FM article in Detroit Free Press

[melacine]

There's an article in today's Free Press about FM with a photo from the PA show (attached):



As the relationship between Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham goes, so goes Fleetwood Mac.


The band, formed as a British blues-rock outfit in 1967, has a history that reads like a soap opera script. Band members have literally gone crazy. Some have gone AWOL. Members have slept together. Marriages were broken. More than 73 million records have been sold. And still the quarrels continue. Even a 2004 tour that raked in $22 million ended in acrimony, with a fed-up Nicks saying she was through and Buckingham returning to his solo career.

But now, on the eve of another Mac tour, the biggest problem facing Nicks is a sore arm. While being interviewed, she mentions that a physical therapist is working her over. "I strained my right arm doing arm curls, which I never do, so I'm trying to get it back so I can comfortably and enjoyably play tambourine."

Such are the rigors of being a multimillionaire icon in a band that defined mainstream pop in the '70s. Mac is commanding as much as $149.50 per ticket (plus service charges) for a national tour that includes a Sunday show at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Members promise few surprises. It's just a show with more than two hours of greatest hits -- just the way fans presumably like it.

Buckingham has long detested the idea of doing a nostalgia tour, but he says he's "just trying to ride the machine." Part of Mac's on-off existence the last three decades has been because of his creative restlessness. He has maintained a solo career defined by adventurous albums between Mac projects. As one of the band's primary songwriters as well as its producer and arranger, Buckingham is first among equals, and his word goes a long way in determining Mac's fortunes. This time, he agreed to do a hits tour to promote a box-set release of the band's best-selling 1977 "Rumours" album.


"There's still a push-pull inside me that says I need to redefine myself creatively, but I did two solo albums in the last three years. So it allowed me to feel a little more relaxed about doing something like this," he says. "I am very consciously going into this not wanting to drive anyone in the band crazy if I can help it -- and sometimes it doesn't take a lot for me to do that."


That sounds like a man compromising his artistic instincts in the name of peace, harmony and cash. Buckingham laughs.

"Why am I doing this? It's a good question. ... Let me see, why am I doing this? Well, we'll probably make a ton of money, and that'll make everything a bit easier. But the other reason is that there's unfinished business with Fleetwood Mac. Stevie left the last tour saying she wasn't going to do this again, and that's not right."

Mac's last tour followed the release of a 2003 studio album, "Say You Will." That's where the troubles began. Buckingham had interrupted his solo work to make the album with Mac, and he brought finished songs into the recording session. Christine McVie had retired from the music business, leaving Buckingham and the founding rhythm section of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie to focus on Nicks' songs. Buckingham and Nicks already had a history. They were former lovers, and old tensions would resurface whenever new conflicts emerged.

Buckingham says if they pull off this tour without any meltdowns, there may be one more Fleetwood Mac studio album down the road. But he makes no promises.

"We all want this to work," he says, "but there are only 45 dates scheduled. I'm sure there are people in back rooms somewhere talking about more dates in America and elsewhere in the world, but nothing is in the books. ... In this band, it's best not to plan too far in advance."






Also a blurb about Mick's wine:






Hey, brother, pour the wine

Wine-loving Fleetwood Mac fans could find their glasses full of Mick Fleetwood's Private Cellar Riesling as part of the Vintage Rock Wine Dinner set for 6:30 p.m. March 13 at Fleming's Steakhouses in Livonia and Birmingham.

This isn't a wine that Mick Fleetwood just threw his name on. Fleetwood partners with different wineries and winemakers, creating varietals he enjoys. His Riesling is made from grapes grown in Santa Barbara and Monterey Counties and features flavors of apricot, melon and honeysuckle.

There's still time to reserve space for the four-course dinner, which includes another rock-bred wine -- via B.R. Cohn, manager of the Doobie Brothers for 35 years -- as well as Groovy Goat Cheese and Oven Dried Tomato Crostini, Rockin' Shrimp and Blue Cheese Sauce, Killer Filet Mignon and Smokin' Brownie Sundae.

$55 per person, does not include tax and gratuity. To reserve: 248-723-0134 (Birmingham) or 734-542-9463 (Livonia).

For more: http://www.MicksWine.com.downloadabl...leatthewebsite



Here's a link to the write up:
http://www.freep.com/article/2009030...romote+box+set



Luv,
Shel