I’m really late posting this because I wanted to be able to write a little in my blog about how incredible it was to see Fleetwood Mac last week. It’s been a long, long time. I first saw them with my favorite lineup on the Tusk tour in 1980. In subsequent years, I saw Stevie Nicks a couple of times solo. I saw Fleetwood Mac again when Lindsey Buckingham wasn’t with them. And though Tom and I enjoyed that concert, and Rick Vito and Billy Burnette were really good with them–plus I liked the album they were on with the band–it just didn’t have the same magic without my favorite five band members. So on subsequent tours, with either Lindsey, Stevie Nicks, or Christine McVie missing, I never went to a concert. And I reproached myself a million times for not seeing them when a reunion was brought about after they played together for Bill Clinton’s inauguration after the 1992 election.
Last year when it was announced that Christine was joining the band on tour again, I wanted to see them so much, but money for tickets wasn’t in the budget when they came to Houston. And when they added another Houston date, I went online and struggled to figure out how to buy tickets for decent seats. Finally I was all, “If I can’t figure out how to buy a concert ticket, I’m probably too old for concerts.”
That brings me to last week, when our friend (and my boss) Cindy was unable to use her Fleetwood Mac tickets and GAVE them to Tim and me. I was ecstatic. The band’s music is woven through decades of my personal history–my friend Kathy and I listened to them non stop in college. Lynne was with me at the Tusk concert. Riley (whose birthday is today–I miss him so much) was willing to listen to Fleetwood Mac with me the way I’d always listened to the Beatles with him and put up with all my Stevie Nicks worship. The first song Tom and I ever danced to was by Fleetwood Mac. Tim and I bonded immediately in our friendship over Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks. “The Chain” became not only the band’s promise to stay together no matter what, but it was the song that Tim, Jim, Timmy, and I used as our commitment to never let writing together get in the way of our friendships.
The concert exceeded all my expectations. We had terrific seats. Lindsey Buckingham had just as much energy and passion as the first time I saw him so many years ago and remains one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Mick Fleetwood is every bit the showman he’s always been. John McVie is still the quiet backbone of the band with his bass. Stevie, Lindsey, and Christine sounded amazing together. I really just want to go buy every piece of music by them I don’t already own. I don’t know how they can still be going so strong, but if I get another opportunity to see them all together, I’m taking it.
What a wonderful night to be
The stars must be my friends
To shine for me…
We will never forget tonight…
Thank you, Cindy and Johnny!
I am so happy that you got to go! I don’t think you can ever be too old for a concert. Especially if it’s music that has been a huge part of your life. I think when you see them live, spiritually etc … you become the age when you first fell in love with them. So see? Never too old.
Thank you! I love their music so much, love the band and their history. I’m so glad I went–it really did invigorate me. =)
Also, if you get in a Mac mood, you can hear the set list from our concert here: http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/fleetwood-mac/2015/toyota-center-houston-tx-33cb9861.html
Don’t get to see Stevie twirling, of course…
It’s always so great to discover that your past is still alive and well!
Heck yeah!
So very happy that you were able to go to the concert – how wonderful!
Thank you! It was a great surprise.
This Fleetwood Mac thing just might explain why I suddenly had Stand Back stuck in my head.
I’m just sayin’.
(Not that I have ever been guilty of spreading ear worms, oh no, not evar!) 🙂
I’m glad you got to go see them live. The last concert I went to was Def Leppard, opened with Joan Jett and the Black Hearts. My ears rang for days after that.
We saw Def Leppard I think in 1993. Long ago!
That was a long time ago for me as well. Unless, I count my one and only trip to Gay Pride San Francisco that by capricious chance was frontlined by the Backstreet Boys. This was also the month Bad Romance – Lady Gaga was constantly stuck in my head the entire month. Counting the Pride shows makes me feel like I’m not missing out so much on the concerts :).
There’s nothing wrong with a Stevie ear worm, ever. =)
I saw Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks with Mike E. (from W) when they were the “Buckingham Nicks” way back in 1974. Amazing. In touch soon.
Was it in Tuscaloosa? Was I there?
Their album remains one of my favorites. People kept stealing my copies of it, but fortunately…
As I was getting this out, Tom said, “Best album–”
“–of all time!” I interrupted.
“–cover of all time,” he amended.
Whatever. I love this album. All my vinyl is too warped to play anymore, even if I had a turntable, which I don’t. I let a lot of it go, but I still have more than is rational when it’s unplayable.
And I’m kind of excited that my records are more accessible in the new house for moments like this. Anything you’d like to see if I still own? =)
Believe it or not it was at JSU. (That year we had Kiss, Billy Joel, The Marshall Tucker Band, and Pure Prairie League.) WE had a heckuva SGA that year. Michael Martin Murphy opened and then Stevie Nicks filled Pete Matthews Coliseum with the biggest voice I’ve ever heard. Imagine her singing in her early twenties.
I had the LP (Yes, best album cover ever) and loaned/lost it. After they became FM, it was forever before they allowed the first album released as a CD. Finally got it for Christmas a few years back.
fun post… I didn’t know you went to see this show. very lucky. 🙂
VERY VERY lucky!