New book: 'Dreams - The Many Lives of Fleetwood Mac' out in October

[tango87]

This could be interesting - a proper biography of the band, by a respected music journalist, Mark Blake:

https://www.simonandschuster.com/boo.../9781639367320

It seems he's conducted his own interviews with Mick, Christine, Peter, Stevie and Lindsey at various points.

'An illuminating deep-dive into everything Fleetwood Mac—the songs, the rivalries, the successes, and the failures—Dreams evokes the band's entire musical catalog as well as the complex human drama at the heart of the Fleetwood Mac story.

Fleetwood Mac has had a ground-breaking career spanning over fifty years and includes some of the best-selling albums and greatest hits of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. But the band's unique story is one of enormous triumph and also deep tragedy. There has never been a band in the history of music riven with as much romantic drama, sexual tension, and incredible highs and lows as Fleetwood Mac.

Dreams is a must-read for casual Fleetwood Mac fans and die-hard devotees alike. Presenting mini-biographies, observations, and essays, Mark Blake explores all eras of the Fleetwood Mac story to explore what it is that has made them one of the most successful bands in history.

Blake draws on his own exclusive interviews with Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, and the late Peter Green and Christine McVie, and addresses the complex human drama at the heart of the Fleetwood Mac story, including the complicated relationships between the band's main members, but he also dives deep into the towering discography that the band has built over the past half-century.'

[Villavic]

I think I'll wait for reviews to decide if I read it.

The cover seems to be from the Tusk years. I'd have chosen another photo, I don't like this one very much, but the author may have chose it for this little detail: No one is smiling.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by Villavic

I think I'll wait for reviews to decide if I read it.

The cover seems to be from the Tusk years. I'd have chosen another photo, I don't like this one very much, but the author may have chose it for this little detail: No one is smiling.

Same. There needs to be some sh1t in there that we don't already know. The odds are slim...

[BLY]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

Same. There needs to be some sh1t in there that we don't already know. The odds are slim...

I agree…not buying it. I have enough of the books released with great detail on the recordings , stories etc. The only thing I would purchase at this point after 47 years as a fan is unreleased music.

[Penguin Emeritus]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

Same. There needs to be some sh1t in there that we don't already know. The odds are slim...

True, the odds are slim but i ordered it today anyway lmao. i don't care. this is the guy who wrote that interview with Q magazine, the mentions of how he was sitting drinking with john while john obsessed on chris. and then when he went up to chris's room to interview her, she asked if he'd seen john. i mean wtf. if he writes one more sentence about those two that I've never read, the friggin book is worth the $. (although technically i got it for free with the amazon points from my Discover card )

--Lis

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by BLY

The only thing I would purchase at this point after 47 years as a fan is unreleased music.

I want the Mirage tour dvd, with all the unreleased tracks. They could practically name their price.

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by Penguin Emeritus

True, the odds are slim but i ordered it today anyway lmao. i don't care. this is the guy who wrote that interview with Q magazine, the mentions of how he was sitting drinking with john while john obsessed on chris. and then when he went up to chris's room to interview her, she asked if he'd seen john. i mean wtf. if he writes one more sentence about those two that I've never read, the friggin book is worth the $. (although technically i got it for free with the amazon points from my Discover card )

--Lis

Now I know who will post reliable reviews about this book! Though even if yours (and others) may be positive, I don't think I will buy it if I realize it's more about the late 70s era. Most books and documentaries are 90% about the White to Tusk albums (and within that, it's 90% Rumours).

Now if I learn there is new and more detailed info about the Mirage to The Dance sessions, tours, etc., I might be encouraged to read it.

[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by Penguin Emeritus

True, the odds are slim but i ordered it today anyway lmao. i don't care. this is the guy who wrote that interview with Q magazine, the mentions of how he was sitting drinking with john while john obsessed on chris. and then when he went up to chris's room to interview her, she asked if he'd seen john. i mean wtf. if he writes one more sentence about those two that I've never read, the friggin book is worth the $. (although technically i got it for free with the amazon points from my Discover card )

--Lis

You know damn well I'll read it, along with the Christine McVie book! I love reading anyway.

[Steviegirl]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

I want the Mirage tour dvd, with all the unreleased tracks. They could practically name their price.

Same.
Love that Christine is in the middle on the new book's cover.

[tango87]

There's a fun podcast episode that discusses this book - 'Word In Your Ear', which is chaired by two brilliant veteran UK music journalists, Mark Ellen and David Hepworth (who were editors and writers for classic UK music mags like Q, Mojo and The Word). They interview the book's writer Mark Blake, discussing the book and the band, and he does seem to know his subject.

It actually sounds like a rather interesting book - not a straight biography, but rather a 'mosaic' book, with different chapters on diverse subjects like Ken Caillat's dog, Rod Stewart being thrown out of an LA Mac gig, etc. He's also interviewed most of the members many times.

Definitely worth a watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9Q6pNzZe4Q

[aleuzzi]

I watched it. Very entertaining. Largely accurate, some minor inaccuracies and distortions, primarily from the interviewers, not Mark. But overall, a very clear sense of who the people are. The discussion about Lindsey’s character and musical commitment is particularly good.

All three of the speakers understand that Stevie is all about show business, that her ascent to world popularity in the late 70s is almost as remarkable as her continued success and influence today.

Christine’s very modesty when being interviewed influences the way they speak about her in the discussion.

I had no idea there was a fake Jeremy and fake Peter Green!

No mention of Danny Kirwan or Bob Welch.

[Penguin Emeritus]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

I watched it. Very entertaining. Largely accurate, some minor inaccuracies and distortions, primarily from the interviewers, not Mark. But overall, a very clear sense of who the people are. The discussion about Lindsey’s character and musical commitment is particularly good.

All three of the speakers understand that Stevie is all about show business, that her ascent to world popularity in the late 70s is almost as remarkable as her continued success and influence today.

Christine’s very modesty when being interviewed influences the way they speak about her in the discussion.

I had no idea there was a fake Jeremy and fake Peter Green!

No mention of Danny Kirwan or Bob Welch.

That jogged my memory about the fake jeremy! The fake peter, i remembered.

He does seem to have a good grasp of events. Interesting interview. I'm looking forward to the book.

--Lis

[anusha]

I remember a Q interview during the dance media promo. I’m not sure if it’s the same journalist, but I always remember the person covering the band at that time. Pointedly noticed that while Stevie and Lindsey held hands on stage that they immediately dropped hands once they were outside the eyes of the audience. It felt a bit like the journalist, implying that things were already tense or at least not what the band was presenting on stage even in 1998. I always respected Q Magazine So I’ll be interested to see what this book says

[Villavic]

I did a search and realized Amazon.uk shows the book with the same cover of Storms (Carol Ann Harris book).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dreams-Many.../dp/1788708040

But amazon.com shows it with the cover I saw in the article when it was announced.

I still think the author was wise to include a picture where nobody was smiling. It probably reflects the mood of those days.