Many of us save memorable quotes from podcasts or articles for no apparent reason. It can take time to understand what we will do with this new inspiration, but we instinctively know we must hold on to it, and keep it safe somewhere in our life’s pile. Many of these scraps line the pages of books I’ve read (or are yet to finish).
Creativity thrives on seemingly unrelated ideas coming together to form something new and unique. Michael Chugg AM, one of Australia’s legendary tour promoters, was interviewed on a podcast last year, and it’s taken me this long to realise what I needed to do with a legend he shared. I was transfixed by his gruff voice describing how when Fleetwood Mac toured Australia in the 1970s, they demanded a lavish ‘medieval marquee’ backstage rider, and in an epic power play, they never actually set foot inside. I have obsessed ever since over how such an audacious display of excess and entitlement could just sit for hours, untouched. It was 1977, and an extravagant rider request from the line up of Mick Fleetwood, John and Christine McVie, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham was to absolutely be met by their tour promoter – just ‘like a scene in the old jousting movies’ (but with no one there). Of course, this lavishly outrageous expense wasn’t all for nothing. The roadies feasted like kings that night!
“IN THE MARQUEE, THERE WAS A 40-FOOT LONG TABLE WITH KING AND QUEEN CHAIRS. AND ON THE TABLE WERE WHOLE PIGS AND WHOLE SHEEP AND JUST PILES OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. IT WAS JUST OVER THE TOP. EVERY IMAGINABLE DRINK – I’D NEVER HEARD OF PIMMS BEFORE THAT TOUR. VINTAGE FRENCH CHAMPAGNE. JUST EVERYTHING.”
Michael Chugg AM
© 2023 Melissa Ogier.
For this story, I designed how I would stylistically deliver the Fleetwood Mac backstage concept. I threw in a hint of the medieval without there being any chainmail or knights present. I also wanted to generate an AI image of the setting based on Chugg’s quote, mainly to test whether AI is in fact a threat to creativity, or if we can use it to enhance our work and communicate effectively with clients. I enjoyed interpreting this rock n roll legend. And, while Canva is great for capturing the quirky details of lavish abundance, it lacks mood and depth, which I was able to show in AI images, generated within minutes.
“They never went into that tent at all. It was a total waste of money!”
Michael Chugg AM
I’ve discovered that AI is a little like scaffolding. It’s a start point for ideas, not the end. This fusion of technology and human creativity showcases how AI can complement and enhance our creative endeavors, rather than replace them.
A closer look at the creative
Scroll through the gallery below to explore some of the details and rationale.
An abundant display of a sumptuous, medieval style banquet with seafood, whole pig, whole sheep (true to Chugg’s quote), grapes, wine, wheat, foliage, fruit, nuts, champagne, the works. 
What is an outrageous feast without magnums of vintage French or a coupe champagne tower? Also, wheat is feast is fash-un. 
A mix of lush black velvet drapes, 1970s style carpets and exotic kilim rugs, oversized urns in earthy tones and silver pedestal pots are essential details. 
The back wall in the marquee is covered in a wallpaper overlay of interstellar graphics, inspired by Fleetwood Mac album cover art and the 1970s styling. 
The Fleetwood Mac album cover that inspired details included in the creative concept. 
Original artwork inspired by Michael Chugg’s quote, to show grandeur and empty gestures of cheers in a marquee that no one sits in. 
Over the top, emphasised foliage displays form a theatrical centrepiece to the 40 foot table display. Different colours and textures hold the eye and set the tone for the space. 
I did four or five iterations in Midjourney, continually fine tuning the prompts. Of the dozens of images generated, a combination of the two in this story got closest to what my mind’s eye envisaged. Of course, the table top is nothing like what I arranged in my Canva mock ups, which is where the AI and human partner to create something breathtaking, even if, in Chuggie’s words, it’s a complete waste of money. So rock n roll.
WANT MORE?
Listen to the Good Chat podcast that prompted my creative exploration of what Fleetwood Mac’s unused 1977 backstage area looked like. Forward to the 10 min mark to hear the Fleetwood Mac conversation.
If you were there in 1977 and have photographic evidence of this unused backstage area, I hope you will be in touch to share stories and pics.
The Garb Wire 