Opening Acts

[Richard B]

Who were your favorite opening acts for a Fleetwood Mac tour?

I really loved Squeeze opening for them on the Behind The Mask Tour. I enjoyed the Cruzados opening for the Shake The Cage Tour (TITN).

And for Stevie solo (The Wild Heart Tour), Joe Walsh rocked it.

[David]

Who were your favorite opening acts for a Fleetwood Mac tour?

I really loved Squeeze opening for them on the Behind The Mask Tour. I enjoyed the Cruzados opening for the Shake The Cage Tour (TITN).

And for Stevie solo, Joe Walsh rocked it.The only opening acts I ever liked for Fleetwood were Squeeze, as you say, & T-Bone Burnette back in San Antonio (who was like Lindsey Buckingham that year). Squeeze was just a great pop-rock band, the kind of quality in pop-rock that Fleetwood Mac also aspired to & generally reached in those days. Both bands were critics' pets in their heyday. In fact, Squeeze was a hell of a lot more interesting as a pop band by 1990 than Fleetwood Mac was. There was more rich idiosyncrasy in Squeeze's 40-minute set than in the whole two-hour Fleetwood Mac set, which lumbered along like an elephant crossing the Pyrenees. Slow & steady did not win the race that night.

There were some opening acts that I *would* have liked had I seen a concert with them -- like Bob Welch -- but Bob didn't open for Fleetwood in California. The 1978 summer tour he opened for the band didn't ever hit CA, oddly & unfortunately, but he opened for them in Dallas & Philadelphia & Cleveland & Buffalo & several other big stadiums.

In Stevie's case, I really liked John Stewart (who cracked on opening night I believe about Stevie & her broomstick), but that's about all. The others I didn't really care about: Joe Walsh, Peter Frampton, Hooters, the Bon Jovi ripoff in 1991, Darden Smith, etc. Although now that I think about it, I loved hearing a slowed down, sexy "Lowdown" by Boz Scaggs in 1998.

There was another act instead of Frampton who opened for some of the Rock a Little shows back east, but I can't remember who it was. I don't remember its being anyone special at all.

[HomerMcvie]

I left the show with Men at Work, as a new Men at Work fan.
Hey!, I was a kid.:o

[Richard B]

The only opening acts I ever liked for Fleetwood were Squeeze, as you say, & T-Bone Burnette back in San Antonio (who was like Lindsey Buckingham that year). Squeeze was just a great pop-rock band, the kind of quality in pop-rock that Fleetwood Mac also aspired to & generally reached in those days. Both bands were critics' pets in their heyday. In fact, Squeeze was a hell of a lot more interesting as a pop band by 1990 than Fleetwood Mac was. There was more rich idiosyncrasy in Squeeze's 40-minute set than in the whole two-hour Fleetwood Mac set, which lumbered along like an elephant crossing the Pyrenees. Slow & steady did not win the race that night.

There were some opening acts that I *would* have liked had I seen a concert with them -- like Bob Welch -- but Bob didn't open for Fleetwood in California. The 1978 summer tour he opened for the band didn't ever hit CA, oddly & unfortunately, but he opened for them in Dallas & Philadelphia & Cleveland & Buffalo & several other big stadiums.

In Stevie's case, I really liked John Stewart (who cracked on opening night I believe about Stevie & her broomstick), but that's about all. The others I didn't really care about: Joe Walsh, Peter Frampton, Hooters, the Bon Jovi ripoff in 1991, Darden Smith, etc. Although now that I think about it, I loved hearing a slowed down, sexy "Lowdown" by Boz Scaggs in 1998.

There was another act instead of Frampton who opened for some of the Rock a Little shows back east, but I can't remember who it was. I don't remember its being anyone special at all.
I was a too young to see John Stewart for the White-Winged Dove Tour. I like his albums though...although I heard he is a huge a-hole.

Who was the Bon Jovi wannabe? I forgot his name. Boz blows. Frampton failed to entertain. Hooters were horrible.

I think Welch would have been a great opener.

[wondergirl9847]

My favorite was the one on the SYW tour. ;)

[David]

My favorite was the one on the SYW tour. ;)
You mean that 20-man, anonymous-sounding band that played "The Chain"? :laugh: :wavey:

[DavidMn]

Hmm, I wouldnt have minded seeing Christopher Cross on Tusk, but I really enjoyed Boz Scaggs on the Enchanted tour.

[HomerMcvie]

Hmm, I wouldnt have minded seeing Christopher Cross on Tusk, but I really enjoyed Boz Scaggs on the Enchanted tour.
I did, and all I wanted to hear was "Ride Like the Wind". Guess what song he played while I was stuck outside in the concession lines?:shocked:

[DavidMn]

I did, and all I wanted to hear was "Ride Like the Wind". Guess what song he played while I was stuck outside in the concession lines?:shocked:You were at the enchanted show there huh? Well I'm sure you were buying hot chocolate becasue of how friggin cold it was!!! I'm sure you remnember.

[HomerMcvie]

You were at the enchanted show there huh? Well I'm sure you were buying hot chocolate becasue of how friggin cold it was!!! I'm sure you remnember.
I was sick as a dog, and was going to the show with my older cousin. Mom didn't want to let me go, being sick, but I INSISTED that I HAD to go!!!!!!

[DavidMn]

I was sick as a dog, and was going to the show with my older cousin. Mom didn't want to let me go, being sick, but I INSISTED that I HAD to go!!!!!!I'll bet the codl didnt help.:o I remember the Dance show the previous October there the weather was beautiful!! Go figure!! BTW, that place, whatever its called now, is my favorite outdoor venue I've ever been to.:thumbsup:

[David]

I did, and all I wanted to hear was "Ride Like the Wind". Guess what song he played while I was stuck outside in the concession lines?:shocked:Christopher Cross was a bore & a half at the Hollywood Bowl. The only cool thing was that Nicolette Larson came out & sang with his band. She was dressed in a long, flowing dress & her hair was Pre-Raphaelite & she played a tambourine -- so it was a little "Stevie" before Stevie came out. They did do a Nicolette song: Lotta Love.

[goldie]

That would have been cool to see Christopher Cross and Nicolette Larsen as a bonus! I always loved that song Lotta Love.

I really enjoyed Boz Scaggs for Enchanted. I even went out and bought his Greatest Hits soon after and still enjoy it to this day!

[WelshWitchPMD]

My favorite was the one on the SYW tour. ;)

Yeah, that one was my fav too. I have seen a lot and remember none.

[larg]

For me, Jeffrey Gaines on TISL tour has been the only opening act I've seen, but I loved him. I'm now a big fan--I own all his albums and have seen him in concert. :)

Adam

[kenzo]

My favorite opening act for a Fleetwood Mac performance was Fleetwood Mac, when they opened for Crosby Stills and Nash (the Time lineup). Bekka sang Lennon's "Imagine" as a tribute to him that night. This was at Great Woods (now the Tweeter Center) in Mansfield, MA.

About half of the audience left shortly after the Mac left; CSN sounded absolutely horrible. It was a bit sad, really.

[Neb-Maat-Re]

My favorite opening act for a Fleetwood Mac performance was Fleetwood Mac, when they opened for Crosby Stills and Nash (the Time lineup). Bekka sang Lennon's "Imagine" as a tribute to him that night. This was at Great Woods (now the Tweeter Center) in Mansfield, MA.

About half of the audience left shortly after the Mac left; CSN sounded absolutely horrible. It was a bit sad, really.

I find it sad that FM were opening for CSN regardless of how anyone sounded.

I saw FM in Melbourne in 1980 for the Tusk tour. I have no recollection who opened, but the Fleetnotes on FM Legacy say John Paul Young opened in Sydney. I have no reason to believe he didn't open in Melbourne. I have a vague recollection that I saw JPY live once, and that would probably have been then.

I do remember that as we lived in the country some mates and I skived off school for the day to travel down to Melbourne. Unlike my wife who grew up in Melbourne, regularly seeing AC/DC and other bands down at her local pub.

[aleuzzi]

I remember reading somewhere (maybe Mick's book) that The Little River Band, Bob Welch, and The Steve Miller Band each opened at different times for FM during the Rumors tour. Anyone able to confirm this with first-hand, or even second-observations?

[David]

I remember reading somewhere (maybe Mick's book) that The Little River Band, Bob Welch, and The Steve Miller Band each opened at different times for FM during the Rumors tour. Anyone able to confirm this with first-hand, or even second-observations?No, that's true. A bunch of guys opened for Fleetwood in 1977 & 1978:

Firefall
Pink Floyd
Doobies
Gary Wright
Steve Gibbons
Kenny Loggins
Bob Seger
Chick Corea
Stanley Clarke
Bozz Scaggs
Marshall Tucker Band
Arizona
Jimmy Buffett
Sanford Townsend
Santana
Little River Band
Kevin Borich Express
Bob Welch
Steve Miller Band
J. Geils Band
Eddy Money

[David]

I saw FM in Melbourne in 1980 for the Tusk tour.Cool! Did you see the show with the soundboard in circulation? (March 11 I think)

[Miss Vicky]

No, that's true. A bunch of guys opened for Fleetwood in 1977 & 1978:

Firefall
Pink Floyd
Doobies
Gary Wright
Steve Gibbons
Kenny Loggins
Bob Seger
Chick Corea
Stanley Clarke
Bozz Scaggs
Marshall Tucker Band
Arizona
Jimmy Buffett
Sanford Townsend
Santana
Little River Band
Kevin Borich Express
Bob Welch
Steve Miller Band
J. Geils Band
Eddy Money

Your list isn't quite complete. You forgot Walter Egan

[chiliD]

My fave opening acts for Fleetwood Mac were:

Little Feat
Sanford-Townsend Band
Dave Mason
Climax Blues Band
The Cruzados
Danny Douma
Mistress

Christopher Cross was a bore & a half at the Hollywood Bowl. The only cool thing was that Nicolette Larson came out & sang with his band. She was dressed in a long, flowing dress & her hair was Pre-Raphaelite & she played a tambourine -- so it was a little "Stevie" before Stevie came out. They did do a Nicolette song: Lotta Love.

You actually mean they played Nicolette's version of a Neil Young song. And, the extended guitar solo jam at the end of "Ride Like The Wind" was pretty good, too...but, yeah, other than those two things, Christoper Cross was "snooze city".

I also didn't really care for Roger McGuinn's solo acoustic performance as opening act for the Oct 1994 show. If he'd just shut the hell up between the songs and just PLAYED the damned songs, he would've been 100x's better. But he was doing his own one man version of "Storytellers" before there ever WAS a thing...he'd talk for 10 minutes in between each number (the songs would only be 3 minutes long).

[PsychCat]

I was JUST thinking about this very topic the other day.
I thought Joe Walsh totally rocked when he opened for Stevie. We had either first or second for that show so that was all pretty cool.

In all honesty, the only opening act I remember was Livingston Taylor (James' bro) on the Rumours tour in Atlanta. I remember because being as young as I was, as excited as I was at my first concert... let alone FM, I thought this guy would NEVER get off stage! Granted he could have played 5 mins and it would have seemed like an eternity to me. But bless his heart, he was no James Taylor and had quite a job to get thru that night. :o

As our seats were right in front of Lindsey, it seems like that was where LT stood during his set as it was just him and his guitar. I remember the stage was all set for FM .... Mick's set was the first thing I saw when we walked in!! ... and no one was going to be within arms length of Stevie's special mic. :)

[Richard B]

My fave opening acts for Fleetwood Mac were:

The Cruzados

Nice choice. I really enjoy their album After Dark. Not sure it is still in print, but it's worth tracking down.

[chiliD]

Nice choice. I really enjoy their album After Dark. Not sure it is still in print, but it's worth tracking down.

I have both of their albums...great stuff. An interesting trivia item...Tony Marsico, the Cruzados bass player, later became Rick Vito's bass player in the Lucky Devils.

I wonder if they met during that tour, or if Rick already knew Tony and that's how the Cruzados got the opening act gig. :shrug:

[DavidMn]

Everytime I hear Firefall and Fleetwood Mac mentioned in the same sentence, I always think of that stupid poster that used to be all over Ebay!!:lol:

[aleuzzi]

No, that's true. A bunch of guys opened for Fleetwood in 1977 & 1978:

Firefall
Pink Floyd
Doobies
Gary Wright
Steve Gibbons
Kenny Loggins
Bob Seger
Chick Corea
Stanley Clarke
Bozz Scaggs
Marshall Tucker Band
Arizona
Jimmy Buffett
Sanford Townsend
Santana
Little River Band
Kevin Borich Express
Bob Welch
Steve Miller Band
J. Geils Band
Eddy Money

Holy ****, ChicK Corea opened?! All the other names seem compatible, but the thought of his fusion band pumping up some heady jazz groove just doesn't seem like it would get an FM audience primed for MAC's music...Weird.

[no_spoken_word]

No, that's true. A bunch of guys opened for Fleetwood in 1977 & 1978:

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd opened for the Mac? Whoa... I never knew that!

[Neb-Maat-Re]

Cool! Did you see the show with the soundboard in circulation? (March 11 I think)

I don't really remember the day - I always had it in my mind we skipped school on a Friday and then got dressed down by the year co-ordinator the following week.

FM played Melb on March 1,2,3 (Sat, Sun, Mon) then 11 (Yes, bootleg) & 12 (Tue, Wed). As 11 Mar was a Tues I think the answer sadly is "unlikely".

For my own benefit I'll ask 2 of my mates who went. The 4th suffered a breakdown and would now have trouble remembering his name.

Unless my ticket stub is still in my tour book!

[David]

Holy ****, ChicK Corea opened?! All the other names seem compatible, but the thought of his fusion band pumping up some heady jazz groove just doesn't seem like it would get an FM audience primed for MAC's music...Weird.I agree, but it seemed a slightly different circumstance. This was for the May 29 Rock Super Bowl at the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando. A big daylong festival that Fleetwood was headlining, but bunches of other artists played -- possibly even on different stages -- including Corea, Bob Seger, Stanley Clarke & Kenny Loggins.

[David]

Pink Floyd opened for the Mac? Whoa... I never knew that!Again, a slightly different circumstance from the usual headliner/opening act setup.

This was the Day On The Green festival May 7 at Oakland Stadium/Coliseum: with Pink Floyd, the Doobies, Gary Wright, Steve Gibbons & others ... Mac headlined the show in the sense that they were the final act of the festival.

[SteveMacD]

Again, a slightly different circumstance from the usual headliner/opening act setup.

This was the Day On The Green festival May 7 at Oakland Stadium/Coliseum: with Pink Floyd, the Doobies, Gary Wright, Steve Gibbons & others ... Mac headlined the show in the sense that they were the final act of the festival.
Similar to how Streisand "opened" for the Mac during the Clinton inauguration?

[David]

Similar to how Streisand "opened" for the Mac during the Clinton inauguration?Oh, okay. Pink Floyd did NOT open for Fleetwood Mac.

Yeesh, I'd rather go argue what does & does not constitute film noir on my movie forum.

[SteveMacD]

Oh, okay. Pink Floyd did NOT open for Fleetwood Mac.

Yeesh, I'd rather go argue what does & does not constitute film noir on my movie forum.
So, what exactly DOES constitute film noir?

[Rickypt]

Well, I was supposed to see Men At Work (who I loved at the time) open for the Oakland Mirage concert, but FM postponed and when they came back it was Glenn Frey. Snooze.

Joe Walsh was pretty good on the Wild Heart concert, but he played way too long, to stall for Stevie. She didn't come out until 11:10 pm that night. :rolleyes:

I enjoyed Boz Scaggs at the AHI benefit in '98, but it was boring Michael McDonald by the time Stevie got to the Bay Area.

I guess my favorite was the Hooters in '89.

[Richard B]

Joe Walsh was pretty good on the Wild Heart concert, but he played way too long, to stall for Stevie. She didn't come out until 11:10 pm that night. :rolleyes:.
I was at that show too (my first concert at a young age). I didn't think he played too long. Walsh was amazing and really revved up the place. I remember hearing that Stevie wanted everyone to calm down before she came out.

[Richard B]

Who was the Bon Jovi wannabe? I forgot his name.
I just remembered his name: Billy Falcon.
Yawn.

[Rickypt]

I was at that show too (my first concert at a young age). I didn't think he played too long. Walsh was amazing and really revved up the place. I remember hearing that Stevie wanted everyone to calm down before she came out.

He played 1 1/2 hours, which is a bit long for an opening act.

Whatever Stevie's reason, she caused some problems that night. She played well after BART stopped running and there was an article in the paper about how people were stranded. I got in trouble because my parents had dropped me off to see the show with my sister and agreed to come back at 11:30 to pick us up. I couldn't imagine seeing only 20 minutes of the show, so we stayed until midnight, missing SDMHA, Edge, and Rhiannon. And got punished for being 1/2 hour late. I still remember crying the whole way hom. :laugh:

[Richard B]

He played 1 1/2 hours, which is a bit long for an opening act.

Whatever Stevie's reason, she caused some problems that night. She played well after BART stopped running and there was an article in the paper about how people were stranded. I got in trouble because my parents had dropped me off to see the show with my sister and agreed to come back at 11:30 to pick us up. I couldn't imagine seeing only 20 minutes of the show, so we stayed until midnight, missing SDMHA, Edge, and Rhiannon. And got punished for being 1/2 hour late. I still remember crying the whole way hom. :laugh:
What a show it was. Sorry about your BART. I heard about that. Stevie was awesome and she didn't want to end the show...she wanted to keep rocking. She even said something to that effect, but you were probably gone. I loved that the show was late...I felt like a bad ass being a kid and being at this show so late.

Joe Walsh could have played an hour longer for all I cared. He was just amazing. I didn't even know who he was back then. I loved him immediately.

Then again I was 5th row, center stage...so I was blown away.