell ill. But now, McVie is on the mend and the band are back on the road and gearing up to record a new album.

Now, music festival website eFestivals are listing the band as ‘To Be Confirmed’, meaning that based on industry knowledge, they believe them to be almost certain for the event. They did the same for Kasabian and Metallica this year long before they were confirmed and are a trusted source of festival rumours.

Speaking to Gigwise last year, we asked drummer Mick Fleetwood said: “We were asked to do some lovely festivals this year and it didn’t work out. Once you do the festivals then you can’t really do a tour of the other towns. We were asked to do Glastonbury this year and hopefully they’ll ask us again.”

When asked about the possibility of playing Glastonbury 2014, Fleetwood replied: “I don’t know – they’ve probably got fed up of asking us!”

However, when asked about Glastonbury earlier this year, Christine McVie replied: “If Michael Eavis provides the wellies I’ll be there.”

Meanwhile, the bookies’ favourites to headline Glastonbury 2015 have been named as Depeche Mode, while AC/DC and Prince are also rumoured. We have a year-long wait until we find out for sure.

Festival organiser Michael Eavis has confirmed that three headliners are already booked.

 

The Voice (US): Stevie Nicks to guest mentor with Adam Levine | Digital Spy (UK)

By Charlotte Mathé
Wednesday, Jul 9 2014, 16:32 BST
Digital Spy UK

Stevie Nicks is joining The Voice as a guest mentor later this year.

The Fleetwood Mac star will help Adam Levine’s team during the battle rounds of the seventh season.

StevieNicks-AdamLevine-TheVoice

66-year-old Nicks will work with the Maroon 5 frontman, assigning songs to his 12 team members and overseeing their rehearsals.

Filming for the latest season has recently begun, which sees Levine joined by fellow coaches Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani and Pharrell Williams.

The network is yet to announce any other advisers for this season, but is said to be doing so soon.

The Voice returns on NBC on September 22.

 

 

 

Ms Mac is Back | The Works | BASCA, June 2014

ms-mac0is-back_title
Article and Images: Darren Haynes
Transcription: Nicole at The Ledge
The Works
The British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors Magazine
June 2014

 

It’s 5pm on the eve of the Ivor Novello Awards and Christine McVie is sat in her London home, excited and contemplating the forthcoming ceremony and the prospect of accepting her Lifetime Achievement Award.

“I’m thrilled to bits. It’s a huge honour and I’m overwhelmed, really.”

ms-mac-is-back1

No stranger to awards, Christine can count Grammy Awards, a BRIT Award, an honorary doctorate degree in music from the University of Greenwich and even one of BASCA’s Gold Badge Awards among her many trophies. But, this Ivor Novello Award is different.

“For me, this is really special because it’s for me as an individual writer. The others have always been connected with Fleetwood Mac.”

There’s much more excitement on the horizon for Christine too, following her announcement that she is the rejoin the band.

It’s been 15 years since she retired from Fleetwood Mac following the Dance Tour in 1998. She cited a fear of flying and wanting to move back to England where she’d bought a new property in Wickhamreaux, Kent as the public reasons for her departure.

“…and I wanted to just kind of get out of Los Angeles really. Although why I say that now after having just come back, I don’t know, because I really enjoyed it out there.”

She enjoyed her early retirement, for a while too… Continue reading Ms Mac is Back | The Works | BASCA, June 2014

Fleetwood Mac on new recordings: ‘We get chills when we hear them’ | The Guardian (UK)

theguardian.com

Minus Stevie Nicks, the band are recording ‘blues-based’ and ‘commercial’ songs in the studio in which they made Tusk

1395878338000-FLEETWOOD-MAC-BW-610695

Fleetwood Mac have almost finished eight songs for a possible new album. The new recordings feature Christine McVie but not yet Stevie Nicks, who has been absent due to other commitments. “The chemistry was just unbelievable,” Lindsey Buckingham has said.

Minus Nicks, Fleetwood Mac spent two months at Village Recorder studio, in Los Angeles, working in the same room in which they recorded their 1979 album Tusk. “We’re all very excited about [the new music],” Buckingham told Billboard in a recent interview. “Knowing me, I’m going to be pushing for a double album.” Though eight tracks are “75% done”, they are now putting the sessions on pause as McVie returns home to England. The group will reunite for live rehearsals at the end of July, ahead of their world tour, and are unlikely to release anything before 2015. Continue reading Fleetwood Mac on new recordings: ‘We get chills when we hear them’ | The Guardian (UK)

Life Stories: Stevie Nicks | Marie Claire

Words by Michelle Davis
Marie Claire Magazine (UK)
May 2014

Her husky voice, epic stage presence and flamboyant style defined 70s supergroup Fleetwood Mac – as did the incestuous, drug-fulled private lives of its members. And against all odds, she’s still rocking…

maria-claire-title

AS THE DAUGHTER OF A travelling businessman, Stevie Nicks was used to making new friends quickly. One evening in 1965, after her family’s latest move from Los Angeles to San Francisco, 17-year-old Stevie attended an event in a local hall. She walked in to see a teenage boy strumming a guitar and singing The Mamas & The Papas’ California Dreamin’ I walked up and brazenly burst into harmony with him,’ she would later recall. ‘It was cool andI said, “I’m Stevie Nicks” and he said, “I’m Lindsey Buckingham.” Continue reading Life Stories: Stevie Nicks | Marie Claire

Stevie Nicks and Lady Antebellum wow crowd with duet | Daily Mail

Daily Mail (UK)
By Jessica Earnshaw
Published: 09:33 EST, 7 April 2014

‘Timeless as a kiss’! Stevie Nicks and Lady Antebellum wow crowd with duet as they sing Fleetwood Mac’s Rhiannon at ACM Awards

Stevie Nicks teamed up with Lady Antebellum for a special performance at The Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday evening.

Singing the trio’s latest hit Golden, the Fleetwood Mac star was seen holding hands with lead vocalist Hillary Scott at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The talented stars then went on to belt out the group’s classic song Rhiannon, after first duetting on TV show CMT Crossroads in September.

Golden gig: Stevie Nicks teamed up with Lady Antebellum for a special performance at The Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday evening Continue reading Stevie Nicks and Lady Antebellum wow crowd with duet | Daily Mail

Mick Fleetwood reveals that Fleetwood Mac are back – with a full pack | Sunday Express

By: Matt Gibson
Published: Sun, April 6, 2014
Sunday Express (UK)

Fleetwood Mac’s songbird is flying again, writes Matt Gibson. Christine McVie has conquered her fear of jet travel and will be touring with the band in America later this year, Mick Fleetwood has revealed.

McVie, the driving force behind some of the group’s biggest hits such as Little Lies, Songbird and Everywhere, left in 1998, saying her fear of flying made touring impossible. The band has had many personnel changes but core members have been Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, Christine and her former husband John McVie and Lindsey Buckingham.

Writing in his exclusive Sunday Express column, drummer Fleetwood says: “The songbird has found her way home where she belongs and the amazing story of Fleetwood Mac continues.”