Music Flashback: Fleetwood Mac

One of my All-Time favorite bands!

This British band actually started in London back in 1967. The only member of the band that has been with the group through their entire history is drummer Mick Fleetwood. The name of the band is a combination of the names of bass player John McVie and drummer Fleetwood. The band was already using the name Fleetwood Mac in an effort to entice John McVie to join the band, which he did a short time later but not in time for the bands first concerts and release of their first single.

The group enjoyed modest success as a British Blues band during the late 1960′s and early part of the 1970′s. One of the groups early members was singer Bob Welch, who after leaving the band, would go on to have a few minor solo hits here in the US with “Ebony Eyes” and “Sentimental Lady”.

After Bob Welch left the band, a search was started for a new singer and guitarist. Mick Fleetwood soon discovered California singer and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham. Fleetwood asked Buckingham to join Fleetwood Mac. Buckingham agreed, but only on the condition that the band also hire his girlfriend, singer Stephanie “Stevie” Nicks. The rest was history.

The “Classic” lineup of Fleetwood Mac debuted in 1975 and consisted of drummer Mick Fleetwood, bassist John McVie, keyboard/piano and vocalist Christine McVie (John’s wife), guitarist and singer Lindsey Buckingham, and singer Stevie Nicks. The “Blues” band released their self titled album “Fleetwood Mac” with an all-new sound and headed off into music history.

That album was followed in 1977 with the release of the album “Rumours” which went on to spawn a number of hits and the album also won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

Fleetwood Mac’s many hits over the years have included songs such as:

RHIANNON
OVER MY HEAD
DREAMS
YOU MAKE LOVING FUN
SARA
SAVE ME
DON’T STOP
LANDSLIDE
THE CHAIN
GO YOUR OWN WAY
SAY YOU LOVE ME
LITTLE LIES
GYPSY
TUSK
HOLD ME
BIG LOVE
SEVEN WONDERS
SILVER SPRINGS
THINK ABOUT ME
EVERYWHERE

and many more……..

I had the opportunity to see the group in concert in London during the mid 1980′s and they were great live!

In 1987, the band began a series of breakups that would lead various members of the band to leave the group resulting in a number of different band members being added though the group did not chart any new hit singles outside of the “classic” lineup years. Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, and Chistine McVie stayed with the group through the lineup changes until the “classic” lineup was restored in 1997. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Christine McVie left the group that same year.

Today, Fleetwood Mac with Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, and Stevie Nicks are still together and just completed a very successful worldwide tour together.

The group has charted 18 Top-40 hits in the US to date.

While many people think of Stevie Nicks as “the voice and sound” of Fleetwood Mac, I think a large amount of credit should also be given to Christine McVie. Her beautiful vocals are featured on many of the groups hits including “”You make loving fun”, “Don’t Stop”, “Little Lies”, “Everywhere”, “Over my Head”, “Say you Love me”, “Save Me” and others. She has always played second fiddle to Stevie Nicks, but undeservedly so.

One of the All-Time great groups in Music History!