UK/Ireland tour - cancelled or postponed?

[shackin'up]

I've got the feeling that rescheduling was impossible on short term, and they chose to cancel but with the perspective to re-plan later on, when things a more secure in the future.

[elle]

Originally Posted by BTFLCHLD

so, in order to please, lindsey should provide the following information via a hand-written note, a tweet, a website announcement, and/or a youtube video?

but of course!

Originally Posted by BTFLCHLD

"The tour has been cancelled due to injury. We are unable to re-schedule at this time."

this is the only thing that does need to be updated - message like this should replace the one about postponement on LB's website. not that people checked his website or believed it when the postponement was announced there.

Originally Posted by BTFLCHLD

IMO how Lindsey et al have handled this situation is to be commendable. If I was as laid out at Neale is, having put everything I had into the tour thus far, I would want, pray for, my bossy to have that kind of consideration for me.

[BTFLCHLD]

Originally Posted by Silver Springs

That's pretty easy for you to say when you haven't been messed around with the lack of information and communication between all involved parties. I do feel sorry for Neale. I really do. But we deserve a little respect too. Not whatever is tossed to us in terms of rumours and half truths. It should have been made plain ASAP when they knew the dates couldn't be met that they were cancelled. Not treated as chinese whispers between Lidnsey's team, Ticket Master, Live Nation, whoever else is involved. His site STILL says postponed. Somebody's dropping the ball there.

ALL of us that have experienced last-minute cancellations have dealt with it. This is the first time around I have witnessed people wanting something for their 'trouble'. I find that ridiculous. Did I anticipate or expect Lindsey's camp to bend backward with apology and makeups when they hit an elk on the way to IDAHO? Did I squeal for a video of the elk's head on a stick as proof? No, like a normal person, I took in a comedy show, bawled my eyes out into a hotel pillow, and flew back to cali the next day.

When has his website ever been 100% on-it?

Hello, what's confusing about the tour is postponed, a bandmember is injured and having surgery, we may re-schedule, nope, poop, it's now cancelled.

[Dodfather]

Originally Posted by Silver Springs

[ Not treated as chinese whispers between Lidnsey's team, Ticket Master, Live Nation, whoever else is involved. His site STILL says postponed. Somebody's dropping the ball there.[/COLOR]

Still?? Ok - come on, that's really bad.

[Silver Springs]

Originally Posted by BTFLCHLD

ALL of us that have experienced last-minute cancellations have dealt with it. This is the first time around I have witnessed people wanting something for their 'trouble'. I find that ridiculous. Did I anticipate or expect Lindsey's camp to bend backward with apology and makeups when they hit an elk on the way to IDAHO? Did I squeal for a video of the elk's head on a stick as proof? No, like a normal person, I took in a comedy show, bawled my eyes out into a hotel pillow, and flew back to cali the next day.

When has his website ever been 100% on-it?

Hello, what's confusing about the tour is postponed, a bandmember is injured and having surgery, we may re-schedule, nope, poop, it's now cancelled.

You have the security of knowing that he'll probably do shows close to you in the future. We don't have such security as it's taken him decades to realise that there are fans in the UK too. Forgive us if we actually like to know when something's gone wrong, rather than putting up with spoon fed platitudes, misinformation between websites and basically not knowing what the hell's happening because nobody can get their story straight. Nobody's asking for a picture of Neale in pain, so I fail to see the relevance of the Elk comment. We spent more than a week not knowing what was happening because the story kept changing. Forgive us for being frustrated. I guess we're not allowed to be upset when we're messed around.

You know what I find ridiculous? People being disrespectful to others because they were put into a negative position. People telling us to "get over it" when we've spent years waiting for something like this to happen, only for it to be snatched away with flimsy promises and excuses before we EVENTUALLY gain the news through rumours about what's really happening.

Originally Posted by Dodfather

Still?? Ok - come on, that's really bad.

Yep. Hasn't changed since the 2nd.

[elle]

Originally Posted by BTFLCHLD

Did I anticipate or expect Lindsey's camp to bend backward with apology and makeups when they hit an elk on the way to IDAHO? Did I squeal for a video of the elk's head on a stick as proof? No, like a normal person, I took in a comedy show, bawled my eyes out into a hotel pillow, and flew back to cali the next day.

is that what happened? which tour was that? i've seen pics of LB with i think some police officers and some trees or something that came out around the time of seattle show and was wondering what was that...

[BTFLCHLD]

Originally Posted by Silver Springs

we've spent years waiting for something like this to happen,
only for it to be snatched away with flimsy promises and excuses

Yes, hopefully, they make the BIG announcement soon so EVERYONE is clear that the tour in the UK is cancelled.
Maybe they will update the website soon! and maybe Lindsey could do an acoustic house-concert tour for his UK fans.

[Silver Springs]

Originally Posted by BTFLCHLD

Yes, hopefully, they make the BIG announcement soon so EVERYONE is clear that the tour in the UK is cancelled.
Maybe they will update the website soon! and maybe Lindsey could do an acoustic house-concert tour for his UK fans.

Should I be reading notes of sarcasm in that or not?

[BTFLCHLD]

Originally Posted by elle

is that what happened? which tour was that? i've seen pics of LB with i think some police officers and some trees or something that came out around the time of seattle show and was wondering what was that...

yes, one of the UTS tour trucks (or a bus, don't recall) hauling equipment hit an elk on the way from reno to idaho -- it was awful weather, snowing and such, which is the reason I didn't go to reno but chose Idaho instead. We didn't find out of the cancellation until an hour before the show, and that was partly due to the venue posting a sign on the door that the show was cancelled. an hour before show start -- that's devestation!

I keep thinking of davidmn and the showgoers for that back-east show, where Lindsey didn't like the sound of the venue during sound check and stomped out saying the venue mgr was a bitch (rightly so!) and she saying he was a DIVA! not a DIVO but a DIVA! such suckage it was laughable. Pretty sure, davidmn traveled through mountains of snow to get there and them BAM! CANCELLED!

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by BTFLCHLD

Yes, hopefully, they make the BIG announcement soon so EVERYONE is clear that the tour in the UK is cancelled.
Maybe they will update the website soon! and maybe Lindsey could do an acoustic house-concert tour for his UK fans.

Okay, I get that the tour had to be cancelled and could not be rescheduled. It's one thing for a couple of dates to be missed, but the complexity of rescheduling each additional show becomes exponentially more difficult. So godspeed to Neale and condolences to all across the pond who bought tickets for these shows.

That being said, why doesn't Lindsey just go on with these shows in a solo acoustic format? Or somehow work out new single-guitar arrangements for the rest of the band songs? Or, at the very worst, play live against a backing track (kinda like Stevie does with "For What It's Worth")? A huge chunk of the setlist is solo acoustic anyway, so we really are talking about a dozen or so songs that would need to be re-tooled slightly. After playing for so many years in Fleetwood Mac without a second guitarist, he should be very comfortable with being the sole guitarist. And, as before in the olden days, he could get a guitar tech to strum the rhythm part on GYOW. I respect Lindsey's decision, but I can't help but think that this tour could have still gone ahead without Neale.

[Nico]

Originally Posted by BTFLCHLD

I keep thinking of davidmn and the showgoers for that back-east show, where Lindsey didn't like the sound of the venue during sound check and stomped out saying the venue mgr was a bitch (rightly so!) and she saying he was a DIVA! not a DIVO but a DIVA! such suckage it was laughable. Pretty sure, davidmn traveled through mountains of snow to get there and them BAM! CANCELLED!

I remember that. Lindsey got a lot of flack for that. They announced it on my radio station here in Ohio. I think he even got sick or something not too long after that show and some people were saying it was because of the stress from that whole affair.

The thread is still here somewhere and I recall David expressing that he had seen how the venue people were acting towards LB and that LB wasn't the diva.

[Dodfather]

Originally Posted by BTFLCHLD

I keep thinking of davidmn and the showgoers for that back-east show, where Lindsey didn't like the sound of the venue during sound check and stomped out saying the venue mgr was a bitch (rightly so!) and she saying he was a DIVA! not a DIVO but a DIVA! such suckage it was laughable. Pretty sure, davidmn traveled through mountains of snow to get there and them BAM! CANCELLED!

Originally Posted by Nico

I remember that. Lindsey got a lot of flack for that.

I'm not surprised! That's terrible.

[iamnotafraid]

As far as the Nebraska concert at the Rococo Theatre
goes, lets just say that the theatre manager/director saw
things from a different perspective. She knew of my
relationship with other venues and confided in me of
just how Lindsey acted that day. As I don't remember
her exact words, I'll just say he was very unpleasant.
And even though I've been lucky enough to find out
how nice Lindsey can be (to fans anyway), even the
most ardent fan can see how Lindsey can be rude,
or a jerk to put it mildly. It's just his personality.
And I say that as a huge fan of his music.

Since it was such a small theatre to begin with,
I always thought how cool/nice it would have been
if he'd of just showed up one night in the area and
played a few of the local bar or hangouts. Just him
and the guitar. Maybe announce it a day before on
that new thing called the internet. Very little expense
to him, and a lot of happy fans.

Same type of suggestion for the U.K. fans. Make it
a family vacation for Lindsey and the bride, three
children and two guitars. Call it the Really Small Machine
Tour. Hit a few pubs, just play to the fans. No work
visa required.

[Sahara]

Originally Posted by Miranda24

Hi Guys! Just felt the need to make a post and clear some things up since a lot of people on here seem to be confused. The postponement happened pretty last minute. As of the Wednesday before (the guys were supposed to head to UK on that Sunday), Neale was still hoping he could pull it all off. He was advised by his doctor that under no circumstances was that a good idea and no one wanted him to have any sort of set back and be away from a specialist. Before the postponement was announced a day or two later, dates were already in the works to be rescheduled. Lindsey wouldn't have had time to find a replacement and trust them to learn all the music in time for the UK shows to start, and as far as everyone was concerned, Neale would have the operation, recover and be able to attend the rescheduled dates. That was the plan. Recently, it was found that there is no way to reschedule all of the dates. The December dates were already in the works in July, so that's nearly six months ago. I'm sure this wasn't anybody's first choice and I don't see how things were handled unprofessionally from LB's end. The only thing that LB did was say to his friend, "Get better and we'll reschedule." I can say first hand that I know there is no FM tour being planned for next year and that there isn't anything fishy going on. LB's management has been trying to handle this series of events with what little time notice they had. The cancellation is pricey. The equipment was already shipped over and venues have fines for postponing, and even heavier fines for canceling. I'm so sorry for all of you had tickets bought, made travel arrangements and were looking forward to Lindsey's first trip "across the pond." I'm surprised LB's website hasn't been updated yet (that is my only complaint for how it's been handled), but I wouldn't be surprised to see a statement from LB in the future. Again, I'm sorry to those of you who are disappointed, but I can promise you that no one saw this coming. I'm not sure if this clears anything up for anyone, but I'm trying. Here's to a happier, healthier 2012 and hopes that they'll make their way over there soon!

Many thanks for posting this - you were under no obligation to do so and it's very generous of you to give us an insight into how things developed. I really hope that LB isn't discouraged from adding a UK / Ireland leg to his next solo tour!

As always, please pass on our regards to all the boys and especially to Neale. Will be thinking of you guys over Christmas and praying for his speedy recovery!

[Sahara]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

That being said, why doesn't Lindsey just go on with these shows in a solo acoustic format? Or somehow work out new single-guitar arrangements for the rest of the band songs? Or, at the very worst, play live against a backing track (kinda like Stevie does with "For What It's Worth")? A huge chunk of the setlist is solo acoustic anyway, so we really are talking about a dozen or so songs that would need to be re-tooled slightly. After playing for so many years in Fleetwood Mac without a second guitarist, he should be very comfortable with being the sole guitarist. And, as before in the olden days, he could get a guitar tech to strum the rhythm part on GYOW. I respect Lindsey's decision, but I can't help but think that this tour could have still gone ahead without Neale.

I'm not very knowledgeable about composing or performing music, but this doesn't sound at all realistic to me. What an awful lot of pressure on Lindsey to completely reconfigure three quarters of a setlist in the space of only a few days!

Certainly, it would be an incredible, rare treat for us fans to see a completely solo / acoustic set, and nobody's better qualified than LB to get incredible, rich sound out of a single guitar. But not every song is built to work acoustically - what would an acoustic Tusk or an acoustic I'm So Afraid sound like? Magic for us die-hards, perhaps, but not what most of the audience paid to hear, I imagine, and I know LB wouldn't perform material he wasn't completely comfortable with.

Just my €0.02 (out of the €570 I'll be refunded over the next few days ... I don't even want the money back, I just want my LB back! )