Fleetwood Plans Red Cross Benefit

 

Fleetwood Mac co-founder Mick Fleetwood will perform Wednesday night (Nov. 14) with his All-Star Blues Band to kick off a music memorabilia auction being held next week by his company Fleetwood Owen. The show at the House of Blues in Los Angeles will benefit the American Red Cross.

Fleetwood -- whose band features Ron Thompson (the Resisters), Mark Goldstein, and Oliver Brown, plus special guests Linda "Earthquake" Hopkins and noted slide guitarist Tommy Castro -- will sign the drum set he uses that night to be sold at auction for the benefit of the Red Cross, which will also benefit from drumsticks he will sign and sell at the event. Tickets are $35; for reservations or more information, call 650-980-5015.

The show is being staged as a gala introduction to Fleetwood Owen's Nov. 20 Rock Legends auction through the company's Web site. Among the items that will be up for grabs -- and on display at the show -- are a selection of guitars from the personal collection of Bon Jovi's Richie Sambora, and an autographed cowboy hat worn by Madonna while publicizing her latest tour. Items relating to Tom Jones, Oasis, Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead, and Janis Joplin.

In other news, Fleetwood will soon be heading into the studio with Fleetwood Mac to record a new album, the group's first without singer/keyboardist Christine McVie. The now four-piece act (Fleetwood, bassist John McVie, guitarist Lindsey Buckingham, and singer Stevie Nicks) are said to be tentatively planning a summer 2002 tour.

Fleetwood Mac's last release, 1997's "The Dance," was a live album recorded at three intimate performances in Los Angeles. The set debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200.

-- Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y