April 1, 1990, Australia's Sunday Herald
HEADLINE: FLEETWOOD MAC UNMASKS
BYLINE: BREEN M
BODY:
Fleetwood Mac National Tennis Centre , March 26
IF this was the return of a saccharin band with a well-developed and slick image, we got the sweetness all right, but it was delivered like a stick of sugarcane across the back of the legs. Guitars screeched in an unexpected frenzy while Mick Fleetwood drummed with his casual disregard for discipline.
Tameness and predictability disappeared as the ageing, former British blues band searched out the last pieces of meat on the bone.Occasionally they got to the marrow for an exciting, extra-tasty morsel.
It's still seems incredible that Fleetwood Mac, with 50 million pop record sales behind them, could show such disregard for the manufactured sounds of the studio.
It was a rare and healthy thing, undoubtedly brought about by the presence of the two new members of the band - Billy Burnett (of the great American rock and roll family) and Rick Vito. These two characters not only have rock music pedigrees earned from on-the-road experience, but they have an ear for the authenticity of the guitar, with none of the showy, excessive indulgences that threaten to kill off the instrument.
Stevie Nicks was more concerned with her wardrobe than the music.She strutted off-stage after every second song for a new shawl, dress or other accoutrement. When she sang along her voice had virtually no appeal and certainly showed none of the life that surged from Christine McVie. The band played a broad selection of songs that covered material from the very first Fleetwood Mac album from the early '60s, to the soon-to-be-released that covered material from the very first Fleetwood Mac album from the early '60s, to the soon-to-be-released Behind The Mask.
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