1976 Stage Backdrop

[Somajoseph]

I've read so many posts covering so many topics, does anyone just love the backdrop used for Mac's 1975-1976 tours? I love the full moon/tree used in the background, it was really dramatic, and perfect for Stevie's showcase, Rhiannon. Any thoughts?

[David]

I've read so many posts covering so many topics, does anyone just love the backdrop used for Mac's 1975-1976 tours? I love the full moon/tree used in the background, it was really dramatic, and perfect for Stevie's showcase, Rhiannon. Any thoughts?I have wondered about this & posted about this a lot in the past. Nobody seems to have much good information about the backdrop, which I think most of us call the Autumn Moon backdrop.

The band seems to have used it throughout the 1975, 1976, 1977 & 1978 tours. Then they did something weird on the Tusk tour. They switched backdrops to a graphic-design rainbowy sort of thing in the U.S. in 1979, but started using a modified Autumn Moon backdrop in some parts of Europe (there are photos on the Web of shows in 1980 with it), & then back to the U.S. & just a big drape backdrop against which they put up some brilliant colored lights & silhouettes of Tony Todaro behind Mick during "Tusk"

Can anyone find those Web photos of the 1980 concerts with the modified Autumn Moon? When I first saw those, my jaw dropped.

[ThePenguin]

I've read so many posts covering so many topics, does anyone just love the backdrop used for Mac's 1975-1976 tours? I love the full moon/tree used in the background, it was really dramatic, and perfect for Stevie's showcase, Rhiannon. Any thoughts?


I think i read somewhere that Chris designed that one. or am i imagining that?

-Lis

[chiliD]

I've read so many posts covering so many topics, does anyone just love the backdrop used for Mac's 1975-1976 tours? I love the full moon/tree used in the background, it was really dramatic, and perfect for Stevie's showcase, Rhiannon. Any thoughts?

I think I read somewhere that they started using that backdrop around 1972 or so...they used it at both shows I saw during the Heroes Are Hard To Find tour in 1974, as well.


...& then back to the U.S. & just a big drape backdrop against which they put up some brilliant colored lights & silhouettes of Tony Todaro behind Mick during "Tusk"

And, at a couple of shows, hid the USC marching band behind it, until they played "Tusk".

[DavidMn]

And I believe the last time they used it was the summer '78 tour right?

[David]

And I believe the last time they used it was the summer '78 tour right?No, read my post. There's a Web site with photos of a show in Europe in 1980 with the Autumn Moon (although it looks a little different from the old days).

Will someone PLEASE dig that up & post the URL? I need to copy-edit some exams.

[chiliD]

And I believe the last time they used it was the summer '78 tour right?


As is. They altered it a bit for a 1980 tour leg...read David's post above.

EDIT: Well, David beat me to it himself. Great minds think alike, I guess. :shrug:

[David]

I think i read somewhere that Chris designed that one. or am i imagining that?Lis, that never occurred to me that Christine was the one who may have designed it. But that makes perfect sense -- who better than Chris to design their backdrop?!

If that dang Q&A with her had ever run, we could have asked her about it.

[DavidMn]

No, read my post. There's a Web site with photos of a show in Europe in 1980 with the Autumn Moon (although it looks a little different from the old days).

Will someone PLEASE dig that up & post the URL? I need to copy-edit some exams.
Oh ok. I missed that. I'd love to see pictures of that myself.

[David]

EDIT: Well, David beat me to it himself. Great minds think alike, I guess. :shrug:We're always on the same page -- even if we never find ourselves in the same Guitar Center at the same time!! :(

[SteveMacD]

Great minds think alike
Yeah, but so do bargain shoppers.

[chiliD]

Yeah, but so do bargain shoppers.

Nope...one small difference:

"Great Minds" THINK alike..."Bargain Shoppers" ACT alike.

[Somajoseph]

Thanks for the info everyone. I wish they would have used it for all of the Tusk Tour.
I saw 3 shows on that tour, the LA Forum on Dec 6th, 1979 and the last 2 shows at the Hollywood Bowl, and they didnt use it at either of those.

Joseph

[Jyqm]

Thanks for the info everyone. I wish they would have used it for all of the Tusk Tour.
I saw 3 shows on that tour, the LA Forum on Dec 6th, 1979 and the last 2 shows at the Hollywood Bowl, and they didnt use it at either of those.

Joseph

I think they were concerned because some fans complained that they weren't mixing up their sets enough...

[chiliD]

I saw 3 shows on that tour, the LA Forum on Dec 6th, 1979 and the last 2 shows at the Hollywood Bowl...

So, you were stalking me? :laugh: :lol: Those are the shows *I* was at, too.


Oops, no, wait, check that...I was at both the Dec 4th & 5th shows, not the 6th...the 5th being the only night of the 5 night Forum stand that the USC Marching Band showed up (and the only time I've seen John McVie just TOTALLY bored on stage...let out one of the biggest yawns I've ever seen anybody do, during "Dreams")

But, I was at both nights of the Hollywood Bowl. The final night was a crack up when Mick started into "Think About Me" before the other four were ready. Christine really gave it to him for that.

[Richard B]

Oddly enough before I got into FM, my Gothic/Fantasy/Sci-Fi Literature class teacher had a poster of this moon backdrop hanging in his classroom. It was just the backdrop and said FM at the bottom...no band members in the pic. I'd always stare at it in class wondering who is this FM. Who would have thought that just a few years later I would become possesed by the their music in a big way.

He was a cool teacher and the lit class was pretty awesome.

[SteveMacD]

I think I read somewhere that they started using that backdrop around 1972 or so...they used it at both shows I saw during the Heroes Are Hard To Find tour in 1974, as well.
Well how DARE they use the "Bare Trees" backdrop after Bob Welch was out of the band. Clearly they were trying to be the "Bare Trees" band. It's bad enough that they did "Station Man," "Spare Me A Little," "Why," and "Hypnotized," but they also used the same back drop??? What a bunch of wannabes.

(Okay, now you "Rumours"-only fans see just how silly some of the comments you've been known to make about the '87-'95 incarnations really are. :nod: )

[HomerMcvie]

Well how DARE they use the "Bare Trees" backdrop after Bob Welch was out of the band. Clearly they were trying to be the "Bare Trees" band. It's bad enough that they did "Station Man," "Spare Me A Little," "Why," and "Hypnotized," but they also used the same back drop??? What a bunch of wannabes.

(Okay, now you "Rumours"-only fans see just how silly some of the comments you've been known to make about the '87-'95 incarnations really are. :nod: )
No Steve, they still won't see it..... the sun will always rise and set in "you know who's" wazoo.... :lol:

[David]

I found a photo from the Detroit May 1980 concert with the Autumn Moon backdrop: <img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/cbrook/DetroitMay1980.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

Compare that with the February 1977 tour rehearsal backdrop:
<img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/cbrook/February1977Rehearsal.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

It's that old Autumn Moon
That you stole from the sky . . .

[ragandbone]

...it's that old Devil Moon, in your eye"

(I had the Broadway cast album w/ Ella Logan)

[skcin]

David,

Thank God you discovered Photobucket. These pics are incredible. :xoxo:

[JazmenFlowers]

I found a photo from the Detroit May 1980 concert with the Autumn Moon backdrop: <img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/cbrook/DetroitMay1980.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

Compare that with the February 1977 tour rehearsal backdrop:
<img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/cbrook/February1977Rehearsal.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

It's that old Autumn Moon
That you stole from the sky . . .

and stevie in pants :eek:

[jbrownsjr]

We're always on the same page -- even if we never find ourselves in the same Guitar Center at the same time!! :(

which one do you guys go to?

[jbrownsjr]

I found a photo from the Detroit May 1980 concert with the Autumn Moon backdrop: <img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/cbrook/DetroitMay1980.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

Compare that with the February 1977 tour rehearsal backdrop:
<img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b298/cbrook/February1977Rehearsal.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

It's that old Autumn Moon
That you stole from the sky . . .


wow i never saw these!!

wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :blob2:

[David]

which one do you guys go to?We used to go to the one in Fountain Valley (?) or Costa Mesa -- the one just off the 405.

I occasionally go to the one in Brea still.

[chiliD]

We used to go to the one in Fountain Valley (?) or Costa Mesa -- the one just off the 405.

I occasionally go to the one in Brea still.


Fountain Valley...the 405 @ Euclid Ave.

That Brea store, even though it is closer to my house, is a mess...they don't have the decent Fender & Gibson guitars within reach; they're hanging 30 feet up the wall...just Squiers & Epiphones. All the pimply-faced Metallica wannabes trying out those $99 guitars through those modeling amps cranked all the way up, right there on the sales floor...hell, if I were a Guitar Center employee, I'd BEG those kids to play "Stairway To Heaven" & "Smoke On The Water". At least the Mars Music over in the Block used to have "demo rooms" where they'd wheel in any amp or FX rack you wanted to try and you could mess with 'em for as long as you wanted...without the "hard sell" salesman breathin' down your neck. I like the Hollywood Guitar Center...they have the up-scale model guitars available for noodling with without salesman intervention.

Last time I went to a Sam Ash there on Beach Blvd, there wasn't a Gibson to be FOUND in the place. And, their Fender selection was piss-poor.

[David]

At least the Mars Music over in the Block used to have "demo rooms" where they'd wheel in any amp or FX rack you wanted to try and you could mess with 'em for as long as you wanted...without the "hard sell" salesman breathin' down your neck.I loved that Mars Music. I was so sorry to see that place close. But not before I got a closing discount on a bunch of Yamaha PC speakers!

[HomerMcvie]

Last time I went to a Sam Ash there on Beach Blvd, there wasn't a Gibson to be FOUND in the place. And, their Fender selection was piss-poor.
Sam Ash sucks Ass! I used to buy all my audio through Thoroughbred Music, in FL. They got bought out by Sam Ash, and went to hell in a handbasket.
They'll match anyone's price, but they don't STOCK anything. "Yeah, we'll match their price, but we'll have to order it for you.....it might take a few weeks". Buh bye.
Most mail order stuff now, I either do American Musical, or Musician's Friend.

[SteveMacD]

I actually went to a Thoroughbred Music in the Sarasota area. That place kicked ass. I'm sorry it was bought out by a rather lame chain. There's a Sam Ash in Columbus that I used to go to when I was in grad school. God, what a depressing store.