New Interview: Mick Fleetwood puts rumours of the band's hedonism to bed

[vivfox]

Sunday October 25 2009

IF one band summed up the hedonistic eighties more than any other, it was Fleetwood Mac.

Now founder member Mick Fleetwood admits that it was early to bed on Friday night in Dublin in advance of their two gigs at the 02 Arena.

He's a little shamefaced to say that he had dinner at his hotel with his sister, who travelled over from Cornwall with a mutual friend.

"A lovely quiet evening. The old hedonism sometimes rears its head when I discover I've had too much wine but these days we are all very well- behaved. It's one glass of wine and five glasses of water."

The band has been exploring Dublin.

"Lindsey (Buckingham) loves walking and loves architecture so he was off exploring the city. He seems to always find his way back to the hotel in time for the gig."

The current tour features Buckingham and Stevie Nicks along with the legendary rhythm section of Fleetwood on drums and John McVie on bass.

Despite their best efforts it proved impossible to lure Christine McVie, writer of some of their biggest hits, out of a self-enforced retirement.

"Christine hates flying, which is something of a impediment when it comes to a world tour. We are still all close to Christine and looking forward to catching up with her in London," he says.

But before that there may be another reunion.

Peter Green, the original creative genius behind Fleetwood Mac during their heydey as one of the most influential British blues bands, is playing the Academy on Monday night with his own band.

"Is Peter playing? Brilliant, it's my night off. I would love to go. When I'm not with Fleetwood Mac I have my own little band playing small venues and we play all of the old stuff that Peter created. I'm so glad you told me that," he added.

Last night's gig at the 02 was a sell-out but there are still tickets left for tonight's concert promoted by MCD.

Mick is convinced that there is another album in the band -- possibly next year.

"We are all up for it but Stevie is a little bit reluctant to commit to a time."

"I truly hope we get it together. It's tough committing to a new album. Stevie works incredibly hard and she is the lady of the band.

"We are trying not to really discuss it yet," he added.

- JEROME REILLY

Sunday Independent

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/mick-fleetwood-puts-rumours-of-the-bands-hedonism-to-bed-1924044.html

[TrueFaith77]

^^^Stevie, do it!!! Puh-leeez!!! Then u have an excuse to go back on tour and make lots of money!!!

[Musicman408]

^^^Stevie, do it!!! Puh-leeez!!! Then u have an excuse to go back on tour and make lots of money!!!

Oh, I'm pretty confident Stevie will decide to do it!!! It's time for some new songs baby!!! :nod:

[gypsy4life]

Stevie will do it, I have complete faith:D

[Dodfather]

[QUOTE=vivfox;849924]

"We are all up for it but Stevie is a little bit reluctant to commit to a time."

[QUOTE]

Why is she so reluctant? I'm a huge fan but that's ridiculous. Unless she's doing another solo album next year (and actually putting it out) then she has no excuse whatsoever for not doing another Mac record.

She says she loves working but her output in the past 8 years has been one greatest hits album, recording a commentary track for her old videos which can't have taken long, 2 small tours and one live dvd (that she admits took just a day to film) and one cd that was re-recordings of 10 songs of her old material. Hardly prolific. So the excuse that she's too busy just won't cut it with me. Lindsey has been far more productive.

[fleetwoodtrick]

This is great! Thanks viv!

Stevie will do it. I have unconditional faith in her. :thumbsup:

[holidayroad]

[QUOTE=vivfox;849924]

"We are all up for it but Stevie is a little bit reluctant to commit to a time."

[QUOTE]

Why is she so reluctant? I'm a huge fan but that's ridiculous. Unless she's doing another solo album next year (and actually putting it out) then she has no excuse whatsoever for not doing another Mac record.

She says she loves working but her output in the past 8 years has been one greatest hits album, recording a commentary track for her old videos which can't have taken long, 2 small tours and one live dvd (that she admits took just a day to film) and one cd that was re-recordings of 10 songs of her old material. Hardly prolific. So the excuse that she's too busy just won't cut it with me. Lindsey has been far more productive.

You're so correct in what you're saying. The only excuse Stevie could get away with at this point is some kind of health issues. Other then that, it is just being plain selfish to prevent the other band members from doing an album they want to do!

[fleetwoodtrick]

[QUOTE=Dodfather;849949][QUOTE=vivfox;849924]

"We are all up for it but Stevie is a little bit reluctant to commit to a time."



You're so correct in what you're saying. The only excuse Stevie could get away with at this point is some kind of health issues. Other then that, it is just being plain selfish to prevent the other band members from doing an album they want to do!

I would to hear LB's point of view on this, if he's interested in putting out material too. (I'm assuming he is haha!)

[michelej1]

See when Mick says things like Christine doesn't want a world tour, that just makes me scream, "Then do a one-off with her in England." If that's not the real reason she's not with the band, then I wish he'd stop suggesting it was, because it can be so easily resolved that it just makes me crazy to keep hearing it.

She doesn't have to tour to be with the band. Mick knows this. Stop saying that's the reason. I'd rather he just said she hates them (or some of them) and at least then I'd feel I could get on with my life.

As for Stevie, she said she and Lindsey fought through the entire SYW production, so she doesn't want to commit, not because she doesn't have the time (hours, days, months), but because she doesn't have the time for that kind of stress.

Michele

[MacMan]

See when Mick says things like Christine doesn't want a world tour, that just makes me scream, "Then do a one-off with her in England."

See when Mick says things like Christine doesn't want a world tour, that just makes me scream, "Then do a one-off with her in England."

Wouldn't that be the coolest thing?... A complete surprise to everyone and a major shot in the arm for the band - not to mention the headlines it would generate. Even if for only one song, and she wouldn't even have to sing the lead... stroll out during Don't Stop or something and just sing on the chorus! I mean holy crap just thinking about that.... I'm mean twice now they will have played London in the last six years or so... and once with Mick's band in the area - and she's not participated - but was there... Obviously, she's done with it - but just the thought of that makes me want to really question what the hell?!

And if it ever happened... Record the damn thing for dvd!

[CADreaming]

As for Stevie, she said she and Lindsey fought through the entire SYW production, so she doesn't want to commit, not because she doesn't have the time (hours, days, months), but because she doesn't have the time for that kind of stress.

Michele

I think this is partly the reason as well - just that she's wanting to keep things positive with him. An excerpt from an interview with Stevie in April:

On Fleetwood Mac's recent tour, which Buckingham has described as "fun" and "drama-free," and Nicks' agreed that the two are in a better spot than in the past...

"Right now, we're trying to be a little more on the high road, but let us go in and do another album, and bang! Back down to the bad, low road go we."

[louielouie2000]

See when Mick says things like Christine doesn't want a world tour, that just makes me scream, "Then do a one-off with her in England." If that's not the real reason she's not with the band, then I wish he'd stop suggesting it was, because it can be so easily resolved that it just makes me crazy to keep hearing it.

She doesn't have to tour to be with the band. Mick knows this. Stop saying that's the reason. I'd rather he just said she hates them (or some of them) and at least then I'd feel I could get on with my life.

As for Stevie, she said she and Lindsey fought through the entire SYW production, so she doesn't want to commit, not because she doesn't have the time (hours, days, months), but because she doesn't have the time for that kind of stress.

Michele

I agree with all that. I think what really happened is Chris just slowed down, saw the person she was for the past 20+ years, didn't like it, and changed. I think she was truly done with all the silly drama, the chasing of elusive fame, being a lady drunk, all of it. If you look at the press kit interviews for In The Meantime, it's almost like a completely different person in every way. Christine looked so different... spoke differently, held her body differently, thought differently. I don't know whether the other band members are in denial about the fact that she was tired of living an immature, self centered, unhealthy life; or if it truly embarrasses them they they are still living it.

As for Stevie, I think she's just bluffing. She didn't care for the boys club mentality and hard edged sound of SYW. She wants to have Lindsey by the balls when it's time to sit down and discuss a new album. I think she feels she didn't have enough power or say so last go round, and she wants to have more steering control this time. The more time goes on, the more I suspect we will indeed get that Mac album. It seems everybody went into the SYW project happy, but left unhappy. And this time, everybody is going to go into it unhappy, and maybe that will make for great art, like Rumours and Tango. I guess we'll see...

[BellaDonna93]

When I read this article, that BIG smile came to my face...
To hear these things about a new record from Mick this time is soo exciting and now we know that this wasn't only what Stevie said :) But now Mick says that Stevie is reluctant...and we all know iit's just because of what happened between her and LB during the SYW making...but why???? Why does she think that it will happen again??? Can't they just go in there and say "Well, let's have a great time this time and enjoy the making of this record!" When this is what Stevie think will happen it's up to her and LB to not make it happen again! I sooo wish they were best friends, lol!

But now we'll just wait 'til January and see what will happen! Hope there'll be a new record, 'cause it seems very possible right now :) :)

[GypsyBlueEyes]

I'm so excited about this! Stevie will do it...I have no doubt in my mind. I, too, have complete faith in her. :nod:

[BellaDonna93]

I'm so excited about this! Stevie will do it...I have no doubt in my mind. I, too, have complete faith in her. :nod:

Yeah, go Stevie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ulpian]

See when Mick says things like Christine doesn't want a world tour, that just makes me scream, "Then do a one-off with her in England." If that's not the real reason she's not with the band, then I wish he'd stop suggesting it was, because it can be so easily resolved that it just makes me crazy to keep hearing it.

She doesn't have to tour to be with the band. Mick knows this. Stop saying that's the reason. I'd rather he just said she hates them (or some of them) and at least then I'd feel I could get on with my life.

As for Stevie, she said she and Lindsey fought through the entire SYW production, so she doesn't want to commit, not because she doesn't have the time (hours, days, months), but because she doesn't have the time for that kind of stress.

Michele


It's also the stage fright with Chris, though. I remember a radio interview she did in 2004 where she said if anyone asked her to play live in front of an audience now she'd "have a heart attack". It's the touring/flying, to be sure, but it's also the nerves and the build-up. I certainly don't think she hates any of them, but she left them behind and changed her life because she knew that if she stayed in LA, around the same people all her life, she'd constantly be sucked back into a life she was tired of.

[billwebster]

A new Fleetwood Mac album surely would be a nice idea, but at the time I'd actually prefer a new Stevie solo album and a new Lindsey solo album. Why? Not enough new Stevie songs have come out in recent years, so she deserves to have a full album length for her songs. And Lindsey has been on a roll lately with his solo songs usually turning out great. So he'd better get a full album's length of material, too.

A follow-up to Christine's "In the Meantime", a really piano heavy one, would be very much appreciated as well. But with the label she was on, Sanctuary Records, having gone under a few years ago, we might not know who would want to put out something like that.
I'm pretty sure that a lot of indie labels would jump at the chance of a Christine McVie album, though, like for example, Hypertension Music, who put out a lot of Rick Vito's solo albums to date.

[Nikolaj]

Unless I'm wrong, it's been a ton more than "two small tours" that Stevie's done solo since the SYW tour. She's toured way too much, some might say. I count four solo tours, since SYW- my favorite was the too brief 'Two Voices' tour, gosh, what a concert that was. To hear SN singing 'Hotel California' and the 2 other Henley ('New York Minute' and 'Last Worthless Evening') tunes was chilling, her voice was astonishingly good.
I'm so thankful I got to see one of those shows, which also had her singing 'So You Wanna Be A Rock and Roll Star' and 'Leather and Lace' with Don. True, I could have lived without Don's parts on 'Gold Dust Woman' but for Stevie, I think that tour was her most adventurous since 'Enchanted'. I believe there were only 12 'Two Voices' shows in total with Henley before he 'remembered' he had to go tour with The Eagles, after which it turned into a Stevie solo tour.
In fact, I think there has only been one year that Stevie has not toured at all, since 2003. She's a total road warrior. There were also Vegas gigs in the mid-2000s that she took some time with to make a few changes, which after a couple of years got filmed for The Soundstage dvd.
I agree, her output of new material has been very small, but in part, that's because she tours when she could have been in the recording studio.

[Erin]

.
In fact, I think there has only been one year that Stevie has not toured at all, since 2003. She's a total road warrior. There were also Vegas gigs in the mid-2000s that she took some time with to make a few changes, which after a couple of years got filmed for The Soundstage dvd.
I agree, her output of new material has been very small, but in part, that's because she tours when she could have been in the recording studio.

You're right. I've seen either Fleetwood Mac, Stevie solo, or Lindsey solo every year since 2003. It will be weird if nobody tours next year, but hopefully for a good cause like a new album and/or my checking account!:laugh:

[BellaDonna93]

You're right. I've seen either Fleetwood Mac, Stevie solo, or Lindsey solo every year since 2003. It will be weird if nobody tours next year, but hopefully for a good cause like a new album and/or my checking account!:laugh:

Agreed. They have all been touring almost every year, either solo or with the Mac :thumbsup: And well, an album making is a good excuse for not be touring next year, I think :) But one thing I would LOVE to see is that Stevie go to Europe for her solo tours also!!! Not only the US because she has lots and lots of fans wanting to see her solo here in Europe too! But when/if Fleetwood Mac tours again they have to come here to Sweden again! Can't wait to see them because this time I saw them was the first time and I don't want it to be the last...

[jannieC]

Unless she's doing another solo album next year (and actually putting it out) then she has no excuse whatsoever for not doing another Mac record.




Why does she have to have an excuse? I would love to hear new music from her and from FM, but it's not my decision.

[Fleetwoodmark]

I hope this rings true :)

Lindsey likes architecture?, seems like we have more in common than I thought haha.

[Spikey]

And if Stevie doesn't commit..

She will never get away from the sounds of fans that haunt her, right? :lol:

- Spike