The Mac is back with healthy John McVie, brand new set list at tour opener in Sydney
Fleetwood Mac was recharged and ready to rock Sydney on Thursday night, as they kicked off the fourth leg of their On With The Show World Tour. Australian fans have been patiently waiting for the supergroup to come Down Under ever since it abruptly cancelled the last tour two years ago after bassist John McVie was diagnosed with cancer. According to Mick Fleetwood, the venerable and resilient McVie is healthy once again, having responded well to chemotherapy treatments. But Fleetwood revealed that this may be McVie’s final tour, as the wear and tear of continual touring has worn him down.
But last night, Fleetwood Mac showed no signs of slowing down, performing the first of three shows at Allphones Arena at Sydney’s Olympic Park. After the band launched into the Rumours-phere with stirring renditions of “The Chain” and “You Make Loving Fun,” Stevie Nicks greeted the audience, as usual, and took a few moments to acknowledge Christine McVie’s 2014 return to the band. She then fired up the crowd with her concert battle cry: “Let’s get this party started!”
The band made a few changes to the set list for this leg of the tour, introducing three new songs: “Bleed to Love Her,” “Sara,” and “Think about Me” — one a piece for each of the three songwriters. Three songs replaced “I Know I’m Not Wrong,” “Sisters of the Moon,” and “Over My Head,” respectively in the concert set. Christine amused the crowd when she introduced “Think about Me”: “It was released as a single, although I don’t think it did do terribly well. But we like it.”
During the “Landslide” dedication, Stevie mentioned that she had already been staying in Sydney for the past two weeks visiting friends and family, such as her 86-year-old “adopted mom” Margaret Michaels, whom she befriended in 2005. She dedicated “Landslide” to Margaret and Margaret’s daughter Sally, who had been away during Stevie’s two week visit and had recently returned. So Sally received a special dedication.
“I just want you to know, Sal, that I love you and that the world is good and the colors are bright. And you have to open up and let God put his arms around you. And do that. You live in the most beautiful city in the world. So this is for Margaret and for Sally. It’s called ‘Landslide.'”
Fleetwood Mac performs again at Sydney’s Allphones Arena on Saturday and Sunday.
Live Tweets
#FleetwoodMac @fleetwoodmac Did not disappoint tonight in Sydney. #OnWithTheShow @MickFleetwood @christine_mcvie pic.twitter.com/liAhIJbIsT
— Mack Hilleard (@MackHilleard) October 22, 2015
'If you have a dream, don't let anyone tell you that you can't have that dream' – @StevieNicks #FleetwoodMac #Sydney
— Emma Stevens (@emmarah) October 22, 2015
'The world is good and the colours are bright' – @StevieNicks #fleetwoodmac #sydney
— Emma Stevens (@emmarah) October 22, 2015
Great night at @fleetwoodmac in #Sydney. (As socially awkward as I am they managed to get me off my chair dancing.) pic.twitter.com/gSIflDGCSa
— David Sharaz (@DavidSharaz) October 22, 2015
Beautiful #stevienicks #fleetwoodmac lucky enough to be given some tickets for the show in sydney… https://t.co/8GvN49dARM
— ANNE STRINGER (@styliststringy) October 22, 2015
Lindsey Buckingham freaking killing it on the guitar!!! #FleetwoodMac #Sydney Allphones Arena!
— nishita john (@nishitajojo) October 22, 2015
Fleetwood Mac in #sydney – they've definitely still got it. Awesome. pic.twitter.com/viKxlzWl3S
— Roger Kermode (@rogerkermode) October 22, 2015
Woohoo nearly time for @fleetwoodmac Sydney show with @Mel_Tea @Babalooist @jarbullett ? pic.twitter.com/tEWXdqAGkf
— Sonia Surija (@Sonia_Rose1) October 22, 2015
Set List
- The Chain
- You Make Loving Fun
- Dreams
- Second Hand News
- Rhiannon
- Everywhere
- Bleed to Love Her (replaces I Know I’m Not Wrong)
- Tusk
- Sara (replaces Sisters of the Moon)
- Say You Love Me
- Big Love
- Landslide
- Never Going Back Again
- Think About Me (replaces Over My Head)
- Gypsy
- Little Lies
- Gold Dust Woman
- I’m So Afraid
- Go Your Own Way
- World Turning (encore 1)
- Don’t Stop
- Silver Springs
- Songbird (encore 2)
