Giving further credence to Christine McVie’s recent interview in which she stated that the band will likely do a 2018 world tour, the Recording Academy™ announced on July 19 that Fleetwood Mac will be honored at the 2018 MusiCares® Person of the Year tribute on January 26, 2018.
The announcement was made by Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the MusiCares Foundation® and the Recording Academy™. Proceeds from the 28th annual benefit gala—to be held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City during Grammy® Week two nights prior to the 60th Annual Grammy Awards®—will provide essential support for MusiCares, which ensures the music community has a place to turn in times of financial, medical, and personal need.
On Jan. 10, the Academy announced many new artists who will be performing at the event: Imagine Dragons, Alison Krauss, Brandi Carlile, Miley Cyrus, Little Big Town, Zac Brown Band, Portugal. The Man., Juanes, and Jerry Douglas.
They join the following who were announced on Oct. 20 to perform that evening are John Legend, Lorde, Keith Urban, Haim, One Republic and Harry Styles. Fleetwood Mac will close the evening’s performances. Tickets are available here.
McVie had told a British reporter on June 14 that the full band will begin rehearsals in March for a global tour that will launch next June. She reiterated that on a June 16 appearance on BBC Breakfast.
The band are being honored in recognition of their significant creative accomplishments and their longtime support of a number of charitable causes.
“Our 2018 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute is a celebration of firsts—the first time our annual signature gala will be held in New York City in 15 years, and the first time in the benefit’s history that we will honor a band,” said Portnow. “This excitement is only matched by the genuine thrill and privilege of paying tribute to Fleetwood Mac, a legendary and influential group of artists whose music has provided the soundtrack for music lovers around the world.”
Previous Person of the Year honorees include, among others, Tom Petty (earlier this year), Bob Dylan, Bono, Phil Collins, David Crosby, Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Paul Simon, Sting and Brian Wilson.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be the first band to receive the MusiCares Person of the Year award,” said Mick Fleetwood on behalf of Fleetwood Mac. “Independently and together, we all set off on a journey to spend our lives as artists, songwriters, and musicians. None of us did it alone and there were plenty of helping hands along the way, so we applaud and celebrate MusiCares’ guiding principles of giving musicians a helping hand and a place to turn in times of need. We are very appreciative of this recognition.”
As one of the best-selling bands of all time, Fleetwood Mac have sold more than 100 million records worldwide and established their place in music history. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Their 1977 album Rumours remains one of the best-selling albums of all time. In 2015, the band’s classic and most successful line up—comprising Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, John McVie, and Stevie Nicks—reunited for the first time since 1998 for the “On With The Show” tour. The tour sold out arenas across the globe and showcased classic rock songs from their career such as “The Chain,” “Go Your Own Way,” “Dreams,” “Don’t Stop,” “Big Love,” “Little Lies,” and “Rhiannon,” among others.
On July 16, Fleetwood Mac returned to the stage for the first time in a year for their first of two 2017 performances as part of the Classic West and East festivals.
Watch them perform “The Chain” at Dodger Stadium
Related: Our coverage of their 2017 performance at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium
The celebration culminates with the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, January 28. The telecast will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
