The recent announcement of Fleetwood Mac’s long-awaited return to Australia and New Zealand has spun the Southern Hemisphere into an ecstatic frenzy. But there’s one person currently not very happy about it. That’s person’s name is Andrew McManus.
The titular concert promoter behind McManus Entertainment is caught up in a heated legal battle with New Zealand venue Forsyth Barr Stadium after Fleetwood Mac changed promotors ahead of the announcement of their forthcoming tour.
McManus Entertainment made a $50,000 deposit for Fleetwood Mac to perform at the stadium in Dunedin, however, the show was subsequently scrapped when the legendary band switched promoting companies to Live Nation Entertainment, leaving the Melbourne-based promoter out of pocket. This is where things get a little messy.
Forsyth Barr Stadium – sticking to the fundamental rule of deposits – are refusing to refund McManus the $50,000. Outraged, McManus has fired back telling The Otaga Times the cancellation fee is “morally and professionally wrong” and that he plans to sue the venue for the same amount.
According to Noise 11, it’s currently unknown whether McManus had signed a contract with Fleetwood Mac at the time of the booking. Regardless, Forsyth Barr’s management have said they will fight the matter in court if need be. An outraged McManus claims the $ 50,000 cancellation fee is “morally and professional wrong”.
It’s not the first time McManus has been involved in a booking mixup. Most recently he was at the centre of the controversial beginnings of the inaugural Stone Music Festival, which debuted last April.
The sudden announcement of the festival, a two-day event headlined by Van Halen and Billy Joel, was met with some criticism as some questioned the need for another festival in the current economic climate. Others rightfully pointed out that Van Halen had a patchy history when it comes to actually turning up to the concerns they’ve been booked for.
Despite initial friction and heated words thrown between Stone Music Festival and McManus, the two parties ended up forming a bizarre partnership, with McManus announcing that Aerosmith – the band he had booked to tour Australia – would be absorbed into the Saturday night lineup for Stone Music Festival, and in turn becoming Aerosmith’s debut show of their Australian tour, the news arriving just weeks out from its kick-off.
While reports from the festival seem to follow the trajectory of ‘small numbers, big response’, Stone Music Festival promoters have revealed that it will be making a return in 2014 with ambitions to rope in some big acts as part of a secured three-to-five year business plan. “It could be Muse or Kings Of Leon or Pearl Jam, or it could be The Eagles, but it will always be rock and they’ll be exclusive,” said Stephen Duval, of financiers SEQ, about future Stone Music Festival possibilities. “It’s the perfect time to go back out… 2013 is going to be the year of Fleetwood Mac.” – Stevie Nicks.
Meanwhile, Fleetwood Mac’s show must go on. Live Nation Entertainment have since re-booked their New Zealand date for Auckland’s Vector Arena and are promising an “extraordinary show including exquisite harmonies, incomparable chemistry, sleek perfection and classic hits.”
The tour coincides with the recent release of their new four-track EP appropriately titled Extended Play; the first dose of new material since their 17th studio album in 2003, Say You Will.
“It’s the best stuff we’ve done in a long time,” said guitarist Lindsay Buckingham on-staged recently, during the introduction to new song ‘Sad Angel’ (watch some tasty fan footage here).
While fellow bandmate Stevie Nicks shared Buckingham’s enthusiasm, previously remarking of the new world tour: “It’s the perfect time to go back out – 2013 is going to be the year of Fleetwood Mac.”
With a career spanning more than four decades and global album sales amassing more than 100 million, even with the release of the new EP, Buckingham has noted that there’s still a focus on the band’s extensive catalogue of hits. “We always have to play ‘Dreams,’ ‘Rhiannon,’ ‘Don’t Stop,’ ‘Tusk,’ ‘Big Love,’ ‘Landslide’ and all our most famous songs,” he told Rolling Stone at the end of last year.
“When you’ve gone through all your must-do’s, that’s 75% of your potential setlist. I think with the other 25%, there are areas of our catalog that are more under-explored,” continued the guitarist.
You can hear the new track ‘Sad Angel’ below as well as scope the 2013 Australian Tour Dates.
Fleetwood Mac 2013 Australian Tour
Sunday November 10
Sydney, Entertainment Centre
Saturday November 16
Hunter Valley, Hope Estate Winery
Tuesday November 19
Adelaide, Entertainment Centre
Friday November 22
Perth, Perth Arena
Tuesday November 26
Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena
Saturday November 30
Geelong, The Hill Winery
Monday December 2
Brisbane, Entertainment Centre
American Express Cardmembers pre-sale: 12noon Tuesday June 4 until 6.00am Friday June 7
www.facebook.com/americanexpressaustralia
My Live Nation pre-sale: 9.00am Friday June 7 until 5.00pm Monday June 10 Ticket agent pre-sale: 2.00pm Tuesday June 11 until 5.00pm Wednesday June 12
For complete tour and ticket information, visit: www.fleetwoodmac.com & www.livenation.com.au
