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Fleetwood Mac

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File:Fleetwoodmac.jpg
Fleetwood Mac during their 1970s commercial heyday. Clockwise from top: John McVie, Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham.

Fleetwood Mac (formed in 1967) is an influential and commercially successful British/American rock band.

Line-up confusions

In the late 1960s, the group experienced limited success as a fiery British blues band, consisting of acclaimed guitarists Peter Green, Jeremy Spencer, drummer Mick Fleetwood and bass guitarist John McVie (the latter two providing the band’s name). Another guitarist, Danny Kirwan joined later. After Peter Green left Jeremy Spencer briefly took over songwriting duties until he too left, joining the cult Children of God. The band then added keyboardist Christine Perfect (who married John McVie to become Christine McVie.)

Kirwan acted as frontman for both the 1971 release "Future Games" and the 1972 "Bare Trees" album, their biggest success at the time. At the same time, another guitarist, Bob Welch was added, and he took over much of the songwriting duties. However, due to Kirwan's growing unhappiness while touring and its effects on the band, he was asked to leave, leaving behind him an exemplary range of work as a guitar player and songwriter. In 1974, Welch also left, and the group recruited another American guitarist Lindsey Buckingham and singer/songwriter Stevie Nicks, who added greater pop sensibilities to the group, following examples set by Kirwan on the aformentioned albums. This incarnation became phenomenally popular in the late 1970s, selling 18 million copies of their 1977 album Rumours, an emotionally harrowing album fueled by the crumbling relationships of Nicks and Buckingham and the McVies. (Fleetwood also was going through a divorce from wife Jenny Boyd.)

In the 1980s and 1990s, Fleetwood Mac’s albums became more sporadic and less critically and commercially successful. However, a 1997 reunion of the Rumours-era line-up revived the group.

Fleetwood Mac’s biggest hits include "Dreams", "Gypsy," "Little Lies," "Go Your Own Way" and "Don't Stop," which famously became the campaign song of American presidential candidate Bill Clinton in 1992. The group remains a perennially popular rock band, selling an estimated 100 million albums worldwide and being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In cable music channel VH1’s 2000 countdown of the 100 greatest artists in rock and roll, Fleetwood Mac ranked 22.

Once singing the blues

The group began as Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac in 1967. This version of the group released a series of blues-based albums and singles which did moderately well in the United Kingdom and Europe.

Founded by prodigious guitarist Peter Green, drummer Mick Fleetwood, and bassist John McVie, the three were alumni of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, first appearing together on the album A Hard Road. After leaving Mayall, they were joined by slide-guitarist and Elmore James-fanatic Jeremy Spencer, and released two albums which put an English spin on Chicago blues. They also released a single, "Black Magic Woman," which, when re-recorded by Santana, about a year later, became a U.S. hit.

Jeremy Spencer's comedic work with the band counterbalanced Peter Green's serious take on the blues. His performances tended towards parodies and loving pastiches of 1950's rockabilly. One of his FM songs, the B-side "Somebody's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked in Tonight," was jokingly credited to "Earl Vince and the Valiants" and later covered by 70's Scottish punk band the Rezillos.

In mid 1968, Fleetwood Mac were joined by 18-year old guitarist and songwriter Danny Kirwan. At this point the band began shifting into a more melodic, introspective and experimental/progressive mode. Most performances were built around the twin leads of Green and Kirwan, and Kirwan's songwriting was featured in equal proportion to Green's. After releasing two successful singles, the instrumental "Albatross" (which remains the group's only #1 hit in the UK), and the quiet "Man of the World" [#2 UK], they produced the album Then Play On. Then Play On is usually considered to be the best Fleetwood Mac album of the Peter Green era. The epic 2-part "Oh Well" single followed [#2 UK], and was included on later pressings of the US LP (and all CDs).

Unfortunately, Green's tenure at the helm of the group would not last long. Experimentation with various drugs, particularly LSD, accompanied burgeoning frustration with the commercial nature of the music industry. The situation was reflected in the tortured single "The Green Manalishi (With The Two Pronged Crown)," which was nonetheless a #10 UK hit. By 1970, Green had become so affected by these factors that he was unable to continue with the group he had founded. On May 28, 1970 he performed with Fleetwood Mac for the last time on stage.

Welch jellies the Mac

In the early 70s Fleetwood Mac went through further personnel changes, losing a number of members and gaining blues singer Christine McVie (John McVie's wife). Jeremy Spencer disappeared during a tour in early 1971: He had joined the religious group Children of God. When American guitarist Bob Welch joined them, the band adopted a jazz-rock flavour, still tempered by Kirwan's ear for melody. Kirwan and Welch's tenures overlapped by two albums, but eventually Kirwan's erratic behavior on tour led to his dismissal in late 1972. Some of Fleetwood Mac's early hits in the Welch era include "Sentimental Lady" (from 1972's Bare Trees), which Welch himself remade during his solo career in 1977, and the stirring "Hypnotized" (from 1973's Mystery To Me).

Bob Weston and Savoy Brown's Dave Walker were also briefly hired as guitarists during this phase of the band. The firing of Bob Weston during a late 1973 tour led to that tour's abrupt cancellation. This led their manager, Clifford Davis, to send another band out on the road called "Fleetwood Mac", but featuring no original members of the band, which led to a year-long legal battle.

Rumours era

In late 1974, Bob Welch left the band, and Mick Fleetwood needed to fill the vacancy. To show Fleetwood his recording skills, Keith Olsen played a track titled "Frozen Love", which he had mixed for Buckingham Nicks (from Buckingham Nicks, Polydor PD 5058, September 1973). Liking guitarist Lindsey Buckingham's playing, Fleetwood asked Buckingham to join the group. Buckingham agreed, on the condition that his musical partner and girlfriend Stevie Nicks also become part of the band.

In 1975, under new management by Gabriele Arras, the new lineup released the eponymous Fleetwood Mac. This proved to be a breakthrough for the band and became a huge hit, and the group was catapulted into stardom. Among the hit singles from this album included Christine McVie's "Over My Head" and "Say You Love Me", and Stevie Nicks' "Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win)".

But in 1976, with the success of the band also came the end of John and Christine McVie's marriage, as well as Buckingham and Nicks' longtime romantic relationship. Huge pressure was placed on Fleetwood Mac to release a successful follow-up album, which, when combined with their newfound wealth, led to creative and personal tensions, fuelled by large amounts of drug and alcohol consumption.

The resulting album was Rumours in 1977, in which the band laid bare the inherent emotional turmoil experienced at that time. It became the best selling album of the year, and sold over 18 million copies worldwide by 1998. The RIAA certified Rumours'

Tusk era

Rumours was arguably the point at which Fleetwood Mac was at the height of its popularity. Sales of future albums declined but the band still enjoyed critical success. This was particularly true of the follow-up album. Buckingham's response to the overwhelming popularity of Rumours was to avoid making a carbon-copy sequel. His expanded role as producer for the next album was influenced by the new wave style.

The result - the quirky double album Tusk - was released in 1979. Spawning three hit singles: Lindsey Buckingham's "Tusk", which featured the USC marching band, Christine McVie's "Think About Me", and Stevie Nicks' seven minute opus "Sara" (cut to three-and-a-half minutes for the first CD version release, it has since been restored for CD reissue), Tusk remains one of Fleetwood Mac's most ambitious albums to date. The band embarked on a huge 18 month tour to support Tusk. They travelled extensively across the world including USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. During that time, the band recorded music for the (Live, 1980).

Mirage era

The next album Mirage was a return to the conventional. Buckingham had been chided by critics, fellow bandmembers and music industry figures for the apparent lack of commercial success enjoyed by Tusk. Recorded at a chateau in France, Mirage was an attempt to recapture the pop success of its predecessor-but-one. Hits included: Christine McVie's and Jim Recor's "Love In Store", Christine McVie's "Hold Me", Stevie Nicks' "Gypsy", and Lindsey Buckingham's "Oh Diane" which entered Top 10 in the UK. A minor hit was also scored by Buckingham for his "Eyes Of The World". Unlike the Tusk Tour, the band only embarked on a short tour over 18 American cities. They also headlined the first US Festival for which they were paid $500,000.

Following Mirage, the band went on hiatus which allowed members to pursue solo careers. Stevie Nicks released "Bella Donna", Lindsey Buckingham released "Law and Order" and Christine McVie released an eponymous album. All three met with relative success but it was Nicks who proved to be the most viable. During this time it was often rumoured that Fleetwood Mac had finally broken up. Buckingham, however, commented that he was unhappy to allow Mirage to stand as the group's last effort.

Tango in the night

The Rumours lineup of Fleetwood Mac would record one more album for the time being, Tango In The Night, in 1987. The album was hugely popular, especially in the UK where it hit no.1 three times over a year. The album proved that Fleetwood Mac still had selling power and the album spawned four hits: Christine McVie and Eddy Quintela's "Little Lies", Christine McVie's "Everywhere", Sandy Stewart and Stevie Nicks' "Seven Wonders" and Lindsey Buckingham's "Big Love". The band intended to tour to support the album but Buckingham felt that he had fulfilled his commitments to the band, and wanted to leave. The split was not amicable but his relationship with the band would heal in later years.

The Mac carries on

Following Buckingham's departure, Fleetwood Mac added guitarists Billy Burnette and Rick Vito to the band. 1987's 'Tango In The Night', or, 'Shake the Cage' tour was the first outing for this lineup, and enjoyed enough success to warrant a foray into the recording studio. The Mac recorded Behind The Mask with Burnette and Vito in 1990. With the album, the group ended up with a more adult contemporary than rock style. However, although the album yielded several high-ranking singles including McVie's "Skies The Limit" and "Save Me" as well as the Nicks single "Love Is Dangerous". Behind The Mask only went gold, and was seen by music critics as a low point for the band in the absence of Lindsey Buckingham. In 1995, after Nicks and Vito had left the group, and Christine McVie had retired from touring, the remaining band members added Bekka Bramlett and Dave Mason to their number, releasing the unsuccessful Time album.

During this time, the Buckingham/Nicks/McVie(s)/Fleetwood lineup reunited at the behest of President Bill Clinton for his first Inaugural Ball in 1992. Clinton had made Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop" his campaign song, and insisted they perform it live for his guests. Although the five did so, old wounds had yet to heal and there was no talk of extending the reunion.

The second reunion in the 1990s came as a surprise to the music world. In late 1996, the McVies and Fleetwood performed session work for Buckingham's forthcoming solo album. This eventually led to a full Rumours lineup reunion in the form of a live concert recorded on a Warner Brothers Burbank, California soundstage, which resulted in the 1997 album The Dance. A hugely successful stadium tour followed the MTV premiere of The Dance which kept the reunited Mac on the road throughout much of 1997. This would be the final phase of the 1970s lineup with Christine McVie. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in early 1998, and performed at the Grammys that year.

In 1998 Christine McVie left the band and returned to the UK, permanently to retire from touring (though not from the music business entirely as she came out with a new album In The Meantime in 2004). This left Buckingham and Nicks to handle the vocals for the band's 2003 album, Say You Will. The album debuted at #3 on the Billboard 2003 and a well attended world arena tour lasted through 2004. Drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie remain the only original members still with the group.

Discography

The Peter Green Years (1967-1970)

Additional Compilations/Outtakes Collections

  • Greatest Hits (CBS Europe, 1971)
  • The Original Fleetwood Mac (1967-8 recordings, released Blue Horizon 1971)
  • The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions 1967-1969 [Box set] (Columbia UK, 1999)
  • The Vaudeville Years of Fleetwood Mac: 1968 to 1970 [Box set] (released 1999)
  • Showbiz Blues 1968-1970 [Box set] (Companion to "Vaudville", released c. 2002)
  • Best of Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac (Columbia UK, 2000)
  • Original Fleetwood Mac: The Blues Years (3-CD set, Castle, 2000)
  • Jumping at Shadows: The Blues Years (Castle/Sanctuary, 2002)
  • Men of the World: The Early Years (Sanctuary, 2005)

Live Albums

  • Live at the Marquee, 1967 (released 1992)
  • Masters: London Live '68 (released 1998)
  • Live at the BBC (released 1995)
  • Shrine '69 (live 1969, released 1999)
  • Live at the Boston Tea Party, vols 1-3 (recorded Feb 5-7, 1970. Released on Snapper, 1998-2000. A remix and expansion of countless grey-market versions of these tapes, released from 1985 on. The only tracks it lacks are an alternate live "World in Harmony" and a 3-minute bongo solo, edited out of "Green Manalishi.")
  • Oh Well--Greatest Hits Live (Mainline, 1989. Most complete version of earlier rough mixes of Feb 5-7 1970 Boston Tea Party concerts. Contains the 2 variations cited above.)

The Transitional Years (1970-74)

Additional Compilations/Outtakes Collections

  • Madison Blues [Kiln House/Christine Perfect Band outtakes box set] (Shakedown Records, 2003)

The "Superstar" years (1975-on)

Compilations

Live Albums

Singles

Peter Green Era

  • "I Believe My Time Ain't Long"/"Rambing Pony" (Nov 1967, Blue Horizon)
  • "Black Magic Woman" [#37 UK] /"Long Grey Mare" (June 1968, Epic)
  • "Need Your Love So Bad" [#31 UK] "Stop Messin' Round" (UK, Blue Horizon) /"No Place To Go" (US, Epic)
  • "Albatross [instrumental]" [#1 UK - 2 weeks]/"Jigsaw Puzzle Blues [instrumental]" (Jan 1969, Epic)
  • "Man Of The World" (1969) [#2 UK] /"Somebody's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonight" (B-side as "Earl Vince and the Valiants") (April 1969, Immediate)
  • "Rattlesnake Shake"/"Coming Your Way" (September 1969, Reprise)
  • "Oh Well pts 1 & 2" [#55 US, #2 UK] (November 1969, Reprise)
  • "The Green Manalishi" [#10 UK] /"World In Harmony [instrumental]" (June 1970, Reprise)

Transitional Era

  • "Jewel Eyed Judy"/"Station Man"
  • "Dragonfly"/"The Purple Dancer"
  • "Sands Of Time"/"Lay It All Down"
  • "Sentimental Lady"/"Sunny Side Of Heaven [instrumental]"
  • "Did You Ever Love Me"/"The Derelict"
  • "Spare Me A Little Of Your Love"/"Sunny Side Of Heaven [instrumental]"
  • "Remember Me"/"Dissatisfied"
  • "Did You Ever Love Me"/"Revelation"
  • "For Your Love"/"Hypnotized"
  • "Heroes Are Hard To Find"/"Born Enchanter"

With Christine McVie/Lindsey Buckingham/Stevie Nicks

  • "Over My Head" (1976) #20 US
  • "Rhiannon" (1976) #11 US, #46 UK
  • "Say You Love Me" (1976) #11 US, #40 UK
  • "Go Your Own Way" (1977) #10 US, #38 UK
  • "Dreams" (1977) #1 US - 1 week, #24 UK
  • "Don't Stop" (1977) #3 US, #32 UK
  • "You Make Loving Fun" (1977) #9 US, #45 UK
  • "Tusk" (1979) #8 US, #6 UK
  • "Sara" (1979) #7 US, #37 UK
  • "Think About Me" (1980) #20 US
  • "Sisters Of The Moon" (1980) #86 US
  • "Fireflies" (1981) #60 US
  • "Hold Me" (1982) #4 US
  • "Gypsy" (1982) #12 US, #46 UK
  • "Love In Store" (1982) #22 US
  • "Oh Diane" (1982) #9 UK
  • "Big Love" (1987) #5 US, #9 UK
  • "Seven Wonders" (1987) #19 US, #56 UK
  • "Little Lies" (1987) #4 US, #5 UK
  • "Everywhere" (1988) #14 US, #4 UK
  • "Family Man" (1988) #90 US, #54 UK
  • "Isn't It Midnight" (1988) #60 UK
  • "As Long As You Follow" (1988) #43 US, #66 UK
  • "Save Me" (1990) #33 US, #53 UK
  • "In The Back Of My Mind" (1990) #58 UK
  • "Silver Spring" (1997) #41 US
  • "Landslide" (1998) #51 US
  • "Peacekeeper" (2003) #80 US

See also

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