Rumours (band)
 

Does anyone know how tribute bands work? I know many famous groups have a tribute band out there touring and making money. However the Rumours band seems almost to be a corporation. They are all over the place. There is a Rumours band booked and playing on a big Norwegian Cruise Ship, a Rumours band in the UK, another Rumours band touring the states, etc. Does anyone know how many of them exist? I heard a radio announcement promoting them coming to my town. The announcement said that the band is blessed or sanctioned by Mick Fleetwood. Is Mick making money off all these bands? Are other members of Fleetwood Mac also making money off them?

The Rumours band on the cruise ship does not play various hits from the band. They play the entire Rumours album front to back and insert Silver Springs in the set. I've seen videos of them and they are really good. There are lots of tribute bands but I have never seen so many tribute bands all with the same name. For example there is another Fleetwood Mac tribute band called Tusk. They are also very good. But this Rumours band seems to be a corporation and with Mick's name being thrown around makes me wonder that he is profiting from them. They all have the same name. Does a typical tribute band have to pay the original band?

In Dallas I saw an AC/DC tribute band at a bar and I enjoyed a lot. Entrance was not expensive for the show they offered. The band played excellent. My personal opinion is that exactly why I expected from a tribute band and what I am willing to pay.

"Rumours of Fleetwood Mac" came to Peru in 2019. Tickets costed around $120. Not expensive for today prices, but I wasn't enough excited to see a tribute band for that price. And being a huge fan, I'd be comparing too much this band with the real one, so I doubted I would enjoy it enough.

The announce said "Personally endorsed by Fleetwood Mac founding member Mick Fleetwood" and actually Mick appeared in a video inviting people to go to this concert. He mentioned Peru so the ad was specifically for this venue. And knowing Mick's background and interests, is highly likely that he received some benefit from these shows.

BTW, chechick the setlist of that concert they did play hits from different albums.

I think there are quite a few. My favorite is Rumours ATL. It's mainly the Stevie Nicks show, because "Mackenzie" IS Stevie. I've seen them probably 7 times. They pissed off the club owner where I worked for years(by refusing to take a break in the middle of their set), so he found a different FM band(I'm not sure which one).
I'll be on that Norwegian ship in 3 weeks, and I'm trying to get reservations for the Rumours night(I think it only happens one night).

'Rumours of FM' came to my neck of the woods a few years ago.

Tickets - I thought - were pricey for a tribute band (about $50) but I went anyways, and the venue was actually packed.

Yes, definitely endorsed by Mick (there was a welcome video as mentioned) and apart from song performance royalties, I assume he gets a cut of ticket sales - not to mention from merch (yes there was actually a merch booth for a tribute band!), and the 'VIP package'. One can pay to sit in on their rehearsal and do a meet-and-great (yeah really, of a tribute band!) :lol: :rolleyes:

Dear Lord, Mick is going to start showing up at their meet and greets for money.

The band Tusk appeared at a theater in my home town. I thought the tickets were pricey too $45 for the cheapest seats. The Rumours band is probably officially licensed by Mick. Its really probably making some good money for him since I doubt Stevie or Lindsey really care about petty cash a cover band makes performing their songs. In some weird way since Mick was not a writer of these songs he would make the least or none at all. Hes fortunate enough that he is broke as hell and the 2 surviving writers in the band dont give AF about small change.
Gosh would you not want to know what percentage he gets. Lindsey and Stevie should join together and sue Mick for the proceeds. But maybe they do get something? Is Tusk a rogue cover band or do they also have to pay to perform Mac songs?
I demand answers!

Holy crap. I think the times I've paid to see Rumours ATL, it was $10-12.

I tell you, this "Mackenzie" of Rumours ATL, SHE HAS A FOLLOWING. People love her, I guess because she really seems to own it, "being Stevie".

She does it better than you! :lol:

Hey biotch, my Chiffon is in the shop, getting expanded, just like $tevie's!!!:mad:

I want to say that was the band that was on the sign playing at his restaurant in Maui when we went there before COVID. I remember being rather shocked that he would have a FM cover band / tribute band playing in HIS restaurant, but then it's Mick.... I will have to go back and check our pics because I think I took a photo of the sign because I thought it was so odd

Mick clearly has a business interest in Rumours of Fleetwood Mac or he wouldn't be actively endorsing and promoting them.
My take on it (and I could be wrong) is that he (or his business partners) saw the existing market for tribute acts and decided to launch their own.

I imagine that if the tribute band is making significant income then they are more likely to be subject to enforcement of the original artists' rights, such as various music royalties and trademark licensing.

I would go see Rumours of Fleetwood Mac if they came to my area -- the performance of Sara on YouTube really captures the vibe of the album track.

There's a Rumours show on a cruise?? Maybe another visit stateside is in order... Do tell us about your experience on the cruise when you get back, David.

I'm a virgin cruiser, and can't seem to find the exact entertainment itinerary for mine (even though I'm 3 weeks out), but people have been posting the "day sheets" of the past few cruises, and there's always been one Rumours night listed. But only one. I'm hoping it isn't sold out.

Because I'm hoping they do Silver Girl...:p

The band Rumours has a big contract to perform on the NCL Viva. There are lines an hour before the show to get in. The reviews are good. They do the Rumours album and tell the story of the band. the other Rumours band play all the songs and hits but the cruise ship band only sticks to Rumours.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8GT6mrY7rI

Edit:
It appears Rumours performs on multiple NCL ships which means there are more of them than I first thought. This is from the NCL Breakaway and they also perform on the NCL Prima. That's quite a contract.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSSnN1ha5o4

I Dont Want To Know
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVI7yNWwFi8

In the UK there are 3 bands I’m aware of:
Rumours of Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Bac
Fleetingwood Mac

The two main ones are Rumours of Fleetwood Mac and Fleetwood Bac. I think they must liaise with each other as when one band is touring the UK the other is on a break or touring abroad. Both are great in their own ways. I’ve not seen Fleetingwood Mac; they’re a newer, up and coming tribute act.

Rumours of Fleetwood Mac are interesting as they have 7 members and incorporate a Peter Green era set. They are good. They play the Mick endorsement. It never occurred to me he gets a cut. I don’t think he does. Think it’s quite an old clip and he was just pleased there was a tribute band out there, particularly considering they also play blues songs. Rick Vito often plays with them. A bit sad he resorts to that really.
I prefer Fleetwood Bac. They really are a close approximation to the Rumours band. And their ‘Christine’ is great!!!!!

Oh now, COME ON! Mick doesn't do ANYTHING for free.


I've been waiting 3 hours for my cruise consultant to call me back, and answer some of these questions(like can I make a reservation for Rumours?).

Enjoy your cruise. Where does it go to?

Thanks. Going out of NOLA, because(make fun of me all you like) Homey don't fly. I've flown at least 20 times in my life, AND.I.HATE.IT. I can drive to NOLA in 6.5 hours, and unless a plane crash lands on top of me, I'm good. I chose this cruise just so I could drive to the port.
7 days. 4 ports.
Sunday and Monday are "sea days", then
Cozumel
Roatan Bay
Harvest Caye(Norwegian's private island)
Costa Maya
Sea day back to NOLA.

All I can think of is BA Barracus
Have fun

That's me! Actually, I stay quiet, but they can see that I'm scared. My friend almost got fired a couple of months ago. The plane(for work) was taking off, and he MADE them go back and let him off. His boss was not happy. I actually have about 3 friends who are FAR more afraid than I.

Thanks.

Rumours of Fleetwood Mac is endorsed by Mick for sure (per the video played at the start of their show). From Google, it looks like Fleetwood Bac and Fleetwood Mask also carry his endorsement, so I suppose Mick's covering his bases!

My wife and I saw RFM's show in Sacramento a year or two ago, and it was quite well done. They definitely focus on recreating the studio version more than actual FM does, which may not be everyone's preference, but they also venture into songs that FM has rarely or never done live (eg, "I Don't Want to Know"), which is a nice touch given FM's relatively static setlist over the years.

So I just watched the Rumours tribute band on the Norwegian Breakaway cruise ship. They did Rumours in it's sequential entirety, plus Silver Bed Springs at the end. They were good, although they had 4 lead singers. Two guys and two girls. Seemed a little too Glee like in their beaming for the audience, and they were sometimes a tiny bit pitchy. And I kept trying to find evidence of tracks, but when you have 8 people on stage, it's hard to tell(Don't Stop had the high string note playing, the first half of the song, and he wasn't playing it, unless he was holding a sustain pedal the whole time). And the show was only 45 minutes. But hey, for the price I paid($0), it was well worth it. I'd go see them again, and pay, but not for 45 minutes. Especially with 4 singers. Stretch that bitch out!

Oh yeah, and when GYOW was ending, I began sobbing, and my shirt was wet with tears during Songbird.

wait, you don't fly, but go on cruise ships???

Isn't that weird? :lol:

That is correct. I'm terrified of heights, and planes fall into that category with me. From the 18th floor of this vessel(sun deck, basketball courts, etc), I won't get near the edge, because looking down scares me. Looking at the horizon is fine, though.

Why should I be afraid of cruise ships? Titanic?

If they played Silver Girl on repeat, you'd jump over that edge real quick! :laugh:

Suicide is far preferable to Sliver Girl.

Ha!!! :angel:

Titanic, Lusitania, Andrea Doria, Cotopaxi...

Touchee....

BUT, I can tell you that these days, the companies and the ship's captain avoid bad weather like the plague. My cruise only happens Dec- April, because they go out of elsewhere during hurricane season. And we're actually missing our port today(Norwegian's private island, Harvest Caye) because even though it's a beautiful day, they say it's too windy to safely dock.

rocking and rolling, Legionnaire's disease, Covid, etc etc etc

I'm strong as an ox. I've had the Covids twice, and was asymptomatic both times. I ain't a scared. Plus I got Covid and flu shots about 4 weeks ago, just because of the cruise.

Am I the only one that can’t stand the tribute bands? Almost every one I’ve ever listened to does everything possible to take what it is I love about Fleetwood Mac live performances. They essentially play the album. The arrangements are almost exclusively redundant of the albums. The phoniness and lack of spontaneity just kills any vibe. I’d rather just listen to Rumours or Mirage. I also find the ones that have everyone dressing in costumes like the band members to be horribly cringeworthy. You’ll have a Christine “lookalike” barely playing the keys and some guy in the background carrying the workload. I suppose that makes it super realistic to the modern era Fleetwood Mac…

When a FM cover band goes back to the refrain “you can go your own way…you can call it another lonely day” during the GYOW solo (the same way the album version does), they’ve lost me.

They just simply give me the creeps. Don't know why...

I will say I saw a Genesis and Rush cover band.. (small bar) and it was unreal, that's how real it was. They even looked like em.

I would partially agree. But some of them are so freaking good. Check out the videos of the band Tusk. They do an incredible Sara.
Of course the spontaneity of the real band we love especially in the hay day of the wild and unpredictable Stevie Nicks. Will she know the words, will she mis her cue, and who can forget her infamous I WANNA BE WITH YOU on the 1987 and 1990 tour.
When the Dance came out and beyond, the band almost sounded like a cover band of themselves. The Chain was neutered and everything was so scripted and predictable. I saw them on one of the last dates of the Dance and Lindsey gave the same exact speech he gave for the recording of the Dance video. There was nothing spontaneous, not even talking to the audience. This is why I prefer the Farewell Tour to the Dance. While I loved Lindsey back, the Farewell tour had so many unpredictable moments through the entire show. Give me the drunken, stoned, and high US Festival warts and all. THAT is rock and roll. Or as Stevie would tell her solo audiences during the Wild Heart tour, "they just play until I start." And you know what, each night she started a different time :lol:

i can't watch any of those cover bands. maybe some of them are good but i just have no interest.

--Lis

I think you’re being a bit harsh and miserable. I love them. FM have hardly ever been a spontaneous live band…..even back in the day.
And costumes….wtf? What do you expect? They are cover bands….what do you expect.
As with another thread….in the UK we have Rumours of Fleetwood Mac and Fleetwood Bac. And I really enjoyed them both. A slice of FM at a 10th of the cost.
FM tribute bands are the future!!!! : )

I’m going to see the tribute band TUSK this Sunday with my brother which was a gift from him. I never really had an interest in seeing a tribute band but it was a nice gift. Ive read this band is pretty good. We will see….

They are flawless from what I saw on youtube. There are countless Rumours bands which the quality wanes especially the ones on cruise ships. But I wonder if there is only one Tusk.

I agree with you too. I love the parodies of French and Saunders and the Ho Hos when they do the crazy Stevie running around stage slapping everyone's hands. Could you imagine how incredible it would be to have a cover band with those antics. Would the band get sued for defamation? The Ho Ho's interpretation of Red Rocks is probably the best Stevie parody ever. However to the masses would not really get or understand. We know all the hiccups and warts of their live performances over the years. Most would not, so this concept would not work. But I would love it.

I never knew Andrea Doria was a real ship. Just assumed it was made up for the Seinfeld episode.

As in "Present Band" creeps, or not as bad as that?;)