An Anniversary

[rbs3676]

24 years ago today, I saw Fleetwood Mac for the very first time.

It was the August 17th San Antonio stop on the TUSK tour – the final leg. I was 15 years old and was seated on the aisle, 17th row, in between Stevie and Lindsey. It might has well have been the Academy Awards, I was so excited!

They opened with “Say You Love Me” and Stevie’s hair was in a bun, tambourine out, swirling in thin layers of black chiffon and I, in complete rapture, could not take my eyes off of her.

I remember “Sara” being very dreamy and I got all veklempt and caught up in the moment of “All I ever wanted…”.

“Landslide” was sung in such a hushed whisper that the entire arena was so quiet, trying to hear every nuance in her fragile, almost broken vocal – very much like the FM Live version from that same tour.

I remember that John came and sat down on Mick’s riser when LB played “Never Going Back Again” and it was just the two of them and it seemed so perfect. I remember Stevie saying something about how John had gotten sick on stage the previous night, so a big round of applause for Mr McVie ensued.

My favorite Christine moment was “Over & Over”…it was so simple and pretty – just like Christine, really.

When they came back for the encores, “Sisters Of The Moon” was incredible…the big bright lights shined on the audience when she began to wail at the end…I felt like I was in church – it was such an experience.

So, here’s to the Mac…my favorite band…and to the many memories I have of that very first show…

RBS
8/17/04

[Livia]

Great story!

[wondergirl9847]

Thanks for sharing that story!! What I wouldn't give to go back in time to hit every FM show EVER.

[David]

Originally Posted by rbs3676

24 years ago today, I saw Fleetwood Mac for the very first time.

Happy anniversary!

It was the August 17th San Antonio stop on the TUSK tour – the final leg.

Holy San Antone -- I saw that show, too. I got very lucky & got to see the San Antonio performance, in addition to the final two shows in Los Angeles.

They opened with “Say You Love Me” and Stevie’s hair was in a bun, tambourine out, swirling in thin layers of black chiffon and I, in complete rapture, could not take my eyes off of her.

As I recall, they opened with Monday Morning.

So, here’s to the Mac…my favorite band…and to the many memories I have of that very first show.

Here's to the Mac!

[Lala]

Hey did Stevie sing "Is this what you want from me" or the like during Rhiannon? I have it written down as one of the shows I'm looking for because of this. I've never heard it but it fascinates me.

[David]

Originally Posted by Lala

Hey did Stevie sing "Is this what you want from me" or the like during Rhiannon? I have it written down as one of the shows I'm looking for because of this. I've never heard it but it fascinates me.

You can hear it or a variation of it in essentially any August 1980 performance, whether it's Lakeland or the Hollywood Bowls or Mobile or Birmingham or Dallas, etc.

I see you have it in your sig -- cool! Although the picture of Stevie you're using is not from the right era, you could locate a pic of Stevie from the last month of the tour. In fact, there are photos out there of Stevie singing Rhiannon at the Hollywood Bowl, wildly gesticulating during the "Is that what you want" part (or I could e-mail you those photos).

[Lala]

Originally Posted by David

You can hear it or a variation of it in essentially any August 1980 performance, whether it's Lakeland or the Hollywood Bowls or Mobile or Birmingham or Dallas, etc.

I see you have it in your sig -- cool! Although the picture of Stevie you're using is not from the right era, you could locate a pic of Stevie from the last month of the tour. In fact, there are photos out there of Stevie singing Rhiannon at the Hollywood Bowl, wildly gesticulating during the "Is that what you want" part (or I could e-mail you those photos).

Hey if you could e-mail them that would be awesome! I know it isn't from the right era...I just wanted a picture that worked and that one did. I'll PM with my e-mail.

[rbs3676]

Hmmm...was it "Monday Morning"? I'm old -- it very well could have been!

I have two very vivid memories of Stevie appearing just as the lights went up -- one from the TUSK tour, which I related, and the other from the Mirage tour - the rescheduled show on Halloween, when she appeared in the huge witches hat that she bought that afternoon from that store on the drag. (I cant remember the name of the store, was it the Strand? Livia, help me out!)

Anyway, if it was "Monday Morning", I was having an out of body experience simply being in the same room with Stevie!! I was 15 and acting as if I were at a Beatles concert circa 1965!

And yes, she did bend the square microphone stand down, arch her back and scream, "Is this what you want from me?" during "Rhiannon"...it was electrifying.

rbs

[Lala]

Originally Posted by rbs3676

And yes, she did bend the square microphone stand down, arch her back and scream, "Is this what you want from me?" during "Rhiannon"...it was electrifying.

*shiver*

Man I really want a bootleg from one of those shows.

*Loving my new siggy banner. Thanks to David for the picture*

[David]

Originally Posted by rbs3676

Hmmm...was it "Monday Morning"? I'm old -- it very well could have been!

Yeah, "Monday" was their opener that month. Great stuff!

I have two very vivid memories of Stevie appearing just as the lights went up -- one from the TUSK tour, which I related, and the other from the Mirage tour - the rescheduled show on Halloween, when she appeared in the huge witches hat that she bought that afternoon from that store on the drag. (I cant remember the name of the store, was it the Strand? Livia, help me out!)

Cool! You saw the Austin Halloween show in '82? That was the last Mirage show -- again, great stuff! I don't know whether you're into audience live tapes, but both of those shows you attended are on tape.

Anyway, if it was "Monday Morning", I was having an out of body experience simply being in the same room with Stevie!! I was 15 and acting as if I were at a Beatles concert circa 1965!

Remember how, in those days, while the crew was finishing up in the few minutes before the lights went off before the opening number, the "Exorcist" theme by Mike Oldfield always played through the PA? I have such fantastic memories of nervous anticipation, hearing the "Tubular Bells" music pipe through the system, because that always meant Fleetwood Mac was just about to take the stage.

[David]

Originally Posted by Lala

*shiver*

Man I really want a bootleg from one of those shows.

A few weeks ago, Tiff (BlueWhiteFire.com) posted the Rhiannon from the Mobile show that August. Did you miss that one?

[Livia]

The store where Stevie bought her witch's hat is called The Bazaar. I don't think the one on the Drag is there any more, but I believe there's one on Riverside...

That Halloween show in Austin was MY first FM concert. The next time I saw the Fireflies lineup again would be October 31, 1997 in San Antonio!!! Isn't that WEIRD?

[Lala]

Originally Posted by David

A few weeks ago, Tiff (BlueWhiteFire.com) posted the Rhiannon from the Mobile show that August. Did you miss that one?

Yes!

I'm so stupid. I even saw it but I missed that is was Mobile. Argh!

[rbs3676]

Originally Posted by David

Yeah, "Monday" was their opener that month. Great stuff!
Cool! You saw the Austin Halloween show in '82? That was the last Mirage show -- again, great stuff! I don't know whether you're into audience live tapes, but both of those shows you attended are on tape.
Remember how, in those days, while the crew was finishing up in the few minutes before the lights went off before the opening number, the "Exorcist" theme by Mike Oldfield always played through the PA? I have such fantastic memories of nervous anticipation, hearing the "Tubular Bells" music pipe through the system, because that always meant Fleetwood Mac was just about to take the stage.

I would absolutely love a copy of both of those shows! Who can help me obtain them?

Yes, "Tubular Bells" was always the coolest signal that the band was soon to be on stage. Kinda like the crickets, now. I remember Stevie's solo crews doing it for a few years, as well.

And Livia ~ You are right - that shop was called The Bazaar! Roamin' Rebecca and I went in there the very next day and asked them "hey, what happened to that witches hat you had in the window yesterday?" and the saleslady said, "You won't believe it, but Stevie Nicks came in and got it!"

rbs

[Livia]

Tubular Bells and FM - how happy can you be?? LOL

I'd love to have those 2 shows as well!