Thursday, July 10, 2008

Major FLEETWOOD MAC Update

I'm pleased to bring everyone quite possibly the biggest story I've broken all year. After endless speculation and "rumors" (sorry, I couldn't resist) Fleetwood Mac are reuniting in 2009 for an album and tour they are remaining mum on. But that's what I'm here for, isn't it?

In June, Stevie Nicks told a newspaper that the Mac would be regrouping, sans-Christine McVie, for a series of recording sessions in October and would be in full-on tour rehearsals by February with U.S. dates to follow in the Spring. It has taken me several weeks, but here's what I have amassed from my sources.

* The "new album" is in fact a new compilation album that will feature several new tracks. Interestingly enough, one of the conditions for Stevie recording new Fleetwood Mac music was that Lindsey not be named primary producer. An outside collaborator, rumored to be John Shanks or Chris Lord-Alge, is being brought in to "even things up".

* The tour is indeed a "farewell tour" and could last up to two years with a blowout finale being planned. The ideas and expectations for this tour are big amongst organizers with one idea being that the finale will take place at either Wembley Stadium (or Twickingham Stadium) in London, or New York City's iconic Central Park.

* Fleetwood Mac will be performing Christine McVie-sung material on the upcoming tour, with Lindsey and Stevie handling vocal duties on her songs.

* The tour will kick off in the U.S. next Spring with a European tour of arenas and some stadiums
to follow. The group are already being mentioned for next year's Heiniken Jammin' Festival in Italy.
The trek will encompass several U.S. legs, at least one major European leg, a trip to Australia, and there is the possibility of the group returning to Japan for the first time with Stevie and Lindsey since 1979.

* While Sheryl Crow will be participating in the recording the new Mac tunes, she will not be made
a member of the band, contrary to what she announced to the public earlier this year. The first set
of U.S. shows will, however, be a Fleetwood Mac/Sheryl Crow double-bill. Crow is reportedly set on
opening for the group for the duration of the tour, including all overseas legs.

* A lot of money is being put into this and the band are reportedly shopping their name around to both LiveNation and AEG Live for the farewell tour, and any one-offs that will follow.

ALL OF THIS, is to be taken with a grain of salt until confirmed. But do know that unless it looks like
even semi-wet concrete...I don't share it.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Where did you get this info from? How would we know it's true? Because I don't want to be all hyped up and then it's not even true.

Unknown said...

Anglgypsy23:

All of my information comes my many trusted sources. All of this information is to be taken with a grain of salt as plans change every day in the music and touring industries. I sat on this information for several weeks, making sure it had some truth to it, before posting it here.

Artemis