Category Archives: UK Articles

Fleetwood Mac, Mick Fleetwood, UK Articles

Mick Fleetwood speaks out over Lindsey Buckingham’s departure from Fleetwood Mac ahead of North America tour | The Independent (UK)

Leave a comment

Roisin O’Connor
The Independent
6th Aug 2018

Mick Fleetwood has spoken about guitarist and co-vocalist Lindsey Buckingham’s departure from Fleetwood Mac, ahead of the band’s upcoming tour of North America.

Buckingham left the group in April after a 40-year career, and it was later announced that he would be replaced on tour by Mike Campbell [Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers] and Neil Finn [Crowded House].

His departure from the band caused shock for fans, particularly given the conflicting statements issued by himself and the remaining members of the band.

At the time, Buckingham claimed he was fired and accused the band of “losing perspective”. Speaking to Billboard, Fleetwood has now said he remains positive for the future of the band.

“Obviously this is a huge change with the advent of Lindsey Buckingham not being a part of Fleetwood Mac,” he said.

“We all wish him well and all the rest of it. In truthful language, we just weren’t happy. And I’ll leave it at that in terms of the dynamic.”

He praised Campbell and Finn as he spoke about rehearsals for the tour, and added: “If you know anything about the history of this band, it’s sort of peppered with this type of dramatic stuff. It’s a strange band, really.

“It’s ironic that we have a 50-year package coming out with all the old blues stuff with Peter Green, all the incarnations of Fleetwood Mac, which was not of course planned.”

Fleetwood Mac’s tour of North America begins in October this year and runs until April 2019

Danny Kirwan, Fleetwood Mac, Obituary, UK Articles

Danny Kirwan obituary | The Times

Leave a comment

The Times

Distinctive vibrato-style guitarist who helped his band top the charts before succumbing to ‘the curse of Fleetwood Mac’ in 1972

From left: Kirwan with Christine McVie, Mick Fleetwood (rear), Jeremy Spencer and John McVie
ALAMY

When Danny Kirwan joined Fleetwood Mac in 1968 his arrival created a three-pronged guitar attack that turned the group into one of the biggest-selling bands in Britain.

His unique vibrato style helped the instrumental Albatross to No 1, and further chart-topping hits featuring his distinctive guitar work followed with Man Of The World and Oh Well. Yet by 1972 Kirwan and both his fellow guitarists had gone, all three of them succumbing to psychotic breakdowns in what came to be known as “the curse of Fleetwood Mac”.

The first of them, Peter Green, quit in 1970, giving away his guitars and his money after a schizophrenic attack brought on by hallucinogenic drugs. Jeremy Spencer disappeared the next year, walking out of the band’s hotel, saying he was going to buy a magazine. He never returned and was later found to have joined a religious cult.

Yet Kirwan’s meltdown was in many ways the most dramatic of all. Sensitive and mentally fragile, he struggled to deal with fame and responsibility, went days on end without eating and developed a crippling stage fright, which in turn drove him to alcoholism.

His career as a rock star came to a shattering halt one night in 1972 on tour in America. Back stage while the band were tuning up before going on, something snapped and he hurled his Les Paul guitar at a dressing-room mirror, showering broken glass over his bandmates. Smashing his fists and head against the wall until they were bleeding, he refused to take the stage and instead spent the gig heckling from the audience as the band struggled on without him. He was sacked and never played with Fleetwood Mac again. Continue reading Danny Kirwan obituary | The Times →

Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey Buckingham, UK Articles

Deep Tracks: Lindsey Buckingham

Leave a comment

By Sharon Lacey
April 19th, 2018

Lindsey Buckingham has been fired from Fleetwood Mac. Again. Well, technically he left in 1987 but he was essentially told he had to leave after he refused to tour. This time too it’s said to be disagreements over the forthcoming tour but in many ways, this has been a long time coming.

Let’s not get into the blame game here because who knows what was said behind the scenes but there has been obvious tensions in the band for quite a while evidenced by Stevie Nicks’s reluctance to tour and even record with the band (last year’s Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie album was started as the next Mac record but was eventually released as a duo album after Nicks refused to contribute.)

This high drama was always been a huge part of the Mac and their appeal but to actually fire one of the key members of their most successful line-up is a huge move and, to many fans, a terrible mistake.

Buckingham wasn’t just the third voice and songwriter or guitar god of the band, he was the arranger and producer, the visionary, the man who helped bring out the brilliance in all of their songs. Fleetwood Mac carried on without Buckingham back in the late ’80s and early ’90s but there is no doubt a big part of the magic was gone. It’s hard to imagine, although the new members are both hugely talented, that they can recapture that special chemistry with new members Mike Campbell and Neil Finn so late in the game.

Of course, the Mac has had a revolving line-up over the years with some amazing talents (in particular the legendary Peter Green but also, the often forgotten but wonderful Bob Welch), but the impact of Rumours overshadows it all. Buckingham’s massive contribution to that is not only undeniable but an important part of why Fleetwood Mac still mean so much to people decades after they first formed and it could be argued, why they are still around at all.

Buckingham, after all, gave up plans for solo albums on at least two occasions to keep the Mac going. Fleetwood usually gets all the credit for the Mac soldiering on but there are times when it was Buckingham who actually made it happen. His enthusiasm meant we were just one voice away from getting that final Rumours line-up album that every fan has been dreaming about but at the very least his parting gift to the Mac is the rather lovely Buckingham McVie record. Continue reading Deep Tracks: Lindsey Buckingham →

Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey Buckingham, Tour Info, UK Articles

Not a rumor: Lindsey Buckingham, Fleetwood Mac part ways | Daily Mail

Leave a comment

Daily News
By Associated Press
PUBLISHED: 23:36, 9 April 2018 | UPDATED: 07:51, 10 April 2018

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Lindsey Buckingham will have to go his own way. The singer-guitarist is out of Fleetwood Mac.

The band said in a statement Monday that Buckingham will not be on their new tour. The announcement came in two terse sentences at the bottom of a long news release announcing the new concerts.

“Lindsey Buckingham will not be performing with the band on this tour,” the statement said. “The band wishes Lindsey all the best.”

FILE – In this Jan. 26, 2018 file photo, Fleetwood Mac band members, from left, Stevie Nicks, John McVie, Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood appear at the 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Fleetwood Mac in New York. The band said in a statement Monday that Buckingham is out of the band for its upcoming tour. Buckingham left the group once before, from 1987 to 1996. He’ll be jointly replaced by Neil Finn of Crowded House and Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

He’ll be jointly replaced by Neil Finn of Crowded House and Mike Campbell of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers.

Buckingham joined the band with then-girlfriend Stevie Nicks in 1974 and the two became the central faces, voices and songwriters of the group for the four decades that followed.

Buckingham sang and either wrote or co-wrote hits like “Go Your Own Way,” ”Tusk,” and “The Chain.”

Buckingham left the band once before in 1987, returning for a tour in 1996 and remaining a steady member since.

No details were given on what led to the latest split. Buckingham’s agent referred requests for comment back to a publicist for Fleetwood Mac, who said it wasn’t yet clear how to reach Buckingham for a reaction.

The 68-year-old released an album and played a series of dates with the band’s Christine McVie last year.

FILE – In this Oct. 6, 2014 file photo, Lindsey Buckingham from the band Fleetwood Mac performs at Madison Square Garden in New York. The band said in a statement Monday that Buckingham is out of the band for its upcoming tour. Buckingham left the group once before, from 1987 to 1996. He’ll be jointly replaced by Neil Finn of Crowded House and Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, FIle)

Fleetwood Mac used most of the news release announcing the departure to tout its two new members. Continue reading Not a rumor: Lindsey Buckingham, Fleetwood Mac part ways | Daily Mail →

Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey Buckingham, Tour Info, UK Articles

Lindsey Buckingham parts ways with Fleetwood Mac before tour | The Guardian

Leave a comment

April 9th, 2018
The Guardian

The longstanding member will be replaced by the Tom Petty guitarist Mike Campbell and Crowded House’s Neil Finn

Lindsey Buckingham has parted ways with Fleetwood Mac months before they are scheduled to embark on a live tour.

In a statement, the band announced: “Lindsey Buckingham will not be performing with the band on this tour. The band wishes Lindsey all the best.”

It’s been revealed that Buckingham will be replaced on tour by the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell and Crowded House’s Neil Finn. “Fleetwood Mac has always been about an amazing collection of songs that are performed with a unique blend of talents,” Mick Fleetwood said. “We jammed with Mike and Neil and the chemistry really worked and let the band realize that this is the right combination to go forward with in Fleetwood Mac style. We know we have something new, yet it’s got the unmistakable Mac sound.”

Finn said in a statement: “Two weeks ago I received a wonderful invitation to be a part of a truly great band. A few days later I was standing in a room playing music with Fleetwood Mac. It felt fresh and exciting, so many great songs, a spectacular rhythm section and two of the greatest voices ever. Best of all, we sounded good together. It was a natural fit. I can’t wait to play.”

The band’s Facebook page has since changed its profile image from one of the band to an illustrated picture.

Buckingham originally joined the band in 1975 and played with them until 1987. In this incarnation, featuring Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie and Stevie Nicks, they released 1977’s Rumors. The album sold over 40mcopies. Buckingham rejoined the band in 1997 and last year released a duet album with McVie.

His most recent performance with the band was during a concert in January honoring Fleetwood Mac as MusiCares Person of the Year. The Fleetwood Mac tour is to start in June. Last week, the band re-entered the US charts with Dreams after it was used in a meme.

Christine McVie, Fleetwood Mac, John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Original Content, Release Info, Solo Activity, Stevie Nicks, Tour Info, UK Articles, Website Content

UPDATED: Is Stevie Nicks damaging the Fleetwood Mac legacy?

Leave a comment

group-tuskpresskit

Will Fleetwood Mac release a new studio album?
Will Stevie Nicks join the band in recording the album?
Will Stevie Nicks tour again with Fleetwood Mac?
Is there a future for Fleetwood Mac?

So many questions, all without any real answers from the band, other than that Stevie Nicks is touring her 2014 album “24 Karat Gold: Songs From The Vault” making up time she gave to Fleetwood Mac for the “On With The Show” that brought Christine McVie back into Fleetwood Mac.

However, the rest of the band (well that is not technically accurate as John McVie does not generally say anything to the press) have been talking about recording new music for a new potential Fleetwood Mac studio album and the possibility of another worldwide tour that is likely to be scheduled to co-incide with the 40th anniversary of Rumours, as well as the 50th anniversary of the band being formed and the 30th anniversary of Tango In The Night and 20th anniversary of The Dance (Fleetwood Mac seems to have a thing for years with seven in them!!)

But, Stevie Nicks appears not to be committing to the band, is she about to splinter the group and force a Fleetwood, McVie, McVie and Buckingham version of the band to cement their legacy and exploit the huge commercial opening that will begin next year when the anniversary year for Fleetwood Mac commences, this will likely  be the last hurrah for the band  before old father time chimes in. Continue reading UPDATED: Is Stevie Nicks damaging the Fleetwood Mac legacy? →

Fleetwood Mac, Reviews, UK Articles

Fleetwood Mac Reissue Review | Mojo Magazine

Leave a comment

Mojo Magazine (Match 2018)
By Mark Blake

FLEETWOOD MAC DELUXE EDITION
****
Reprise CD/DL/LP

A fine romance

Starcrossed lovers 1975 hits album just before divorce proceedings began now expanded

Has there ever been any more serendipitous album then Fleetwood Mac? At the end of 1974, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie’s group were drawing their last breath. The boom years with guitarist Peter Green over, and the previous years trippy West Coast influenced Heroes Are Hard To Find was the latest in a long line of poor sellers.

It was make-or-break time, when Fleetwood hired unknown singer/ songwriter Lindsey Buckingham and, despite Fleetwood’s initial reluctance, Buckingham’s girlfriend Stevie Nicks; a story Nicks’ has rightly dined out on ever since. A year later, the rebooted Fleetwood Mac were basking in the success of a US number one hit. This deluxe edition contains fewer previously unreleased studio tracks but more live numbers than 2016’s things remastered Tango In The Night. The ‘White Album’ (as it’s often known) doesn’t have to sleep-deprived, teeth-grinding tension of his successor Rumours or a song as gleefully bombastic as The Chain. It’s warmer, slightly less druggie, and none the worse for that.

The original album contains three songs which between them templated the future sound of Fleetwood Mac. As anyone has heard 1973’s Buckingham Nicks album will confirm, the couple bought existing ideas to the table. They even re-recorded one of its songs, Crystal on Fleetwood Mac. Continue reading Fleetwood Mac Reissue Review | Mojo Magazine →

Fleetwood Mac, Reviews, UK Articles

Fleetwood Mac Reissue Review | Classic Rock Magazine

Leave a comment

Classic Rock Magazine (issue 246)
By Mark Beaumont
4th Feb 2018

Fleetwood Mac | WARNERS | 8/10

Fleetwood Mac in 1975 (photo: Getty)

In which Fleetwood Mac Mk 2 rises from two separate dumpers.

Some tacos are destined to change the world. Take the ones over which the remnants of Fleetwood Mac ‘auditioned’ Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks in a Mexican restaurant in LA in 1974. Mac were smarting from five years of slumping record sales and the departure of guitarist and songwriter Bob Welch; Buckingham and Nicks, who had a flop album themselves with 1973’s Buckingham Nicks, were on the verge of quitting their part-time LA jobs, ending their floundering relationship and going their separate ways.

The Mac needed only a new guitarist, but Buckingham refused to join unless they took Nicks as well. Mick Fleetwood gave his remaining core songwriter, Christine McVie,
a veto over Nicks, but the pair got on famously. By the time the margaritas were drained, soft-rock history was shaken on.

The Mac album (the band’s tenth) that this fresh new line-up began recording just three weeks later — with Buckingham so pushy in teaching the veteran rhythm section their parts that John McVie chided him: “The band you’re in is Fleetwood Mac. I’m the Mac. I play the bass” would become their second self-titled release, to mark their final transition from Peter Green’s blues-rock version to a new country-rooted pop rock sound. The title heralded a new Fleetwood Mac, and their second era would become one of the most successful rebirths in rock. Inevitably, one returns to 1975’s Fleetwood Mac with radar attuned to the first whispers of Rumours, and there are plenty circulating within these semi-magical 42 minutes. Continue reading Fleetwood Mac Reissue Review | Classic Rock Magazine →

Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks, UK Articles

Stevie Nicks Interview | Classic Rock Magazine

Leave a comment

Classic Rock Magazine (Issue 246)
By Gary Graff
4th Feb 2018

After going from small fry to big Mac, now she balances the band and a solo career.

Stevie Nicks may appear to have a complicated and ambivalent relationship with Fleetwood Mac, but you’d be bard-premed to find a greater public proponent for the band. Since 1981 the writer and singer of Rhiannon, Dreams, Sara and many more has juggled a successful solo career alongside being in the group and has sometimes frustrated her bandmates with her priorities. But Nicks still swears allegiance to the Mac and is always ready to add a new chapter to the saga – when it fits.

You maintain an active and successful solo career, as well as membership in Fleetwood Mac. What’s the agar of doing both?
Solo work and Fleetwood Mac is a really great thing to be able to go back and forth to. You can do your own thing until you get bored and then you can go to the other thing and do that until you start to get bored, and then you can go back to the other thing. It helps you stay more excited and uplifted for what you do so you’re not just doing one thing year after year.

It keeps it fresh, in other words.
Basically, what we are is entertainers. When we go on stage we’re performers. That’s what we do. Even if this band had never made it big, we’d be playing all the dubs. So it isn’t a question of keeping it fresh, it’s that were doing what we love and we don’t have anything else, basically, to do.

What’s the most difficult adjustment when you move between the two?
From the very beginning, when I was seventeen, I wanted to be in a band. When you’re in a band you’re a team. When I’m in solo work, I’m the boss. I have gone back and forth about it in my head. I’ve decided I do like being the boss, but I’ve been in Fleetwood Mac for so long I understand how to not be the boss and be part of a team and a team player and it’s okay. Part of it knocks your ego down, makes you humble. So there’s a lot of good things about being in a band. Continue reading Stevie Nicks Interview | Classic Rock Magazine →

Christine McVie, Fleetwood Mac, UK Articles

Christine McVie Interview | Classic Rock Magazine

Leave a comment

Classic Rock Magazine (Issue 246)
By Gary Graff
4th Feb 2018

The in, out, in songwriting heart of Fleetwood Mac.

Five years ago in September, Christine McVie stepped on stage with Fleetwood Mac for the first time since 1997 and has been touring with them since. More importantly, she went into the studio with the guys in the band for sessions that resulted in last year’s lauded Buckingham McVie duo album with Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham. At 74, the former Christine Perfect is fully in, and it doesn’t sound like she has any plans to go her own way ever again.

Are you still glad that you rejoined Fleetwood Mac almost five years ago?
Oh yes. It’s fantastic. I love it.

In hindsight, do you regret the hiatus?
I quit the band only because I developed this horrendous fear of flying and was run down and tired of touring. I bought a home in England that was being restored. I wanted to move back closer to my family. It was not out of any lack of love for these guys. They’re my musical family.

What brought you back?
I realised that I made a huge mistake, that’s all. I started missing them and playing with them and the interaction, the chemistry of it all. I started to really, tray desire to star/ doing something again, and the only people that I would have any desire to do anything with would be Fleetwood Mac.

Your first step back was writing and recording again with Lindsey. You two clearly have a unique emulation. What is it draw out of each other?
It’s a hard thing to analyse, really. I suppose it’s just a musical rapport Is very easy to work with him_ Although I know people say he can be a difficult bugger, I’ve always found him to be a terrific fellow to work with. I enjoy it.

There are some who would say, with all deference to Stevie Nicks, that it’s the product of your collaboration that is the real sound of Fleetwood Mac.
Lindsey just loves producing other people’s songs. He always has. I think with me he tends to lean slightly towards a romantic side of him musically, I’m speaking – because he describes himself as the brains and me as the heart. Continue reading Christine McVie Interview | Classic Rock Magazine →