FM: RockOpera: the Musical?
 

So, I've had this idea for a minute....we'll never read a tell-all book by Stevie Nicks and we certainly won't ever watch the FM story unfold on the big screen or the small screen for that matter. What if Mick sells his publishing rights to a playwright and then produces and astounding musical Ala Jersey Boys or Green Day's American Idiot style?

The ideas (on paper) put into creativity and transformed into a theatre music masterpiece are endless. The story would most definitely capture FM history (in the eyes of Mick) and be more on the historical lines of a musical, than say American Idiot (a musical about the rock stars album, that features fictional characters).

This musical is very rich with storyline (of rocks most (in)famous soap opera band) as well as the music, itself. Of course, it would date back to at least 1967 and transform the audience to present day and beyond. Those of you that have seen Jersey Boys will certainly envision what I am typing about. For those that have not, just imagine the journey that FM has taken in a play/musical atmosphere with all the drama/heartbreak/success/drama/fake bands/divorces/affairs/hit singles/drama/reunion/etc.

This thread is for fun...please all be as creative and outlandish as you wish, without rewriting history (of course). I ask that you list the most influential songs that FM have recorded/played over the years that would complete this musical journey.
There are no specific rules to the creativity you can come up with, with the small disclaimer that THIS IS NOT about SN and LB joining FM, but about the whole bands journey in establishing fame and fortune. (Although the majority songs from 75-87 “hit” period are obviously acceptable). In the journey to success, there may be one or two musical numbers that played a significant role in the band forming, performing, continued success, etc. Such as John Mayall, Clapton, Santana, The Beatles, Beach Boys, Everly Bros., Joplin, Hendrix, or even as far back as Chicken Shack, Elmo James, Willie Dixon, or even Elvis.

To get you all started I have listed a couple:
My Heart Beat Like a Hammer
Shake your Moneymaker

also included the promos to the above mention musicals:
JB's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x29Ztn4ehC8
AI: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L10mJ7PTHN0

Why? Why are you so sure we will never watch a FM story on TV? Is there something I don't know?
I think a good movie about Fleetwood Mac story would be longer than Gone with the Wind, so a miniseries broadcast would be a better idea, like The Jacksons: An American Dream, The Tempations or The Beach Boys: An American Family. I don't loose hope of watching some day a good miniserie about Fleetwood Mac.

And about Stevie's book, I read circa 1997 she said she would write an autobiography when all their ex-lovers wives were dead or too old to care, but I don't know if this quote is true (doesn't sound very Stevie, and I can't even remember where I read it).

Anyway going back to your topic, of course any Rumours song

Good album to start with...

Dreams for Stevie
Go Your Own Way for Lindsey
and Dont' Stop for Christine

Each of those songs have a statement behind them. :cool:

Yes.

Anyway, I have ideas about a movie about the making of Rumours, but it wouldn't work as a theatrical musical. Instead, I really do think a Broadway show would have to be about the fans--how the fans read the Rumours narrative. And how those songs convey individual fan's feelings about love and the sexual revolution. Just my two cents (see below)

wow That topic went over like a lead balloon, thx for your replies tho. TrueFaith, I actually like your idea, sounds interesting, and of course it would mean more to the fans, both the particepants and the audience.

To MacShadows, I agree:thumbsup:

Thx for your reply VillaVic, I hope you are right about a movie or miniserious. I think by now if we were going to see something like this...it would have already happened, after That 70's Show craze and the movies you mentioned were being made.

As for Stevie's book, yes she has also (more recently)said in interview that IF she were to right a book, it would just be snippits of her career, and how she was feeling at the time. Ex: the day she joined FM, the day Dreams hit #1, etc. I don't know which interview this was, but I assume this is common knowledge among us Mac fans, not neccessarily the general public.

Thx fotr your input.

I think its a great Idea.ABBA has their thing plus other bands have theirs too.

Also I would love to see FM do a Fleetwood Mac on Ice with ice dancers dancing to their hits while FM plays the tunes live.

Yes, this for a time was her stock answer about writing a memoir or autobiography. Recently it changed to "I'd only write about the good/magical parts"

As all good, white witches should do :D

I kid, I kid

Some years ago in LA there was a theater group that would do classical plays as musicals mashed up with a particular group's songs. I never saw it but they did "Fleetwood Macbeth". It must have been hilarious. I can just imagine the three witches singing Gold Dust Woman about Lady Macbeth. LOL

Nice, sounds like a great show

For some reason my post was uncomplete and I did'nt realize it. What I was writing was:

Anyway going back to your topic, of course any Rumours song would fit in the late 70s era episode, and Silver Springs could be an emotional scene in the musical.

From the Peter Green era, Oh Well. Mick said it was about Peter leaving the band (don't ask me what I think of you, I might not give the answer that you want me to)

I think Jersey Boys is the story of the band, but Mamma Mia is a fictional story about a girl looking for her father, formed with ABBA songs. It is not the ABBA story at all.

I believe you are right Villavic, I didn't think I'd like Jboys, b/c I was not a big fan of "Sherry, Walk like a Man" etc. But once I saw it, the other music in it was fanatastic and the script was really well written. I was amazed at all the other songs the Four Seasons recorded that I didn't even know was theirs.

FM (the soapOpera) could appeal to casuals and to ppl who know GYOW/Dreams and then they hear stuff like SYLM, Sentimental Lady, Oh Well, etc and realize "Oh yeah FM did record Hold Me...".

FierySequences, why are you leaving it up to us to write this for you? You started the thread. I wanna read your written version of the FM musical.

LOL, I'm working on it....may take a cpl more days.

If what I've envisioned is similar to other musicals (like JB's) there are often melody's of a few songs. And there may be 1 or 2 songs that are featured twice (as a reprise) or book ends to an era or lineup.

for example: the show may start out at 1979 (or present day) with Chain as the opening number and then go back in time and end with FM at the height of their 70's career (therefore a snippet of Chain would be played later as a reprise). I'm also thinking of doing something similar with one of Peter's most prolific songs to capture his journey with Mac.

So far what I've come up with is an extensive list by all the writers/singers and it would need some trimming down.

sidenote: When I enter Grad school to study literature and music, this musical may some day become a reality, and I'm not going to give away all my secrets ;)

Back by popular demand.......
 

ala Vivfox (whom may be the only one interested in this topic):laugh:

I have come up with (a condensed version) of the musical. Keep in mind there is a lot of dialogue and monologues throughout. I have many more ideas/illusions/stage crafts to pull this off, This is just a rough draft.

Opening scene Act I: Sept. 1, 1980, Hollywood Bowl

An announcer (over PA): “Ladies and Gentleman please give a warm welcome to FM”
The Chain (during the bridge, present day Mick steps in a spotlight, stage left) Mick: Monologue
end Monologue, “Chain keep us together....” The crowd roars with applause, LB steps up to mike: “Thank you all...this will be our last show for a very long time”.

Journey back to 1967, history, dialogue, etc to instrumental Albatross
(1968-74, roughly)
(in succession, what I refer to as Revolving Door Medley):

Stop Messin' Round
Shake Your Moneymaker
I'd Rather Go Blind
Coming Your Way

Peter Medley:
I Loved Another Woman/Black Magic Woman/Oh, Well (full song)/Green Manalishi/Man of the World

Jeremy Medley: Somebody's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In/Station Man/One Together

Danny Medley: Tell Me All The Things/Sands of Time/Child of Mine

Sentimental Lady
Spare Me
(I'm a) Road Runner (Walker spoof)
Hypnotized
Why
Heroes Are Hard...
Frozen Love

End Act I

Act II New Years Eve, 1974

Warm Ways (instrumental plays)

SYLM/So Afraid
WT/Rhiannon
GYOW
Rumours recording Medley: Dreams/YMLF/GDW /Ebony Eyes (Live stage Bob w/Stevie)

Mick monologue, break ups, drugs, etc. mention of W. Eagan/K. Loggins recordings
Rhiannon (reprise) (Stevie leaving rumours start)

WATL/Sara (studio setting)
Tusk
The Chain (reprise to 1980) (stage)
In Africa: The Visitor
Desert: Hold Me (video Shoot)
Gypsy (video Shoot)

Mick Mono: More Solo work segments of: Stand Back, Go Insane, Can't Help Falling in Love

Big Love
Little Lies/Isn't It Midnight (stage with new members)
As Long As You Follow (video Shoot)
1993: Pres. Inauguration: Don't Stop
1996: Silver Springs/Everywhere
1998: RNR HOF Landslide
2003/04: Say Goodbye
The Chain (reprise)