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Fleetwood Mac

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This article is about the band. For the eponymous albums, see Fleetwood Mac (1968 album) and Fleetwood Mac (1975 album).
Fleetwood Mac
File:Fleetwood33.jpg
Background information
Years active1967–Present
MembersJohn McVie
Stevie Nicks
Mick Fleetwood
Lindsey Buckingham
Past membersChristine McVie
Peter Green
Jeremy Spencer
Danny Kirwan
Bob Welch
Bob Weston
Dave Walker
Billy Burnette
Rick Vito
Dave Mason
Bekka Bramlett
Websitewww.fleetwoodmac.com

Fleetwood Mac (formed in 1967) is an influential and commercially successful British-American band whose music has ranged from blues to pop. The band was named after its rhythm section, drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie, who are the only two members to stay with the band throughout its long and varied history. Fleetwood Mac is best known as the venue for the musical (and romantic) partnership of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, but the band existed for several years before Buckingham and Nicks joined up.

History

Fleetwood Mac: The blues band

In the late 1960s, Fleetwood Mac was a success among British blues bands. The band was started by guitarist Peter Green, who recruited the rhythm section of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers: drummer Mick Fleetwood and bass guitarist John McVie. Green himself had replaced a departing member, Eric Clapton, as the lead guitarist of the "Bluesbreakers"; Green and McVie had appeared on Mayall's 1967 A Hard Road album. The band employed a temporary fill-in bassist, Bob Brunning, until John McVie was persuaded to join as the band's first "official" bassist. Slide-guitarist and Elmore James devotee, Jeremy Spencer, rounded out the lineup.

Its full name was now "Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac featuring Jeremy Spencer." The band released two albums of Chicago-based blues. It also released a single, "Black Magic Woman," which, when re-recorded by Santana in 1970 (on his album Abraxas), became a top five U.S. hit [1].

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 Fleetwood Mac 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.

After its second album, Mr. Wonderful, a third guitarist, 18-year-old Danny Kirwan, was added to the lineup. 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 nearly equal proportion to Green's. After releasing two successful singles, the instrumental "Albatross" (which remains the band's only #1 hit in the UK), and the ballad "Man of the World" [#2 UK], it produced what is often considered the best album of the band's Peter Green era, Then Play On. Spencer was, for the most part, absent from these recording sessions. The epic 2-part "Oh Well" single followed [#2 UK], and was included in later pressings of the U.S. LP album (and in all CDs).

After recording Then Play On, Green announced that he was leaving the band. Experimentation with various drugs, particularly LSD, accompanied growing frustration with the commercial nature of the music business. The situation was reflected in the tortured single "The Green Manalishi (With The Two Pronged Crown)" (later covered by Judas Priest on the 1978 album Killing Machine) , which was nevertheless a #10 UK hit. On May 28, 1970 he performed with Fleetwood Mac for the last time on stage.

Fleetwood Mac: 1970-1974

Remarkably, the band continued, releasing Kiln House late in 1970. The songwriting and vocals were split between Kirwan and Spencer. Without Green, the band was stylistically barely recognizable as the same unit that made Then Play On.

Christine Perfect was the singer and keyboard player of popular British blues band Chicken Shack. She had married John McVie in 1968, and left Chicken Shack in 1969, just as they charted their only UK hit, "I'd Rather Go Blind" (previously recorded by Etta James). She contributed guest keyboards, backing vocals, and cover art to Kiln House. Before the band went on tour to promote the album, she officially joined the band as songwriter and vocalist. [2]

In the middle of a 1971 tour in California, Spencer disappeared; the band soon discovered that he had joined the religious group Children of God. Peter Green was summoned to fill in, temporarily, for the remainder of the band's engagements.

The first half of 1970s were a turbulent time for the band, which gained and lost members at a troubling rate. American guitarist Bob Welch joined up, at the suggestion of good friend and promoter Judy Wong (subject of Kirwan's song "Jewel Eyed Judy"). 1971's Future Games and 1972's Bare Trees featured Welch's, Kirwan's and Christine McVie's vocals and songs in more or less equal measure.

Welch brought a mellow jazz-rock guitar sound to the band, with songs to match. His contributions included "Future Games" (from 1971's Future Games), "Sentimental Lady" (from 1972's Bare Trees), and "Hypnotized" (from 1973's Mystery To Me). Kirwan's and Welch's tenures overlapped by two albums, but Kirwan's own erratic behaviour on tour led to his dismissal in late 1972.

Bob Weston (guitar) and Savoy Brown's Dave Walker (vocals) were also briefly hired during this phase of the band. Weston's tenure was brief because Fleetwood discovered that Weston and Fleetwood's wife, Jenny, had begun an affair. When Fleetwood discovered this, Weston was fired without thought to the impact of the fring on a late 1973 tour. The tour was then abruptly cancelled. This led manager Clifford Davis to send another dummy band out on the road billed as "Fleetwood Mac", but featuring no original members of the band, resulting in a year-long legal battle. (Eventually, Mick Fleetwood would undertake the band's management himself, under the compay name, Seedy Management.)

Also in 1973, during the recording of the band's next album, Penguin, it was agreed that Walker "did not fit in" with Fleetwood Mac and by June of '73 he left.

Superstardom: Fleetwood Mac and Rumours

Following the late 1974 release of Heroes Are Hard To Find, Welch indicated that he intended to leave the band, and Fleetwood and John McVie needed to fill the possible vacancy. While Fleetwood was scouting Van Nuys, California's Sound City Studios, house engineer Keith Olsen played a track titled "Frozen Love" (from The Buckingham Nicks, Polydor PD 5058, September 1973), which he had mixed there for an obscure American duo, Buckingham Nicks . Fleetwood liked what he heard, and he was introduced to the guitarist, Lindsey Buckingham, who just happened to be in the building. When Welch resigned from the band, Fleetwood asked Buckingham to join. Buckingham agreed, on the condition that his musical partner and girlfriend, Stevie Nicks, also become part of the band. Fleetwood agreed.

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 it became a huge hit. The band was catapulted into stardom. Among the hit singles from this album were Christine McVie's "Over My Head" and "Say You Love Me", and Stevie Nicks's "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's and Nicks's longtime romantic relationship. Pressure was put on Fleetwood Mac to release a successful follow-up album, which, when combined with its new-found wealth, led to creative and personal tensions, fuelled by large amounts of drug and alcohol consumption, especially cocaine.

The album the band members created in 1977 was Rumours, in which the band members lay bare the emotional turmoil experienced at that time. It became the best-selling album of the year and recipient of the Grammy Award for Album Of The Year for 1977. By 1998, Rumours had sold over 19 million copies worldwide, and the RIAA certified it as a diamond album.

Tusk

Rumours marked the height of the band's popularity. But Buckingham was determined not to be compelled to make a carbon-copy sequel. He was able, with some headbutting, to convince Fleetwood to allow his work on their next album to be more experimental and to work on tracks at home and then bring them to the band in the studio. His expanded creative role for the next album was influenced by an appreciation for new wave music.

The result — the quirky double album Tusk — was released in 1979. It spawned 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". The latter was cut to 4½ minutes for both the hit single and the first CD-release of the album, but the unedited version has since been restored on the 2004 reissue. Tusk remains one of Fleetwood Mac's most ambitious albums to date. The band embarked on a huge 18-month tour to support and promote Tusk. It traveled extensively across the world, including the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. It was on this world tour that the band recorded music for the Fleetwood Mac Live album, which was released at the end of 1980.

The Early 1980s: Mirage

The next album, 1982's Mirage, following 1981 solo turns by Nicks (Bella Donna) and Buckingham (Law and Order), was a return to the more conventional. Buckingham had been chided by critics, fellow bandmembers and music business managers for the apparent low commercial success enjoyed by Tusk. Recorded at a chateau in France, Mirage was an attempt to recapture the pop success of Rumours. Its 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 the 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 of 18 American cities. It also headlined the first US Festival for which the band was paid $500,000.

Following Mirage, the band went on hiatus, which allowed members to pursue solo careers. Stevie Nicks would release two more solo LPs, Lindsey Buckingham issued Go Insane, in 1984, and Christine McVie released an eponymous album the same year. All three met with success but it was Stevie Nicks who was most rewarded. 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 remain as the band'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 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 was unwilling to do a tour. According to Fleetwood, Buckingham withdrew from Fleetwood Mac in a heated, angry exchange in August, 1987. Buckingham and Fleetwood Mac would eventually reconcile.

Behind The Mask

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 it enjoyed enough success to warrant a venture into the recording studio. Fleetwood Mac recorded Behind The Mask with Burnette and Vito in 1990. With the album, the band ended up with a more adult contemporary than rock 'n' roll style. However, the album yielded only one Top-40 hit, McVie's "Save Me", so Behind The Mask only achieved gold album status initially, and it was seen by some music critics as the low point for the band in the absence of Lindsey Buckingham. In 1995, after Nicks and Vito left the band, and Christine McVie retired from touring, the remaining band members added Bekka Bramlett and Dave Mason to their number, releasing the fairly unsuccessful Time album.

Reconciliation and reunion

During this time, the Buckingham/Nicks/McVie(s)/Fleetwood lineup reunited at the request of U.S. President Bill Clinton for his first Inaugural Ball in 1993. Clinton had made Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop" his campaign theme song, and he prevailed on them to 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 also came as a surprise to the music world. In late 1996, the McVies and Fleetwood performed session recording work for Buckingham's forthcoming solo album. This eventually led to contact with the semi-retired Stevie Nicks and 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 successful arena 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 foray of the 1970s lineup with Christine McVie. The Rumours lineup, plus original guitarists Peter Green, Jeremy Spencer and Danny Kirwan, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in early 1998, and performed at the Grammy Awards program that year.

File:Fleetstevie.jpg
Fleetwood Mac on their 2003 Say You Will Tour.

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

As Fleetwood had promised, even when events reached their nadir, there would always be John McVie and Mick Fleetwood, as long as both shall live.

Discography

The Peter Green Years (1967-1970)

Additional Compilations/Outtakes Collections

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

(see also Fleetwood Mac single chart positions)

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, Blue Horizon)
  • "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, Blue Horizon)
  • "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"(written for good friend Judy Wong)/"Station Man" (1970)
  • "Dragonfly"/"The Purple Dancer" (1971)
  • "Sands Of Time"/"Lay It All Down" (1971)
  • "Sentimental Lady"/"Sunny Side Of Heaven" [instrumental] (1972)
  • "Spare Me A Little Of Your Love"/"Sunny Side Of Heaven" [instrumental] (1972)
  • "Did You Ever Love Me"/"The Derelict" (1973)
  • "Remember Me"/"Dissatisfied" (1973)
  • "Did You Ever Love Me"/"Revelation" (1973)
  • "For Your Love"/"Hypnotized" (1973)
  • "Heroes Are Hard To Find"/"Born Enchanter" (1974)

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 Springs" (1997) #41 US
  • "Landslide" (1998) #51 US
  • "Peacekeeper" (2003) #80 US

Trivia

  • When the single "Peacekeeper" was released, the album version lyric "Take no prisoners, only kill" was replaced for radio with "Take no prisoners, break their will".
  • The Chain was used by the BBC for their Grand Prix Programme title sequence since the programme's inception in 1978 until ITV won the F1 rights for 1997.


Fleetwood Mac personnel
(1967-1968)

(temporary bassist Bob Brunning played the band's first few shows until McVie officially joined)

(1969)
(1970)
(1970-1971)
(1971)
(1971-1972)
(1973)
(1973)
(1974)
(1975-1987)
(1988-1994)
(1995-1996)
(1997-2002)
(2003-present)

See also

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