Charlottesville, VA March 15, 2015

[michelej1]

The Daily Progress, March 13, 2015

http://www.dailyprogress.com/enterta...ebd4afbfa.html

The five stars who made loving Fleetwood Mac fun bring the magic to JPJ Arena show

By Mary Alice Blackwell

Like the proverbial phoenix, Fleetwood Mac continues to soar on the wings of its own snow-white doves.

Plural “doves,” because the parts of the sum are equally talented and successful as individuals. But, oh, when they reunite, as they have on rare but much-anticipated occasions, Fleetwood Mac is, as Newsday wrote, still magical.

“Between [Lindsey] Buckingham’s epic guitar solos, Mick Fleetwood’s massive drumming, John McVie’s strong bass work, [Stevie] Nicks’ patented spins to punctuate the lovely ‘Gypsy’ and Christine McVie’s lush vocals, Fleetwood Mac looked ready to take on what Buckingham has called ‘the next chapter.’ ’’

Those chapters continue to grow and change, but the story has remained constant.

Out of angst, through makeups and breakups, trials and tribulations, the band that recorded one of the best-selling albums of all time is still as relevant today as it was more than 30 years ago.

How else can you account for the list of sold-out arenas — and it’s not a cheap ticket by any means — during the band’s new “On with the Show” tour?

Charlottesville’s 8 p.m. Sunday show was a late addition to the second leg of the 68-date tour across the U.S. and Canada.

But even when elements are in synch, the unexpected can arise. An unspecified illness forced the postponement of Wednesday’s concert in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Thursday’s performance in Oklahoma City. Both shows, however, will go on later in April.

One hopes all will be well by Sunday.

Many are eager to just be in the room to hear the songs that have been the soundtrack to so many lives — from proms to weddings to even a presidential election.

“Don’t Stop,” a 1977 song that went to No. 3 on the charts, became the anthem that Bill Clinton rode to the White House. It was written by Christine McVie. For the band, it was a time filled with rumors and some damn good music. The McVie were ending their marriage, Buckingham and Nicks were in the midst of a breakup and Mick Fleetwood was in the process of going through a divorce.

They could break the chain, but they recorded what turned out to be one of the best-selling “Rumors” of all time.

Although the band had disbanded by the time Clinton took the White House, it is hard to say no to the president of the United States. He persuaded the musicians to reunite for one performance — his inaugural ball in 1993.

It wouldn’t be the last time.

Although couples no more — and quite often, there were signs of antagonism off the stage, if not on — the band members went out on tour for the 20th anniversary of “Rumors.”

The reunion brought them as close as the newly built Nissan Pavilion in Bristow. It was the mid-’90s. Fleetwood pounded the drums with a vengeance as the band of musicians harmonized to perfection through two and half hours of their classic hits — songs like “Tusk,” “Big Love” and “Go Your Own Way.”

And they did.

Each drove off waving from the windows of a separate limo.

Christine McVie left the band in 1997.

Two years ago, Nicks told a Rolling Stone reporter that there was “more a chance of an asteroid hitting the Earth” than having Christine McVie and the band back together.

But, maybe, you really can’t break the chains.

After 16 years, 71-year-old McVie agreed to go “On with the Show.” The cost of tickets for the 2015 tour soared. While there have been several incarnations of the band, some substitute players, some new and different bands and some solo projects, there is really only one Fleetwood Mac.

We hope they are a successful band of individuals, all healthy, and happy, and harmonizing one more time.