Wow! What a great picture! Thanks.

i don't remember the band saying anything to him last year either, even Mick during intros. Mick was addressing other things with his "he's the man" in Glasgow, not LB's bday, necessarily.

however, as far as i know, at both solo or FM shows if it was his bday, audience always yelled happy bday, held signs, and sang the "happy bday" song, unprompted. read the reviews from last year in Glasgow - they were all about the "birthday boy" and how he received impromptu happy bday singalong from 12 000 people sold out arena.

at LB's solo show in Jacksonville, Oct 3, 2011, as soon as he came out, before he could even pick up his guitar, everybody started singing happy bday. in Glasgow, people held signs since the start of the show, and then when LB started introducing Big Love and was alone on the stage, numerous people started yelling all across the orchestra and lower ball "happy bday Lindsey!" and then the whole Glasgow audience started singing. he said "don't remind me!".

i suspect he may say to the band that he doesn't want them to acknowledge his bday, but he clearly enjoyed and basked in the happy birthday singalongs at both occasions described above. it has to feel special when the huge arena and tens of thousands of people know that it's your birthday and feel the need to celebrate with you, however much you personally may not be into making a big deal out of it.


but actually, according to some facebook posts, someone in the band actually did say something to Lindsey on the stage:

"When Lindsey was playing near Christine (maybe during Go Your Own Way?) she said happy birthday to him. He didn't hear and leaned in and she shouted it again.They both were smiling so much! It was such a sweet little moment!"

Here is what I can remember/review about the show on Friday. I split the posts up for the meet and greet and the show:

Edited on 10/07/2014

Meet & Greet

I had two VIP tickets to the Meet & Greet for Friday's show, one for me, one for my mom. We left around 3:00pm to get there for the 4:30pm check-in. Traffic was horrible and we got around to the West Side of the city within 5 minutes of check-in time. I wish either United Center staff or Future Beat staff had put some signs about where to park because there weren't any!! By this time, my mom and I were freaking out because we had no idea if this thing was going to start on time.

Finally, we found a lot that wasn't the employee lot (yes, we had gone into that lot because we saw all these cars pulling in there thinking this must be it right?) with I think two minutes to spare. I got out of the car and literally ran towards the Will Call window. I knew it was right in front of the Michael Jordan statue but I didn't realize that the windows were off to the right of Gate 4, so I stupidly was pulling on the locked doors and thinking, "Oh ****, where am I supposed to go now." Luckily, I looked over and saw the ticket windows and there was a guy sitting there and I asked to pick up my tickets and did, before running back to Gate 6 to join the small crowd waiting outside in the cold to be let in.

Then the waiting began. I remember wondering why they had us start at 4:30pm. It's because they wanted you to wait outside in the cold before they got the okay to go inside.

It was then that Vivien (McTrouble) noticed me and she tapped me on the shoulder and we greeted each other and then she introduced me to Tracie who then asked, "Are you the one who makes the gifs?" I, of course said "yes."

After more waiting, the roadie guy from Fleetwood Mac or Future Beat, wasn't sure, came out and introduced himself as Jim or Jimmy. He brought a table out with a box (these were the lanyards) and then we all checked in with our ID's. He then explained the whole M&G process which consisted of us maybe hearing some sound check (which we did, about 4 or 5 songs :) ), filing down to the stage, sitting in the first couple of rows, leaving our jackets and bags there, filing up and onto the stage, Mick coming out, talking, then photos and then the Q&A portion.

We waited some more, because they were still trying to figure out when we could be let in per UC staff. The roadie guy ended up getting locked out at one point and had to use his cell phone to call himself back in. There was a woman I remember who was wearing a red shirt but wasn't wearing a jacket who opened one of the doors and held it open, so that the heat could come through. Shortly after that we were allowed inside where they did a hurried bag check and scanning of tickets (I was initially worried about why they needed us to be there at 4:30pm but probably the reason was they wanted us to wait for 45 minutes to an hour outside in the cold while they made sure we could be let inside, but I was glad they scanned our tickets which meant we could stay inside the arena).

We had to have a security guard escort us to the bathroom since the arena wasn't fully open so some in the group did that. After that, we hung around the merch table to wait for them to let us go to the stage. Unfortunately, we couldn't buy anything.

This was where we heard Little Lies, Gypsy, The Chain, and GYOW. That's all I can remember. There may have been one more. Needless to say, we were all really excited to listen to some of their sound check on the concourse.

By this time, we were all lined up single file and then finally they opened the curtain to Sec. 112/113 and we filed down to the floor. We sat down in the first two rows on stage left, left our things and then proceeded row by row to go up to the stage. I remember someone being afraid that someone was going to steal their $100 in their blazer. Thought that was kind of ridiculous. The VIP host made sure to reassure him.

I remember as we were getting closer to the stage that this was really amazing getting to go up on the stage they would soon be on performing for us. Then I saw LB's guitar closet (that's what it looked like to me) and pointing it out to my mom, and I said those are all his. Stevie mic as well, you know, you can't miss it with all those streamers.

Then we were on the stage and I was surprised that it was padded. I never thought stages were unless that's just a FM thing. The big "Fleetwood Mac" logo was behind us projected on the screen.

Then Mick entered from stage right (if you're looking out towards the audience) and there was applause. His security guard fixed his microphone and then he was talking about Christine being back and also something about realizing during a concert that he was screaming out towards the audience and he couldn't understand why no one could hear him and it was because he didn't have a mic. The point of the story was that he understands and appreciates what the other members in the band have to take care of - their voices.

Then it was time to take pictures and we got up there one by one for two individual shots and then a group shot, if you were with someone. We then returned to our seats as everyone went through taking pics.

The Q&A portion was interesting and someone did ask about the new album, and we got the response I think we've all heard, "we're working on it, that's something we definitely have planned." Someone also asked if Mick knew that Richard Dashut has a Tumblr blog and he said that he did, and that Richard has been a huge part of FM's history. There was another person who asked if he still talks to Peter Green and he does and then he said something like, "well if you've met Peter he'll say that being in a band is like: oh okay, yeah" like not a big deal or anything. While he was saying all this, he was signing items that people had brought and I remember kicking myself for not bringing anything because I thought we couldn't. There were hats, cds, a copy of his old autobiography, photos, a chord book, vinyls etc. I remember Mick also joking about how he spent all night signing the 8x10's for us.

Soon, that part was over and I remember the ushers at the UC coming down on our left side to get a closer look because they were all getting ready for the doors to the stadium to officially open.

They let us out single file and as they were doing so, we were given our "exclusive tour mech item" as well as the autographed 8x10.

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http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...ps7d565a7c.jpg

[QUOTE=jwd;1146770]Happy 65th, Lindsey, this Medicare card's for you! :lol: Seriously though, these guys are inspiring me to start working out again. They all look really good and healthy. How in the hell does he fit in to those jeans and be comfortable?!!

Have you ever tried on 500 dollar jeans? They are very comfortable. I tried them on but couldn't go through it.

Sounds like you had fun (wow it must have been cold, you mentioned that a lot, it's 90 here in LA...too hot) but I would never pay money to meet Mick or any of them. Autographs mean nothing to me. (what do you do stare at them...LOL) I by accident bumped into Mick at supermarket wine signing (twice!) in LA. I bought one of his wines and was unimpressed with him. Very cold and had one word answers. Oh well, to each his own.

10/3 Friday

The Show:

Let me first say this, getting to stand in front of your favorite band member the entire night is an absolute dream!! I'd never been in the front for a concert in my entire life and I couldn't believe I was getting to do it for Fleetwood Mac with Christine!

I had Sec. 3, Row 2, Seat 11 for this concert. My mom had Sec. 2, Row 3, Seat 7. I was supposed to be off to the right and she was dead center. I sat with her for a while thinking that as it gets closer to show time, I'll move to my seat. It was annoying that the usher's kept coming over and asking me where was I supposed to be sitting instead of just leaving us alone. I talked with Vivien and asked her about the photo of Lindsey that she was in at the hotel in Minneapolis, and also if she was going to other shows (NYC and Portland).

There was another woman who came and sat down next to my mom (I was actually in her seat) that had gone to the concert yesterday and at that concert she was sitting in what was my mom's seat. So she literally had to move over only one seat for Friday's concert. She was really nice and we started up a conversation about how I got into Fleetwood Mac and I told her The Dance, I was only about 11 or 12 at the time. Mom brought home the DVD and it was all over from there.

It was getting close to show time so I went over to my seat. The older couple sitting next to me said as soon as I sat down, "You made it just in time." I told them that I had been talking to my mom in the section over. They had bought their tickets on StubHub and kept looking around to see if they could move up a row so they'd be in the front in case no one showed up to take those seats.

It was then that I noticed the guy talking to the people directly in front of me about "this is a rock concert, so when the lights go down, I want you to go up there so we can have a really great time." There was a lady behind me who said in Hunger Games style: "I volunteer!" The guy never looked at me so I was feeling kind of down at that point.

It wasn't until some of the house lights went down that I went and stood by Vivien's group and was immediately introduced to Della (she asked me if I knew elle and I said yes) and Michelle (Michelle had the seat next to mine, so if we would've stayed she would've been sitting next to me). I was telling them that I really wanted to go to the stage but wasn't sure how to do it. Michelle kept reassuring me that it would be fine.

And then the lights went completely out. In the next moment, Michelle was grabbing my arm and we we ran towards where LB would be standing. She was in the space between his two speakers and I was in front of one of his speakers.

The next 2.5 hours were some of the best I've ever experienced. I sang to every song, took so many videos and pics and had a great time with Vivien's group. Erin Brown was standing behind me most of the time, with Michelle on my left.

LB did notice me filming at one point and he made a face in which I died. It was kind of scary too!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...ps4b40b9e9.gif

He did interact with Michelle at one point, pointing to his left hand indicating about her ring, cause then she pointed to it. Not sure if that's exactly what that was about though. I do remember Della saying to her "What was that about though?"

-He played his SHN solo right in front of me, over my head. I had to bend back to make sure I got all of him in the frame. I LOVE that solo!

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-During Everywhere, he kept making faces at Michelle:

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-I almost got to touch his guitar at one point, but didn't. He didn't come close enough for me to reach my had over during GYOW.

-During Little Lies, I looked over and saw a woman who had been at the M&G who was cringing a little bit because the background vocals were coming out too loud from the speaker and hurting her ears. She saw me looking at her and laughed and I think LB saw that once I turned back to him cause he smiled a lot at that.

-I'm glad I got a picture and video of the "limp hand" before "Big Love."

-The sing along for his birthday did not go well. People around me tried to get it going in-between songs, and then with the sign, but it didn't work out. They held it up, but were told by security to take it down.

-Honestly, my ears weren't ringing even though I was up front. My ears hurt more when I was father back for Thursday's show than right up next to LB.

An absolute dream I tell you! I hope I can do it again for FM or even better his solo shows and for less money!

Thank you for sharing!!!

Yes, thank you for this very interesting account. I'm sorry the beginning of the M&G wasn't better organized. The other perks sound good, though.

Thanks for telling us about the meet and greet. It's clear from Richard's end that he knows the band knows about his blog and now Mick has confirmed that too.
Shucks. It reminds me of them sharing a mic during World Turning and Christine is saying something to him and he is going, "What? What!"

Michele

They have been two peas in a pod, lately.

thanks for taking the time and describing it so informatively to us, SadAngel! wish others who go to m&gs would share what was discussed at q&as, as these are questions we all want to hear about. glad to hear he was asked about the state of the new album and dickdash blog!

seems that m&g is basically the same as last year, except with added 1 hr time-waste upfront and extra pic/drumhead. one can now appreciate grndctrl for having a bit more respect for people's time than this year's organizer.

while i completely agree with you about autographs and memorabilia, if you followed what has been happening with Mac concert tickets the last 2 tours, you would know that most people are not going to these m&gs to meet Mick or get his autograph, but as the only surefire way to get some amazing tickets for prices cheaper than scalper or platinums. the added bonus is they get to ask Mick a few questions about the band that all of us want to know answers to. and to stand on the FM stage in some huge arena.

but yes, when Mick said in a recent interview how he made a million last year just from m&gs (so he will probably make 2 this year!), i was thinking how much of that money should really go to either LB or SN (and this year i'd think also CM). i know tons of LB fans who paid those crazy prices, and not just once - both last year and this - just so they can be close to the stage and get to experience LB in concert same as SadAngel did (see some of her quotes below). she said it was one of the best evenings in her life! that's what she probably paid for, not to meet Mick - and LB is practically gifting that money to Mick. maybe he can sign it off as charity at the end of the year. :lol:

so happy you had such great time SadAngel! :]

yeah, it's nice to have that confirmed.

Mick's response about Richard's blog seems quite noncommittal. Still it *is* nice to know what so many have suspected, despite Richard's declarations of ignorance as to whether the band was aware of his blog or not (i.e. that they know of it). One has to assume if Mick knows others if not all the others know about it.
I figured if Mary Torrey knows about it Stevie has to know about it and if she (Mary) is contributing pics to it well then Stevie can't be horribly p&ssed off about it. I do wonder about Lindsey though. If he didn't like Ken writing a book about the making of an album (technical choices and all that) because it starts to encroach on what he (LB) would want to write about, I have to wonder what he thinks about Richard's blog. Maybe this is why Richard has disappointingly not talked as much as hoped about production choices, techniques and the like. It really can get, as Richard said, like middle school sometimes with this band.:eek:

while i completely agree with you about autographs and memorabilia, if you followed what has been happening with Mac concert tickets the last 2 tours, you would know that most people are not going to these m&gs to meet Mick or get his autograph, but as the only surefire way to get some amazing tickets for prices cheaper than scalper or platinums. the added bonus is they get to ask Mick a few questions about the band that all of us want to know answers to. and to stand on the FM stage in some huge arena.

but yes, when Mick said in a recent interview how he made a million last year just from m&gs (so he will probably make 2 this year!), i was thinking how much of that money should really go to either LB or SN (and this year i'd think also CM). i know tons of LB fans who paid those crazy prices, and not just once - both last year and this - just so they can be close to the stage and get to experience LB in concert same as SadAngel did (see some of her quotes below). she said it was one of the best evenings in her life! that's what she probably paid for, not to meet Mick - and LB is practically gifting that money to Mick. maybe he can sign it off as charity at the end of the year. :lol:

I think Mick knows that too. Noone really wants to meet HIM. He's just using the ticket thing for more money. Not surprised when it comes to Money Mick. When he was doing a wine signing he was a lone at an empty table. LOL

But I think Richard has made it clear that if someone told him that they didn't like the blog, he would immediately stop. So, if there's anything Lindsey didn't like, all he would have to do was mutter lightly and I think Richard would close down.

Michele

Any of them could do their own meet and greets.

I don't think the Meet and Greet is worth $750, but if I was going to redistribute any of that money, it wouldn't be into the pockets of the other band members, that's for sure.

Michele