My Letter to the Editor of The New Yorker

I came across this sentence in the review of Lucie Brock-Broido's book of poems, "Stay, Illusion", by Dan Chiasson in the October 28, 2013, issue:

Brock-Broido's poems can be baffling, but because of their stylish spookiness (some combination of Poe and Stevie Nicks) they are never boring.

And I thought how ridiculous to spoon a mere poet and a demigod in the same parenthetical comparison. Poe gave the world the hackneyed work "The Raven", which has been the cause of suffering for countless teenagers forced to memorize it in school. Stevie Nicks gave the world the transcendent work "Edge of Seventeen (Just Like the White Winged Dove)", which has lifted the spirits of so many teenagers, including many, I would guess, depressed from the experience of memorizing Poe's poem. I believe you owe Ms. Nicks an apology.
rocky dennis
Livermore, Calif.

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Curiously Unremarked-Upon

Fleetwood Mac Teach 'Glee' Kids A Lesson On Rumours 

Stevie Nicks + Lindsey Buckingham

The way it ought to be. America's royal couple, ca. 1970s. Puzzlingly, this pre-Mac album has never been issued on CD.

Stevie Nicks + Dave Stewart

Rocky, dust off the top hat and pull the lace shawl out of yr hope chest.

Children of "The Mac"...

...or "Tusk" meets Wes Anderson meets Talking Heads. Discuss.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJKythlXAIY


...

Daily Dose of the Mac

Have you all been getting enough Fleetwood Mac in your life? Here, let rocky help you. Actually, I'm gonna give you a Fleetwood Mac substitute this time. It's Sleepy Sun, one of rocky's favorite new bands from Santa Cruz, covering a Mac tune. Enjoy!

Post-Live Blog at the Fleetwood Mac Concert

The crowd: this is the oldest and homeliest group of people I've ever seen at a rock concert--multiplied by 10,000. There's no one under the age of 40 it seems. 

Before the concert starts, the sound of chirping crickets plays over the sound system.  

The band enters the stage and starts into "Monday Morning".  The sound system is horrible, but my initial disappointment with the sound system quickly fades.

They play just incredible versions of "The Chain" and "Rhiannon".

Fleetwood Mac is the right name for the band.  McVie and Fleetwood are the backbone of the band.  Mick Fleetwood brings complete joy to his drumming.  He's surrounded by a colossal gold-tinted drum kit complete with a very large gong. 

Lindsay Buckingham is the greatest rock guitarist I've ever seen and heard live.  He's all over the stage and just ripping it. He's nearly 60 years old?

Stevie Nicks does slow twirls with outstretched arms at center stage.  I don't know of a single human act that's a more existential statement of "This is who I am, this is what I do, this is my place in the world".   I'm moved watching it.

(cont'd in comments)

As flies to wanton boys...

...are troubled pop tarts to a Goddess.

The Cover of the Rolling Stone, B-side

Are you kidding me? Stoner and Rocky assay the latest issue of Rolling Stone and don't mention the Stevie Nicks interview?

"We still feel like Fleetwood Mac have a lot to give to the world. In this time of trouble and turmoil, I think the world needs Fleetwood Mac." Amen to that, sister.

Left: "I'm all about mystery," says the 60-year-old (!) goddess.

Below: 19-year-old Taylor Swift (who, we learn, has never smoked a cigarette, nor tasted a drop of alcohol) getting her nose picked by Katy "I Kissed a Girl" Perry while Miley Cyrus mugs for the camera

The Mac Tours!

Dig out yr scarves and dust off yr top hat, Rocky. (No CA dates set, however.)

Gold Dust Man

Mick Fleetwood hits the road this summer with The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band and Wine Experience.

Mick Fleetwood, the iconic co-founder of Fleetwood Mac, is celebrating his blues heritage with his new group, The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band, which pays tribute to Mick's musical roots.

The Uncorked Tour features a full concert in the intimate setting of Fanny Hill Amphitheater in Snowmass Village plus showcases his Private Cellar Wines.

Join Mick for his VIP reception prior to the concert and sample his Private Cellar Wines paired with gourmet food. Leave with your own autographed bottle of Mick Fleetwood Private Cellar Wine.

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Feral Boy will be out of town for this one. He and his woman are to be in Kaua'i June 7-18. Rocky, you're welcome to his lair in the interim.

Never Break The Chain

Fleetwood Mac surprised by Sheryl Crow claim

By Gary Graff

DETROIT (Billboard) - Sheryl Crow's recent claim that she would be working with Fleetwood Mac surprised a lot of people -- including the members of the classic rock group.

Crow, 46, who's friendly with Mac's Stevie Nicks, told the AOL music website Spinner.com earlier this month that she and the band "definitely have plans for collaborating in the future, and we'll see what happens."

"I think we were all a little surprised (Crow) was announcing that to the world with such certainty," Fleetwood Mac principal Lindsey Buckingham, 58, told Billboard.com with a laugh.

"We have talked about the possibility of bringing another woman into the scene to kind of give Stevie a sort of foil and shake it up a little bit. (Crow) was certainly a name that has come up. We'll have to see."

Nicks, 59, has been the group's sole female member since Christine McVie, now 64, retired from the band in the late '90s.

Buckingham said the group, which last toured in 2004, is considering returning to the road in the first half of 2009, possibly with some new material. He said that he has "a ton of new stuff" that could be used for a new Fleetwood Mac album, its first since 2003's "Say You Will."

Buckingham -- who's just released a new concert DVD, "Live at the Bass Performance Hall," from his 2006-07 solo tour -- is also planning another solo album for this summer.

Recorded with members of his touring band as well as Fleetwood Mac co-founders Mick Fleetwood, 60, and John McVie, 62, he said it "has a little more of a rock feel to it" than his most recent effort, 2006's "Under the Skin."

"It's just another group of tunes that hopefully will translate to stage, and hopefully we can get some more (solo) dates this summer."

Reuters/Billboard