We’d heard the controversy of founding member Lindsay Buckingham being unceremoniously booted out of Fleetwood Mac in late 2018 primarily at Stevie Nicks’ behest after a couple of unfortunate incidents and a clash in touring schedules and his subsequent replacement with Australia/NZ hero  and musical legend Neil Finn primarily John McVie, Stevie Nicks, Neil Finn, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie and Lindsay Buckingham. as Buckingham’s vocal replacement and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ guitarist Mike Campbell, taking on Lindsay Buckingham’s searing guitar parts with the virtuosity and dexterity needed.

And here it was before us, this musical beast of compromise and opportunity, 2019’s incarnation of Fleetwood Mac, and boy were we fans glad to see them in their full glory in front of us. It felt like a miracle to see Fleetwood Mac performing together under any guise in 2019, and a triumphant and joyous one at that, this wonderful pop and rock apex of the 1970’s who we often think of as American due to Nicks’ and Buckingham’s voices, but are reminded at concerts that they are also very much British, with the other three remaining main members, John and Christine McVie and Mick Fleetwood being English.

Given the length of time since the 70’s, it feels like witnessing the kind of rich historical cultural experience you normally only would in museums, with the same sense of enchantment and magic of the past, except they were alive and still beloved by many, managing to sell out Rod Laver Arena a staggering four times in 2019 and the equivalent Spark Arena in Auckland for the same number of nights. The show begins with a high pitched droning sound creating an aura of suspense and after a minute of that, one by one Fleetwood Mac appear on stage and launch into evergreen Mac show opener with a blistering rendition of ‘The Chain‘.

It is really very impressive that a band all of whose members are in their 70’s continue to sound this vital with a full, muscular sound that at no stage disappoints. At times Fleetwood Mac carry the aura of a serious, important US rock band of the 80’s carrying the portent of such American bands from the 60’s and 70’s such as the Beach Boys. It’s a wonderful energy and sense of nostalgia for the nicer, more appealing aspects of those times. And it’s also lovely to hear Christine McVie take lead vocals early on in the show for the universally loved ‘Everywhere‘ and ‘Little Lies‘.

At 76 McVie’s vocals are still very good and her keyboard playing exemplary. It’s nice to see her getting some of the limelight as she is a vital and very enjoyable contributor to Fleetwood Mac, widely loved by fans. Although there is no rivalry between her and Stevie Nicks’, Nicks is a really, really big star with a legendary history who can tend to command the centre of attention. And we do all certainly love her, but it’s nice to see McVie and others getting a piece of the action also, they all matter after all. Which we certainly don’t have to worry about with Mick Fleetwood, whose madcap drum solo with hoots and catcalls placed in the middle of the show instead of towards the end as it traditionally has been throughout the years.

Neil Finn gets his moments too, such as the alarmingly potent rendition of his Split Enz song ‘I Got You‘, met with rapturous applause from the audience and an enchanting version of Crowded House’s ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over‘ duetted with Stevie Nicks.

The least prominent core member is John McVie, who quietly plugs away on the bass but is an equally beloved and valued member. Nicks’ trademark big songs, ‘Rhiannon‘, ‘Dreams‘, ‘Gold Dust Woman‘ and ‘Landslide‘ are all sung with heart and conviction, and note perfect I might add, truly impressive.

Fleetwood Mac have always had a major presence on stage, being one of the biggest bands in the world for all of their career and one of the greats of 20th Century pop and rock. It’s really nice to see they still carry this off in 2019. They have a particularly benevolent vibe and approach, when contrasted with other legendary supergroups who have helped define the entire history of modern pop and rock this is quite unusual and such goodwill is lapped up with much appreciation. And Lindsay Buckingham is missed, during the closing number, ‘Don’t Stop‘, for a fleeting moment I thought this is sacrelige, them playing this without him and Buckingham’s absence was acutely felt. But still a wonderful concert from an amazing band on possibly their last ever major world tour.

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