Fleetwood Mac: The Definitive History?

[SortaSavageLike]

Was on my way out the door at Barnes & Noble today when I came across a new large-format hardcover book titled (I think) Fleetwood Mac: The Definitive History, that I'd never heard anyone mention before. I didn't have time to stop and look, but the cover picture was that famous White Album group picture with John sitting down with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, and Stevie in her top hat looking stoned out of her mind. I haven't heard anyone mention such a book in the works these last few months, and I'm wondering if it's even an authorized work.

Ahh, here it is:
http://www.amazon.com/Fleetwood-Mac-Definitive-Mike-Evans/dp/1402786301/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317331229&sr=8-1

Eagerly awaiting everyone on this forum tearing it to shreds for flimsily-supported conjecture and chronological goofs! :lol:

[chele_belle]

I have it - I got it a week or so ago. It's actually a really nice looking, quality book for the £10 it cost. It's basically a reference book for all the albums, with stats and the usual stories. Even though there's nothing new in it, I'd say it's well worth getting, if only for the prettiness of it all.

[beccamorrisfift]

This sounds interesting, gonna get it from my local library and take a gander :D

[DeeGeMe]

I've ordered it from Amazon (along with a new book on The Eagles by Ben Fong-Torres) and they are supposed to be delivered tomorow so waiting...:rolleyes:

[MacFan92]

I saw this in Barnes & Noble today too! I was browsing the bottom shelf of the Music section and when I looked up I was face-to-face with Stevie's picture on the book's spine lol. I browsed it, but didn't buy it. It looks really nice. I think I might buy it for my Mom for Christmas.

[Blueletter18]

I've ordered it from Amazon (along with a new book on The Eagles by Ben Fong-Torres) and they are supposed to be delivered tomorow so waiting...:rolleyes:

Those are both on my wish list on Amazon!! Can't wait to read them! (I'm a college student, so yeah...can't really justify buying them unless I work extra hours).

[MacFan92]

Those are both on my wish list on Amazon!! Can't wait to read them! (I'm a college student, so yeah...can't really justify buying them unless I work extra hours).

Where do you go to college at?

[jellyman10]

Yeah, I got it about a week ago too. It's OK. Nothing new or earth-shattering in there. A few factual howlers, my favourite being that it refers to Don Henley as a guitarist twice. The really jaw-dropping thing is the author's credits include having written a book about The Eagles, ffs.

[Blueletter18]

Where do you go to college at?

Aquinas College- haha it's really small, you've probably never heard of it.

[MacFan92]

Aquinas College- haha it's really small, you've probably never heard of it.

Nope. I go to Saginaw Valley State so I was just curious.

[skuncles]

Didn't see this posted anywhere yet, but there is a new book out now called The Definitive History of Fleetwood Mac by Mike Evans. It's like a coffee table book loaded with full color photos and traces the bands history album by album from the beginning up thru the Unleashed tour.
Nicely done!


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1402786301/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_g14_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1RJ6KHN7MZP5SPEM3PEV&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

[Silver Springs]

I know what's going onto my Christmas List this year :p

Although, as much as I want the book, as an artist I have to admit that the front cover is pretty piss poor photoshop. It's like "layering for fourteen year old girls".

[london]

Thanks for posting this! My local Barnes & Noble has it in stock. :)

[michelej1]

Although, as much as I want the book, as an artist I have to admit that the front cover is pretty piss poor photoshop. It's like "layering for fourteen year old girls".[/COLOR]

Why mess up a perfectly lovely picture with that floral tapestry background?

Michele

[beccamorrisfift]

It's only a tenner !
I think I'm gonna have to buy this.

[Silver Springs]

Why mess up a perfectly lovely picture with that floral tapestry background?

Michele

I don't know but they succeeded in making it look very cheap. As though it were attacked with Coffee and a Doily. If they were going for an aged, "stained" effect, as though it had been forgotten amongst papers on a coffee table, there are far better ways for them to have gone about it. The plain white background (of course with the picture intact) and the simple coffee ring is a classic for a reason. Whack a little information into the ring and it's an instantly classic style.

[gypsy4life]

I can feel my wallet getting thinner.....lol....gotta get it

[mylittledemon]

does anyone own it yet? would love to see some of the pics

[michelej1]

does anyone own it yet? would love to see some of the pics

I put it on my list. I wonder if any of the pictures are some we haven't seen.

Michele

[mylittledemon]

Yeah I've always wanted to see more Dance-era stuff from Neal Preston.

A few years back...maybe 2007 he and I had a conversation on the telephone. He told me he took the infamous photo of Freddie Mercury that's used for their live at Wembley Stadium concert. Anyway... he said he had hundreds of pics from "The Dance" for the album shoot and the live taping. I was all set to buy some 11x17 prints from him (he quoted me $350-500 ea) and then he just bailed on the whole thing. Stopped calling me back, stopped emailing me. It was weird. :lol:

[bangdrum]

I sat down and looked through it in Barnes & Noble the other day. (Wasn't going to buy it because it was $29.99. :distress:)

I'm not a picture expert, but I don't think there was anything much new as far as newer pictures (like post-Mirage). Some of the older ones might have been rarer.

[gldstwmn]

Yeah I've always wanted to see more Dance-era stuff from Neal Preston.

A few years back...maybe 2007 he and I had a conversation on the telephone. He told me he took the infamous photo of Freddie Mercury that's used for their live at Wembley Stadium concert. Anyway... he said he had hundreds of pics from "The Dance" for the album shoot and the live taping. I was all set to buy some 11x17 prints from him (he quoted me $350-500 ea) and then he just bailed on the whole thing. Stopped calling me back, stopped emailing me. It was weird. :lol:

I thought David LaChapelle did the cover photo for The Dance? I wonder if there was more than one?

[skuncles]

I picked it up today. There isn't really anything new in it as far as pictures go, but there are a TON. Reading thru it quickly I saw it mention that "Rock A Little" was supposed to be called "Mirror Mirror" but Stevie and Jimmy Iovine dropped that concept. The book sort of reminds me a bit of Mick's "My Twenty Five Years In Fleetwood Mac" book from awhile ago. Just lots of pictures and the history of the band in an oversized book. There are photos on every page, albums, tour books, promo photos etc.

[mylittledemon]

I thought David LaChapelle did the cover photo for The Dance? I wonder if there was more than one?

I'm not sure... just remembering what Preston told me. Our deal was that i'd buy a minimum of 3-4 prints from him. I guess he just got too busy for a small timer like me... ;)

[darklinensuit]

I picked it up today. There isn't really anything new in it as far as pictures go, but there are a TON. Reading thru it quickly I saw it mention that "Rock A Little" was supposed to be called "Mirror Mirror" but Stevie and Jimmy Iovine dropped that concept. The book sort of reminds me a bit of Mick's "My Twenty Five Years In Fleetwood Mac" book from awhile ago. Just lots of pictures and the history of the band in an oversized book. There are photos on every page, albums, tour books, promo photos etc.

I was just about to ask, How exactly does it compare to Mick's book? I imagine there are fewer words scratched out & revised? :rolleyes:

- Jake

[skuncles]

I was just about to ask, How exactly does it compare to Mick's book? I imagine there are fewer words scratched out & revised? :rolleyes:

- Jake

Do you mean his autobiography or the Mac picture book. I was comparing it to Mick's Mac picture book that came out before his autobiography. In which case it's very much like the picture book.

[APerfectLie]

I love that it discusses their solo careers too. And it isn't just a brief mention. It spends a good chunk on all of Stevie's albums except TISL and IYD, and it also gives a good chunk to Lindsey's and Christine's and even Mick's!

[darklinensuit]

Do you mean his autobiography or the Mac picture book. I was comparing it to Mick's Mac picture book that came out before his autobiography. In which case it's very much like the picture book.

I mean the picture book, which came out (I think two years) after the autobiography. Has words crossed out. Always bugged me.

- Jake

[skuncles]

Oh yeah on the start of the chapters in the handwritten pages. Yeah, they should have fixed that but I think they wanted it to look more personal.

[slc4236]

I picked it up today. There isn't really anything new in it as far as pictures go, but there are a TON. Reading thru it quickly I saw it mention that "Rock A Little" was supposed to be called "Mirror Mirror" but Stevie and Jimmy Iovine dropped that concept. The book sort of reminds me a bit of Mick's "My Twenty Five Years In Fleetwood Mac" book from awhile ago. Just lots of pictures and the history of the band in an oversized book. There are photos on every page, albums, tour books, promo photos etc.

Hello, if my memory is correct I had a conversation with someone sitting in a hotel lobby in New Orlens during the Rock A Little tour. The person said Rock A Little was supoosed to be called Mirror Mirror but the songs did not come together very well. They were working on songs and I think part of it had too do with her additiction issues and the quality of the songs.

[jellyman10]

There's a thread on this book over on the Rumours forum, about two weeks old I think.

I've had the book for about a month. As I said on the other thread, it's OK visually but the photo captioning and the text itself are poor. The author's other credits include a book on The Eagles and yet he refers to Don Henley as a guitarist - twice. He also attributes to Mick the quote from John about telling Lindsey to leave the room and him thinking he meant leave the band, and a few other bloopers.

I found it pleasant to flick through, as a change from looking at pics online, but that's about all.

Loz

[skuncles]

The most glaring error I've seen is saying that Lindsey joined the band on stage in 1990 to sing "Limelight", pretty sure they didn't sing the Rush song that night!!

[CADreaming]

The most glaring error I've seen is saying that Lindsey joined the band on stage in 1990 to sing "Limelight", pretty sure they didn't sing the Rush song that night!!

LOL! "The limelight will bring you down..."

[jellyman10]

There's also a caption that quite literally says 'Typical photo of Stevie Nicks in the late 70s.' I was like wtf? Is that placeholder text that they forgot to take out? Or perhaps a measure of exactly how few ****s they give? :lol:

[CADreaming]

There's also a caption that quite literally says 'Typical photo of Stevie Nicks in the late 70s.' I was like wtf? Is that placeholder text that they forgot to take out? Or perhaps a measure of exactly how few ****s they give? :lol:

Hahaha! Awesome!

[Blueletter18]

It is a really good read, but I have found a couple glaring errors already. Right on the back cover, it refers to "Dreams" as "Dream." :eek: And it lists Lindsey as the writer on the single release.

[michelej1]

Thursday, November 24, 2011, Liquid Hip blog, posted by Kim
http://www.liquidhip.com/2011/11/definitive-history-of-fleetwood-mac-by.html

The Definitive History Of Fleetwood Mac
By Mike Evans Is Definitive

There have been dozens of books written about Fleetwood Mac. Some of the best like Steve Clarke and Roy Carr’s excellent Rumours ‘n Fax are either out of print or difficult to find. (Although Storms by Carol Ann Harris is worth a look.)

Most are merely regurgitations of well-known information, sometimes with snippets of interviews and articles that have appeared elsewhere. Edward Wincentsen’s absolutely dreadful Fleetwood Mac Through The Years would be an example of the worst of the worst.

Mike Evans is now joining the fray with his own look at the band: Fleetwood Mac The Definitive History. It’s a must-read for any FM fan and a solid retrospective for the casual and curious.

Based on sheer size, Evans stands alone.

This larger, oversized coffee table book doesn't waste a stitch of space. It's filled with excellent photos, some of them never before seen, including by the most rabid collectors.

The book starts with the usual look back, giving a glimpse into the early beginnings of the band and not the one that most people know today. This beginning starts with bassist John McVie joining legendary John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. The roster at one time included Eric Clapton and, very briefly, drummer Mick Fleetwood.

Fate would eventually bring Fleetwood and McVie together with Peter Greenbaum, better known as singer/songwriter/guitarist Peter Green. And thus, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac was born as a British blues band.

As the narrative retells some of the story, full-page photos of each album cover introduce every successive phase. Evans includes the track listening, songwriting credits, and personnel. These details make it an indispensable resource.

The revolving door that eventually led to rock greatness.

Fleetwood Mac’s revolving door through 1974 would include Christine McVie, Jeremy Spencer, Danny Kirwan, Bob Weston, Dave Walker, and Bob Welch. In fact, it was stalwart Welch’s departure that opened the door for duo Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.

It's here that Evans does the story justice, telling how Fleetwood was scouting studios when he heard a tape of Buckingham Nicks. He liked Buckingham’s style, eventually inviting the pair to join (they famously came as a package deal).

While most of the lore surrounding Buckingham and Nicks is well known to fans, Evans dutifully lays it out. There are a few new tidbits here and there, but nothing earth shattering. It's been told. We all know it.

Once this famous lineup was solid, the 1975 self-titled Fleetwood Mac was released. All five members (the two McVies, Fleetwood, Buckingham, and Nicks) became multi-millionaires overnight. Maybe it was this early success that also ensured Fleetwood Mac would become well documented, along with the excesses that became part of Rumours, the band’s defining album.

Rumours is a once-in-a-lifetime romanticized anti-love story.

When the two couples in the band split during recording, and Fleetwood divorced (and later married and divorced yet again), most bands would have scrapped it all. Instead, in between the copious amounts of drink, drugs (especially cocaine), and infighting, they captured one of the greatest angst albums ever made.

Rumours, of course, went on to become one of the top-selling albums in history, with Fleetwood Mac justifiably the biggest rock band in the world in the late 1970s. Tusk, the follow up to Rumours, was musically controlled by Buckingham, with everyone else calling it in.

Amazingly, Tusk would be a triumph and a disappointment all at once. The music showcased three obviously different songwriters, with each person's songs strong, but collectively not cohesive. However it was likely the decision to make Tusk a double album (Fleetwood’s call) that ultimately led to disappointing sales, not really Buckingham's experimental tracks.

The retrospective takes the story up through Christine McVie’s eventual permanent departure (retirement) and the band’s current lineup of Nicks, Buckingham, Fleetwood, and John McVie.

Mike Evans’ Fleetwood Mac: The Definitive History Is 8.0 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale.

Evans does an excellent job pulling decades of information together without getting off track. Fleetwood Mac The Definitive History is one of the best books written about the band. It’s an enjoyable read about an even more enjoyable ride through the years.

Barnes & Noble carries Fleetwood Mac: The Definitive History. You can also find Evans' Fleetwood Mac: The Definitive History on Amazon. There are electronic versions of the book available too. It's hard to recommend them. This is one book that deserves to be owned in print. For more Fleetwood Mac rarities, visit Wolfgang's Vault. Happy Thanksgiving.

[Meowi]

On the back cover where it mentions a few song names, the Author names a song called 'Dream'. Hmm, never heard that one before. :laugh:

[PenguinHead]

It is a really good read, but I have found a couple glaring errors already. Right on the back cover, it refers to "Dreams" as "Dream." :eek: And it lists Lindsey as the writer on the single release.

The several errors are really bad, and there's no excuse for it. However, I can overlook them; it's a book I'm glad to have - for the visuals, a fairly decent layout, and the references to their solo work.

[michelej1]

Bookpeople's Blog, December 2, 2011
http://bookpeopleblog.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/stephanyas-top-five-reads-of-2011/

Fleetwood Mac: The Definitive History by Mike Evans

I also became quite inexplicably obsessed with Fleetwood Mac this year. Was it Lindsey Buckingham’s guitar playing (and stone-cold foxiness)? Stevie Nicks’ enviable wardrobe? Mick Fleetwood’s utter insanity as a drummer? I still can’t pin-point the reason but something has fallen into place and I’ve been listening to Rumours almost non-stop for weeks now. So when this big beautiful book arrived at the store, I almost fell to my knees in supplication. Beginning from the early days before Buckingham and Nicks joined the band to the recent reunion tours, this book is brimming with beautiful photographs and inside information about one of pop music’s most infamous bands.

[seekerj]

Yeah, I got it about a week ago too. It's OK. Nothing new or earth-shattering in there. A few factual howlers, my favourite being that it refers to Don Henley as a guitarist twice. The really jaw-dropping thing is the author's credits include having written a book about The Eagles, ffs.

But Don Henley does play guitar.

[chiliD]

But Don Henley does play guitar.

Yeah, so does Mick Fleetwood (lead guitar on "These Strange Times") :rolleyes:

[MacShadowsBall]

I'm glad this thread is in the proper forum. :)

I've been thinking about getting this book for Christmas, as I don't have any Fleetwood Mac books. Although, I am concerned about these obvious mistakes.

[MrStevie]

I've been thinking about getting this book for Christmas, as I don't have any Fleetwood Mac books. Although, I am concerned about these obvious mistakes.

I don't mind a few errors here and there. I hope somebody remembers me for Christmas.:blob2:

[Lindsfan]

I'm glad this thread is in the proper forum. :)

I've been thinking about getting this book for Christmas, as I don't have any Fleetwood Mac books. Although, I am concerned about these obvious mistakes.

I bought it a while back...the price was right. If you get the book, it's because it has a really cool cover and lots of great pictures!! It's a show piece, and for a little over $15 it's pretty cool :cool:

[MacShadowsBall]

I don't mind a few errors here and there. I hope somebody remembers me for Christmas.:blob2:

As long as people know what is correct and what is wrong, I can deal with it. Though I can't picture casual FM or music fans buying this book.

I bought it a while back...the price was right. If you get the book, it's because it has a really cool cover and lots of great pictures!! It's a show piece, and for a little over $15 it's pretty cool :cool:

It will be awesome to have actual pictures on paper versus the computer screen. I definitely plan on ordering it and another FM related item for Christmas. :cool:

[McTrouble]

Just ordered my copy of this book from Amazon UK - half price at £10! :blob1:

[MacShadowsBall]

I ordering this book and the Rumours deluxe edition last night from Amazon. :cool:

[CADreaming]

Purchased this at 50% off this weekend at Barnes & Noble.

[cliffdweller]

Purchased this at 50% off this weekend at Barnes & Noble.

I ordered it too. I think it'll be a nice little addition to my collection of FM stuff. I'm not expecting to learn anything new.

[CADreaming]

I ordered it too. I think it'll be a nice little addition to my collection of FM stuff. I'm not expecting to learn anything new.

Me either but at that price, I couldn't resist!

[jbrownsjr]

Purchased this at 50% off this weekend at Barnes & Noble.

You can't have enough FM stuff ya know... I love reading FM stuff around the holidays too...

[Christopher]

Purchased this at 50% off this weekend at Barnes & Noble.
I'm gonna have to pay a visit to my nearest Barnes & Noble today. Hopefully it is still marked down. Thanks for the heads up!

[CADreaming]

I'm gonna have to pay a visit to my nearest Barnes & Noble today. Hopefully it is still marked down. Thanks for the heads up!

You're welcome. Hope you get the same deal! :)

[bangdrum]

In my Barnes & Noble there's literally a pile of them (about 6, I think) on the floor next to one of the shelves. They're not on sale though. :distress:

[McTrouble]

I love it - great coffee table book! :thumbsup:

And there's some scrummy pics of Linds......[I]sigh[I]........oh wait, I'd forgotten he's in my bad books and currently not forgiven!!! ;):rolleyes:

[Silver Springs]

I have no idea why I didn't put this book on my Christmas list. I guess I have to order it for myself after Christmas lol.

[CADreaming]

I checked the B&N website today and it's listed at 50% off.

[iamnotafraid]

It's a dust collector.
Cheap, cheap, cheap.

[MacShadowsBall]

My copy arrived yesterday! I love the cover, but I can't open it or read it until Christmas.

[starshine]

I was at B & N yesterday & did find a copy & looked through it. There weren't any new pictures or info that I didn't know. It was 50% off to but I just couldn't find a real good reason to purchase it when there wasn't at least some rare photo in it that I couldn't live without. All the pictures I've seen before. So I passed on it. I really wanted it to be something I wanted but I don't need anymore dust collectors around. Have enough of that really. Please enjoy though if you do get it OK. :shrug:

[MacShadowsBall]

Well I got the book and read over it the past days. It has some really good pictures. The book does have more reading than I thought it was going to be. Its a perfect sized book, also.

It covers the entire history of the band, even the Behind the Mask and Time albums. It covers Pre-Rumours and the early Rumours era quite well. :cool:

[poetinmyheart]

I got this from Santa. Apart from the glaring errors that have already been pointed out, I really like it. Beautiful pictures and nicely presented. Although there's nothing new in it, it was a pleasure to flick through.

[McTrouble]

Well I got the book and read over it the past days. It has some really good pictures. The book does have more reading than I thought it was going to be. Its a perfect sized book, also.

It covers the entire history of the band, even the Behind the Mask and Time albums. It covers Pre-Rumours and the early Rumours era quite well. :cool:

I agree - and it's such a lovely book to leave lying around, I love it!

[McTrouble]

I got this from Santa. Apart from the glaring errors that have already been pointed out, I really like it. Beautiful pictures and nicely presented. Although there's nothing new in it, it was a pleasure to flick through.

:thumbsup: More or less what I said in my last post!

I'm so pleased people are loving this great volume! :)

[poetinmyheart]

:thumbsup: More or less what I said in my last post!

I'm so pleased people are loving this great volume! :)

Yes, and even members of my family who have zero interest in the Mac (strange, I know), have enjoyed looking through it.

[PenguinHead]

I got this from Santa. Apart from the glaring errors that have already been pointed out, I really like it. Beautiful pictures and nicely presented. Although there's nothing new in it, it was a pleasure to flick through.

I agree. It's a nice book...until the limelight brought me down.;)

[MacShadowsBall]

Yes, and even members of my family who have zero interest in the Mac (strange, I know), have enjoyed looking through it.

Though my mom likes several of their songs, she really isn't a big Fleetwood Mac fan, but she has looked at the book several times. :cool:

[AliceLover]

It is definitely a great "show piece." They did a great job with the design on the book. I like that there are tons of photos.

What was weird for me was reading about the post 1997 period. It was kind of cool to step back from Mick's book and read about the history of the band that I was apart of. They used one of my favorite photos of Stevie and Lindsey from the 2009 London show, with Lindsey's leg high in the air.

Also, I got this for like $12 or something the week before Christmas. VERY cheap.

[vivfox]

It was kind of cool to step back from Mick's book and read about the history of the band that I was apart of.


What instrument did you play? Did you have any duets with Stevie?

[Lindsfan]

It is definitely a great "show piece." They did a great job with the design on the book. I like that there are tons of photos.

What was weird for me was reading about the post 1997 period. It was kind of cool to step back from Mick's book and read about the history of the band that I was apart of. They used one of my favorite photos of Stevie and Lindsey from the 2009 London show, with Lindsey's leg high in the air.

Also, I got this for like $12 or something the week before Christmas. VERY cheap.

THAT is a great shot, and Stevie's look ( at him ) is so classic. Pride and amusement all rolled into one :cool:

[Silver Springs]

They did a great job with the design on the book. I like that there are tons of photos.


Even though I like the book, I personally hate the sleeve design. It bares a striking resemblance to beginner's photoshop. Far too overworked. The sienna pattern overlaying the band picture, not unlike something you would find on your Grandmother's walls, is just not needed in my opinion. Other than that, I do think the book looks promising. I just haven't had a change to do more than flick through at the moment due to Uni/work/other commitments.

[Almost Simon]

Was having a look in the music section of the book store at lunchtime and found this book. Looked okay, I like some of the photo’s and would love to scan a few. The ones from the Welch/Kirwan era in particular plus the shots of Mick pulling faces.

But then reading through this thread I hear mention of Micks own picture book. I wasn’t aware of that. Is it still available?? I know his own book on the history seems to be out of print. I’ll have a search on ebay but just thought i’d ask for the name of the picture one.

And are there any sites where some of these rare shots can be found? Looks like there’s some nice avatars to be made from these rarers photo’s.

I’ll probably buy this book, not stunning, could be better but for £13 on amazon.co.uk i’ll treat myself.

[MacShadowsBall]

I have this book and still enjoy it. Recently I've been reading the sections on the Welch/Christine era. :cool: