Band calls off 14 dates in Australia and New Zealand
Fleetwood Mac have canceled the Australia and New Zealand legs of their tour so that bassist John McVie can undergo cancer treatment. The band announced the cancellation on their Facebook page on Saturday, and their publicist confirmed the news.
“Fleetwood Mac who has just completed the European leg of their phenomenally successful worldwide tour has announced the cancellation of their upcoming 14 date tour of Australia and New Zealand,” the notice on Facebook said. “John McVie, one of the co founding and original members of Fleetwood Mac is now scheduled to be in treatment for cancer during that period of time. We are sorry to not be able to play these Australian and New Zealand dates. We hope our Australian and New Zealand fans as well as Fleetwood Mac fans everywhere will join us in wishing John and his family all the best.”
Fleetwood Mac Talk Reissuing ‘Rumours’ and Making New Music
A month ago at London’s O2 Arena, the band kicked off the European leg of their tour on a high note, when longtime keyboardist and singer Christine McVie rejoined the band for the first time since 1998. Christine McVie was married to John McVie from 1968 until 1977.
Just as the band embarked on their world tour last spring, Fleetwood Mac released their first new music in 10 years, a four-song EP called Extended Play. “We’re doing the best business we’ve done in 20 years,” guitarist Lindsey Buckingham told Rolling Stone in May. “There seems to be a cyclical re-igniting of interests, and there’s certainly a lot more young people out there than three years ago.”