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Meeting Up With Mick Fleetwood
The following was taken from a blot post at "More Musings."
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 Meeting Up With Mick Fleetwood It has been a week now since I had the good fortune to attend another memorable concert by my favorite band, Fleetwood Mac. This article will be about the exciting events leading up to that amazing show. It all began when I got a telephone call from my friend, Torri, saying she had bid for charity on a ticket package for a Fleetwood Mac concert. Much to her surprise she won with her bid and in addition to seats 3rd row center a Meet and Greet with Mick Fleetwood was included. Mick is the long time and original drummer with Fleetwood Mac going back to when it was a blues band in the UK in the late 60’s. As a long time fan and ‘groupie’ who has seen Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks in concert well over a hundred times I was thrilled when Torri asked me to be her guest. I really didn’t know what to expect and was delighted with the experience. We arrived in Manchester, NH at the Verizon Wireless Center on June 16, 2009 with instructions to be there an hour before the gates opened to the public. There we were greeted by Cory (not Lindsey’s niece, also on the tour) who gave us our tickets, a promo photo of Mick and a really neat laminated All Access Pass. We proceeded to the stage and it was fun to be there looking out at the empty arena. Cory told us how they had to remove Stevie’s microphone from the Meet and Greet because fans were touching the ribbons and beads on her mic and throwing the electronics off. Cory told us Mick loves to talk and to ask him anything as she and the others working on the tour love juicy tidbits. Mick entered from the side of the stage and is he ever, at 6’ 5” tall, larger than life. He has a pleasant, calm demeanor unlike his manic antics on stage. He was dressed like a British nobleman with a magnificent scarf, a beautiful suit, and a fashionable cap. He had on his traditional slippers only purple. I asked him where the trademark red ones were and he said he’d have them for the show. Each group had a photo taken with Mick in front of his drum kit. We also had the opportunity to get an autograph. Mick graciously signed both the promo photo and the All Access Pass. One woman expressed disappointment that her husband couldn’t make it as he is a drummer and a big fan of Mick’s. Well didn’t Mick talk to him on the cell phone after his wife called him - so kind of Mick. When Torri and I had our photo op Mick asked us if we were Manchesterites. Torri is from VA and I’m from Boston. Mick commented that Boston was close-by. Another couple who vacation every year in Maui asked Mick , who has a home there, for restaurant recommendations and he had several for them. When the next couple had their time with Mick the woman said, “Are you going to sign it(his photo)thanks for last night" Mick said, “Ooh, that sounds naughty. Do you want to get me in trouble?” It was all in good fun with Mick showing a quick wit. During the question and answer part I asked Mick about the jewelry he was wearing and each piece had an interesting story. The moon shaped pendant with three stones was last year’s Christmas present from Stevie and another piece was made by a couple in Canterbury. Mick described them as characters and real alchemists. He stepped toward me to act out how if the jeweler didn’t like what you had chosen she’d look down and say, “No, I don’t think so.” I also asked how Christine McVie was doing. He said she is very happy living in her 11th century home in Kent which he described as stunning. Her brother lives close by. Mick saw Christine about eight months ago when he took his blues band to play in England. Chris came to the show and Mick said he didn’t ask her to play even though she is a blues pianist as he knew she was happily retired. At one point Mick mused about how maybe the band stayed a little too long on the road this time as they tacked on two make-up shows in Canada. In this regard he was very complimentary to Stevie calling her a real ‘team player’ and saying, “Let’s face it she really doesn’t have to do this.” Mick was of course referring to the fact that Stevie has a hugely successful solo career but we all know she does love ‘her band’! The band will be doing more concerts in Europe and Australia starting in October. Mick even said that it looks like Fleetwood Mac will tour again next summer – fabulous. Mick told a very interesting story about the band’s first fan when Fleetwood Mac was starting out as a blues band in England and a woman named Madge came to all their shows. Well I always wondered about the songs Fighting for Madge and Searching for Madge on the Then Play On album. Who was Madge? Well now I know – very cool! How wonderful that the band wrote songs for their biggest fan who sometimes hitchhiked 200 miles to get to a show. After this fan story I told Mick how I had gone to London and Birmingham to see the band during the Say You Will Tour in 2003. He seemed a bit amazed at that and asked if I had business and happened to be in England. I said no that some of us just love to follow the band. As for me it was something I always hoped to do to hear the band play in their native UK. Thanks to my friend, Martin from Bristol, for helping to make it happen. Torri said how this was her 15th show of the Unleashed Tour. Mick opined you must get bored with the same introductions and stories every night. Of course we don’t! Mick said there are nuances and that they don’t play ‘by the numbers’. He mentioned how a band like REM is incredible with how they change the set for each song and vary the songs concert to concert. Mick said that Fleetwood Mac could never do that as Lindsey is a perfectionist and he does most of the production work with input from the other members. Fleetwood Mac hopes to do another album but with an outside producer. They need an overseer as Lindsey has a family now and it would just take too long when you’re as obsessive as Lindsey is. At the conclusion of the Meet and Greet Mick unexpectedly came right over to me and with a kiss and a hug thanked me for being such a supportive fan traveling to England and all. I certainly didn’t expect that kind of recognition and I thanked him again for the music. He was gracious to Torri as well and we both felt that it was a real treat and an absolute pleasure to have spent some time with Mick who could not have been more sincere. Mick was very entertaining and generous with his time. He was clearly happy to share and to spend these moments with us. There was no sense of ‘going through the motions’ as you know he has done these Meet and Greets countless times. Mick is real artist, a magnificent drummer and the one largely responsible for being able to keep his band with the convoluted emotional history not only together but still loving each other, able to work through all the hurts and to survive all the romantic entanglements. Thank you, Mick for your unique insights and your kindness to the fans. Posted by dak126 at 10:58 PM Labels: Fleetwood Mac, Fleetwood Mac Concert, Lindsey Buckingham, Manchester NH, Meet and Greet, Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, Unleashed Tour http://moreofmymusings.blogspot.com/...fleetwood.html |
This was great to read. THANK YOU! I really should have done a meet and greet.
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well Torri is the best when it comes to FM and Stevie! that was very sweet of her..
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I had the pleasure of meeting them in NH and I saw them again at Mohegan. Very nice people!! It's always fun to meet fellow fans!!
~Kim |
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Personally, I think Mick should have asked Torri for her autograph.
She's one loyal fan (and a wonderful person, as an added bonus). Anyway, I don't see them even attempting to tour next year, in the US, anyway, without new stuff. This was a calculated risk--based on not touring for a bit--and they got away with it (and I was happy enough with two of the three shows I went to). But, I don't think they'll be able to do it two years in a row. New material or go their own way! |
I love hearing about somebody else's meet and greet experience. I did the meet and greet in Oakland and would say generally the same things that you did-- Mick was just such an awesome guy.
"Mick even said that it looks like Fleetwood Mac will tour again next summer – fabulous." That just made my day. Although I would also prefer some new music, I am SO HAPPY to just hear that I'll have a chance to see them again. That in itself is awesome news :) Thanks for posting this! |
Surreal...
It really was alot of fun...I'm not sure why I blurted out that I'd been to so many shows but I did know I wanted to know if they were coming our way again...I like taking FM vacations :) ...and to actually hear Mick tell the story of Madge was so surreal...hmm, maybe we could be Madgeheads...lol...doesn't have the same ring as Deadhead but it'll do :shrug:
I went to Baltimore, MSG, AC, Manchester, Mohegan Sun, Nashville, and New Orleans...I figure everybody wants to hear the New Orleans song as soon as possible so I'll get that sent to Brian...and thanks again, Brian...and my best guess at the words... I want to get back to New Orleans I want to sing out in the streets of the French Quarter I wanna dress up I wanna wear beads I wanna wear feathers and lace I wanna rush by vampires and go down Bourbon Street I was in the front row and turned it looked at the crowd...so many people were crying and just holding each other...Stevie touched them that night and wow...what a tour...great music...good friends...and good times... |
This makes me really, really wish I wasn't 17 and entirely reliant on my parents' support.... If/when FM tours again, I'll be in college, most likely on the east coast. Since all the states are so close together over there, I am going to spend a lot of quality time in my car driving to Mac shows. My bank account will hate me, but I don't care. Gotta see them as many times as possible before I run out of time!
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:D Yes, I think we would all love to hear/see it. Thank you for everything!! Do you suspect that Mick meant they will have an album out before next Summer? |
Torri's Guest Here
Hi all, yes I'm the blogger who wrote about the Meet and Greet with Mick. So glad you enjoyed the read. I wanted to post it on the Ledge but someone beat me to it. It really was a unique and wonderful experience. Mick is beyond affable and it was a joy to be in his presence. As I said to Torri it was easy to see why Stevie loved/loves him so much! I did not get the impression there would be an album before next summer. So we shall see about any possible tour. I had a chance to listen to the Madge songs on my vinyl of Then Play On - terrific. Mick mentioned how he intended to look Madge up when they get to the UK in the Fall - nice touch. Thanks again to you Torri for making all the fun possible. Sending a special hello to you Kim. Loved meeting you and as we all know Fleetwood Mac/Stevie fans are the best!!!
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Thank you for posting this. I am a huge fan of Mick's, both with FM and on his own. I'm honestly jealous of those who've been lucky enough to meet Mick. He's my favourite member of FM, with John being a close second. I love Mick's on stage antics and drumming style.
Looking forward to a new FM recording whenever it happens and am anxiously awaiting Mick's next venture with the MFBB which looks like it may be out before a new FM recording. I taught myself to play drums using primarily FM CD's and solo Mick music as well, so I always come back to Mick's drum style as a base when I play. Won't ever be that good, not even trying to make a comparison. Very pleased to hear about his being such a nice guy, so down to earth and not acting like a "stuck up" celebrity. Thank you again so much for posting. |
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