was Rhiannon sometime banned at concerts?

[Villavic]

We the FM fans sometimes complain of listening the same hits at concerts (Rhiannon, GYOW, The Chain). But reading the last pages of Mick's book, I found this curious info. Not only says they didn't played Rhiannon (hard to believe) but that Stevie didn't let them play it (was he confused with Sara?).
This probably was written on early 1990, before releasing Behind the Mask.

Christine McVie is as great as ever. Right now she's working on her songs for our next record, Behind the Mask, and thinking up blissful new ways to say she loves us. The healer's daughter will always be my sister and inspiration.

Stevie Nicks? Better than ever, in my opinion. (Although she doesn't let us play "Rhiannon" in concert anymore.) Not long ago, she told me: "Sometimes I think I should go back to being a waitress; maybe I would enjoy life more. " She's still writing great songs, one of the major stars of our era.

And I'm most happy to say we're friends with Lindsey again. He came to the wedding when Sara and I married under a marquee outside our house in Malibu in the spring of 1988. Later that year we dedicated Fleetwood Mac Greatest Hits to him, with much love.

John McVie is still my closest friend. He and Julie had a daughter, Molly McVie, in March 1989, which served to mellow the once-wicked McVie, who is now sober, funny, and still a hell of a bass player. His spare time is devoted to the majestic Challenger, his sixty-three-foot Sparkman and Stevens sloop.

Richard Dashut is currently producing Lindsey Buckingham's next album.

It is hard to believe Stevie was better than ever in 1990. And it would be interesting to know the context around the desire of being a waitress again (cause it's another hard to believe she truly thought that).

[MacShadowsBall]

First of all...Is Mick's book still available somewhere? It does seem like a great read.

I don' think "Rhiannon" and "Sara" were played on the Tango/BTM tours. I guess they were both "retired". Actually was Sara even played during the Dance tour? Strange though the BTM tour seemed to focus a lot on TITN songs.

In theory, the longer a band exist, the more new songs get added to the tours and older ones get retired.

[mylittledemon]

First of all...Is Mick's book still available somewhere? It does seem like a great read.


There's always ebay. And there's plenty of em there. Here's a cheap PB version

http://cgi.ebay.com/My-25-Years-Fleetwood-Mac-Mick-Fleetwood-PB-NEW-/400179552437?pt=US_Nonfiction_Book&hash=item5d2c8f60b5

[nailatixela]

Rhiannon was rarely played on the TITN tour. When it was, I believe it was only at the very beginning of the tour. It was dropped, along with Gypsy (which went out even quicker, I believe)...and I believe Sara too. You can check setlists in my trading page in my signature if you are curious.

[joe]

There was a radio show back then in which Stevie said "it wouldn't be fair to burn her (Rhiannon) out so (paraphrasing this part) we stagger Rhiannon. We do it on one tour and not the next." Pretty sure this was around 1989 or 1990 as I remember them not playing in LA on the Tango tour when i saw them in December and she didn't do it at all on the OSOTM tour when I saw her.

I can't recall what the question or context was in which she was explaining that, though. Maybe someone else here remembers? But I'm pretty positive I taped that broadcast. It's on a tape in a box. Please don't make me drag it out lol.

[jmn3]

There was a radio show back then in which Stevie said "it wouldn't be fair to burn her (Rhiannon) out so (paraphrasing this part) we stagger Rhiannon. We do it on one tour and not the next." Pretty sure this was around 1989 or 1990 as I remember them not playing in LA on the Tango tour when i saw them in December and she didn't do it at all on the OSOTM tour when I saw her.

LOL...oh Stevie and her silly comments. As far as the Mac goes, other than the Tango Tour, Rhiannon has been played on every tour since 1975. It's right up there in the burned out Fleetwood Mac warhorses!

Rhiannon and Gypsy were played very early on in 1987 and dropped shortly thereafter. Actually, Stevie's songs on the 1987-88 tour were probably her biggest changes to a Fleetwood Mac set ever. She dropped Rhiannon, Sara, Landslide, Sisters of the Moon (all mainstays of the previous FM tours), Gypsy, brought two solo songs in with HAEWAFY and Stand Back for the first time, and brought back Gold Dust Woman for the first time since the Rumours Tour.

Sara, if I'm not mistaken, was brought out for some of the European shows in 1988, never to be heard from again until the second leg of the Say You Will Tour in 2004.

[Villavic]

LOL...oh Stevie and her silly comments. As far as the Mac goes, other than the Tango Tour, Rhiannon has been played on every tour since 1975. It's right up there in the burned out Fleetwood Mac warhorses!

I agree. I remember I read somewhere (I thought it was the Enchanted boxset book but no) Stevie said "Yes, Rhiannon. Always Rhiannon"

That's why my concern was how Mick said the "anymore":
she doesn't let us play "Rhiannon" in concert anymore

[windbecame]

Rhiannon was dropped after about a month in 87, and not played at all on the other side of the mirror tour in 89. she would occasionally sing or speak a line while talking to the audience in 89. but it was not done then... it's not on ANY bootleg either. oh and JOE that quote you have is from the In The Studio radio shows with Redbeard...

[PenguinHead]

I was actually thrilled that she gave Rhiannon a rest! It showed me that she didn't have to be a slave to certain songs, and that there were no fan revolts or riots as a result!

I was not thrilled when she brought in solo album songs instead, which really started to blur the lines. I wish she would have added some other of her Fleetwood Mac songs that have never been performed. She had plenty to choose from.

I'm still not happy that Stand Back has become a Fleetwood Mac staple.

[MacShadowsBall]

I'm still not happy that Stand Back has become a Fleetwood Mac staple.

I agree! The Fleetwood Mac setlist should all be Fleetwood Mac songs. No solo songs!

I was surprised that "Sara" had such a long stretch of inactivity in the setlist. I remember Stevie saying on her Soundstage DVD where she performed "Sara" that usually she doesn't do "Sara" solo, as she always considered it a Fleetwood Mac staple.

[Villavic]

I remember Stevie saying on her Soundstage DVD where she performed "Sara" that usually she doesn't do "Sara" solo, as she always considered it a Fleetwood Mac staple.

Yes, Sara was played just during the Bella Donna and Rock a Littel tours.

But that makes no sense. What defines an exclusive Mac staple? Sara is, but Dreams, GDW and Rhiannon are not? Why? a story behind the song? I don't get it.

[MacShadowsBall]

That's kinda like Gypsy. It was a staple on Stevie's first solo shows then seemed to disappear for a very long time. From what I understand, she doesn't do Gypsy solo now, but it's a staple in Fleetwood Mac's setlist.

But like you said Villavic, what determines a song to be a Fleetwood Mac staple and can a song be "un-stapled"? :shrug: