Kiwi music legend Neil Finn, famed for his bands Split Enz and Crowded House, has recently taken up a new posting in Fleetwood Mac. In this interview, journalist Joy Reid meets with Neil Finn and Mick Fleetwood before their recent show at London’s Wembley Stadium to discuss the band’s infamous history, how it inspired their greatest works and how Neil feels about stepping into one of the most iconic bands of all time.
Neil describes the overwhelming surprise of finding himself on a “thrilling musical adventure,” that he didn’t see coming at this point in his career, and touches on some insecurities about being the new guy in a band with such an “incredible history, unlike any other band.”
A history that Joy Reid characterises as, “Rocks greatest soap opera. A superstar circus of drugs, scandal and money played out in some of the most popular songs ever.” And her summation is more or less confirmed by Mick Fleetwood’s retrospective of the Rumours era.
“All five members of Fleetwood Mac were in emotive disarray and everyone was speaking in tongues through their songs.” Affirming that the general haze around Fleetwood Mac was legitimate. “There was lots of drugs. Fortunately, not drugs that would really be the worst of the worst of the worst. We just stayed in a sort of cocaine and alcohol induced state.” he admits. “Especially me.”
It’s a fascinating story of a band who are as equally torn apart by success, excess, heartbreak and betrayal as they are bound by it. Neil Finn might just be the only guy on the planet to possess the rare degree of talent, experience and understanding required to fill the role. Watch to the end to see Neil Finn and Stevie Nicks’ stunning duet on the Crowded House song, “Don’t Dream It’s Over”.
The new Fleetwood Mac line up, featuring Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Stevie Nicks, and Christine McVie, Mike Campbell and Neil Finn arrives in Australia for a massive national tour in just a few weeks, starting August 9th in Perth. Dates, details and ticket info here.
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