Today's Music News

                         Mick Fleetwood Blues Band Tour Poster Shoot 

                                                                   photo by: William Pie

                             Mick Fleetwood Blues Band Tour Poster Shoot

                              photo by: William Pie

              Dave Murray/ Houston, Texas ©2003 Tony Novak-Clifford

I received a call a couple of days ago from good friend and Iron Maiden guitarist Dave Murray. Dave is just back from several weeks of touring with his band. So far, Maiden has played India, Oz and South America. The first dates of the tour in India resulted in severe intestinal distress for the band members... to much curry, eh? South America, according to Dave, saw huge crowds and mob scenes at all venues, hotels, airports, etc... almost to the point where things got a little scary. I had the opportunity to join the band on the "Give "em Ed 'Till They're Dead" tour in 2003 to photograph several dates in Texas. Frankly, I was amazed at how well behaved the crowds at these shows were, given the fact that the two warm up bands were Lemmy Killmister/MotorHead and Ronnie James Dio. Neither of these acts took any prisoners and I do admit to moments of sinking into fear when Maiden finally would take the stage and 7000+ pairs of arms attached to all black clad youths would raise clenched fists and begin chanting in unison. 

For this tour, the band has it's own chartered jet with frontman Bruce Dickenson piloting the band from date to date. Bruce is a licensed commercial pilot and flies, or did fly for British Airlines when off duty from the band. 

Dave's home for a few weeks before heading back to Texas to launch the USA leg of the tour... then off to conquer Europe. "Up the Irons" as they say in Maidenland. So far, Dave says the tour has been great and the traveling the most comfortable of any previous tour. He looks forward to seeing all the fans on future tour dates in the US and Europe.

Over the last 7 years or so I have also had the priviledge of work for and getting to know Mick Fleetwood, the iconic drummer of legendary band Fleetwood Mac. Mick, also a Maui resident, has his hands in many pies, from wine making to music making. In addition to his work with Fleetwood Mac, Mick has developed a love of music from the islands and during the last couple of years has put together the "Island Rumours Band" teaming up with some of hawaii's best musicians, including Lenny Castellanos on bass, falsetto queen Riatea Helm, Guitarists/Songwriters Willie K. & Eric Gilliam, Fleetwood Guitarist Rick Vito Gretchen (I can't remember your last name at the moment, sorry) on vocals, Lopaka Colon, the incredible percussionist from Henry Kapono's Band, and Maila Gibson, also on vocals. IRB debuted at Oahu's Crater fest last summer and have had a steady booking of corporate gigs ever since.

Mick has also teamed up with longtime friend and bassist of Fleetwood Mac, the legendary John McVie, and Rick Vito to form the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band. Though the lineup changes from time to time with Lenny Castellanos subbing for John on bass for some dates. MFBB played it's first date in St. Louis a month or so ago and have several more mainland gigs in the works. This band is resurrecting the ball busting blues tunes of early FM member and guitarist Peter Green, dusting of classics like "Oh Well', " Rattlesnake Shake" and other songs from the catalog of what many musicophiles consider to be the glory days of Fleetwood Mac. Rick V. is a Peter Green devotee and has that dirty guitar tone Peter was famous for down pat. I got to attend a couple of the band's rehearsals a few months ago and was blown away by both the sound and the material. There are a couple of shots above from tour poster shoots showing me working with the band (note that old Sinar P2 4x5 in one of the photos). Those "behind the scenes shoot" pics were taken by tour manager William (Bill) Pie (pronounced PeeAYY not Pi). Thanks for the pics, Bill. Look for the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band coming sometime to a theater near you. Also, look for another Fleetwood Mac tour (the whole band) sometime in the near future.

Chicago will be performing at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center this friday night in the outdoor amphitheater. Show starts at 7pm. Jason Mraz returns to Maui and performs in the Castle Theater on May 1st at 7:30pm. Boz Scaggs along with the Matt Catingub Orchestra in the Castle Theater on May 12 at 7:30pm. There's a lot of other stuff happening at the MACC . You can check out the coming events at their website here