Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac are a rock band formed in London in 1967 by singer and guitarist Peter Green. The group takes its name from drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie, who join shortly after the band forms. Over the years, the line-up changes repeatedly, but the band remains one of the most commercially successful rock acts of its era, with reported worldwide sales of more than 120 million records.

Early years and British blues period

Fleetwood Mac begin as a British blues band. Their early work includes the UK number one single Albatross in 1968, followed by UK top ten hits with Man of the World, Oh Well and The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown). The early line-up includes Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Jeremy Spencer, Danny Kirwan and Bob Welch. Green leaves in May 1970, and Christine McVie joins two months later, first as a session musician and then as an official member on vocals and keyboards.

Move toward pop rock success

By the end of 1974, the band no longer has a guitarist and male singer, so Fleetwood recruits the American duo Buckingham Nicks, made up of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, in December 1974. Their arrival shifts the group toward a more pop rock sound. The album Fleetwood Mac from 1975 reaches number one on the Billboard 200 in the United States. The follow-up, Rumours from 1977, also reaches number one in multiple countries and wins the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1978.

Line-up changes and later releases

The line-up stays stable for three more studio albums before changing again in the late 1980s. After Buckingham leaves in 1987, Billy Burnette and Rick Vito replace him, with Vito leaving in 1990 along with Nicks. The classic 1974–1987 line-up reunites for a performance at President Bill Clinton’s first inauguration in 1993, then fully reunites four years later for the live album The Dance, which marks the 20th anniversary of Rumours and the band’s 30th anniversary. Christine McVie leaves in 1998 and returns in 2014 for the On With the Show Tour. Say You Will, released in 2003, is their final studio album.

Awards and recognition

Fleetwood Mac receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1979. They are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and receive the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. In 2018, they are named MusiCares Person of the Year for artistic achievement and philanthropy.

Studio albums

The band’s studio albums include Fleetwood Mac (also known as Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac), Mr. Wonderful, Then Play On, Kiln House, Future Games, Bare Trees, Penguin, Mystery to Me, Heroes Are Hard to Find, Fleetwood Mac (1975), Rumours, Tusk, Mirage, Tango in the Night, Behind the Mask, Time and Say You Will.