Picture it... Somewhere in Great Brittain late 60's. A young man named
Mick Fleetwood, is asked to Join John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. On opening
night in a packed club, the fans started to heckle Mick Fleetwood when
they realized thier regular drummer was not going to be playing. John McVie
Stepped up to the mike and told the audience "Why don't you just Fuck Off
and Listen." This was the beginning of the friendship that formed Fleetwood
Mac.
HOwever, you could Blame John Mayall for Fleetwood Mac's existance.
John ended up firing Mick and John later on. John had also given Peter
Green studio time for a gift. Peter went into the studio and recorded three
songs whith John McVie and Mick Fleetwood. He wrote on the tape "Fleetwood
Mac" after his favorite rhythm section. Thus became the begining of Fleetwood
Mac and their first ever recording session.
Peter was actually the one who ended up forming the group. Peter did not
want to be lead and wanted a group where everyone was equal and ther group
music would be the star. He hired Bob Brunning to play bass. He also hired
a guitarist named Jeremy Spencer. The band debuted at the Winsor Blues
and Jazz festival in August of 1967 as Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac Featuring
Jeremy Spencer.
Bob left the group and the group hired Danny Kirwan. The group recorded
several albums including Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, Albatross, and Man
of the World. In 1969 They recorded thier first album on Warner's Reprise
lable "Then Play On" The album would be Peter Green's last. Peter had become
dissolusioned with the music business and was fired for "incendiary" guitar
Playing. This left the group depressed and it looked like it would be the
end for Fleetwood Mac. However, the group Hired the John's wife Christine
McVie. Christine was already a successful artist. She had a solo album
under her maiden name "The Legendary Christine Perfect" And as well as
albums with Chicken Shack.
Christine's first album with the band was "Kiln House" and not only did
she contribute with some awesome music songs, she also drew the Cover.
This was not the end of the bands troubles though. The band was touring
in support of Kiln House when Jeremy who the band always knew was troubled.
Told the band he was going to visit a friend during thier tour in California.
He never returned. A few days later they found out that Jeremy had Joined
a cult called the Children of God. The group still had a contract to finish
the rest of the tour. The group called Peter Green who agreed to help out
for the rest of the tour.
IN comes the newest member of Fleetwood Mac. Bob Welch. Judy Wong(she
seems to be thanked in almost every Fleetwood Mac ablum) is responsible
for introducing Bob Welch to the group. Bob was Fleetwood Mac's first American
member.The band went into the studio again to record "Future Games" The
band toured Europe and then went into the studio again to record "Bare
Trees" This was one of the best pre stevie-Lindsey Fleetwood Mac albums
yet and included "Sentimental Lady" from Bob Welch which later would become
a solo hit for Bob Welch.
Things were not great for the band. Danny Kirwan became an outsider
of the band and was Jealous of Bob Welch being hired. The two began fueding.
Then at a show Danny was fired after he went bezerk and refused to play.
This left the band without a guitarist again. So this time the group hired
two to replace one. Dave Walker and Bob Weston and recorded "Penguin" after
John McVie's favorite bird. Soon after they toured but realized that Dave
Walker wasn't working out. Dave was fired and the band went to the studio
to record "Mystery To Me"
"Mystery to Me" was the groups proudest album yet. Things looked well
until October of 1973 when Bob Weston had an affair with Mick's Wife. Mick
was fried and couldn't go on. The groups manager at the time basically
said that he Own's Fleetwood Mac and warned the group he refused to loose
his reputation on the whiims of a bunch of irresponsible musicians. This
led to a nightmare for the group. After the tour to support "Mystery
to Me" The band split up for ahwile. The manager had other ideas. He was
busy promoting "The New Fleetwood Mac" featuring Christine McVie and Mick
Fleetwood. HOwever this was musicians that were hired to pose as Fleetwood
Mac.This led to the band relocating to Los Angeles in 1974. MIck Fleetwood
assumed the band's managing duties.
The band went to record "Heroes are hard to find" and went to tour.
However the Fake Fleetwood Mac and the former band mate's antics of the
real Fleetwood Mac had a toll on the reputation of the band at the time
and the band had to work hard at getting a fan base. This took it's toll
on Bob Welch and he decided to call it quits. This left John, Mick and
Christine to search for new bandmates. Which would turn out to be a blessing
in disquise.
During a break of the tour for "Heroe's are hard to find" Fleetwood went
studio shopping to find a studio to record the next album. He just happened
to find the studio that Stevie and Lindsey were recording in. He like the
guitar playing for frozen love but wasn't looking for anyone at the time
and left. So when Bob left he called the studio and asked for the guitar
player. He wanted to hire him in Fleetwood Mac. The Guitar Player Lindsey
Buckingham refused to join without his parner Stevie Nicks. Thus they both
were allowed to Join Fleetwood Mac. Mick played the demo tapes for the
Warner Brothers Exects who were wowed but only thought it would sell about
300000 copies. The band suddenly was having hit after hit on the radio
and selling out shows. However this took a toll on the band as well. But
this time instead of breaking up, the band put it's tensions into 1977's
"Rumours" This was the best selling album of all time until Michael Jackson's
Thriller.
One of the downsides to having a major hit album like "Rumours" is the
pressure of always having to top it. Fleetwood Mac's Next album "Tusk"
ended up to be considered a dud even though it sold millions of albums.
By this time Stevie, Lindsey and Mick released solo albums. The group reunited
for the wonderful "Mirage" in 1982 but was put on hold afterwards so more
solo's could be released.
It wasn't until 1987 that the group would get back together again and release
"Tango in the Night" This would be the last studio album with Mick, John,
Lindsey, Stevie and Christine. After the tour to support "Tango in the
Night" Lindsey left the group. This time the group hired Billy Burnette
and Rick Vito. They went into the studio again and recorded "Behind the
Mask" This was a flop for Fleetwood Mac. After the tour to support it,
Christine and Stevie both decided it was time to stop touring and left
the group.
In 1995 The group Hired bekka Bramlet and Dave Mason to record the forgetable
"Time" album. Rick had also quit the group but Christine came back to contribute
a few songs on the album.
Then in 1997 The group reunited Mick, John, Christine, Stevie and Lindsey
to record the Dance. A series of Live shows that were recorded at a reunion
concert during that summer. There was talk of a new studio album but nothing
surfaced.
Finally Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks
got together in 2002 to record Fleetwood Mac's first Studio album since
"Time". Christine was asked to join but has retired from the music business
for now. The new foursome of Fleetwood Mac is releasing "Say You Will"
a double album that includes 18 songs. They are following it up with a
tour. This is certainly not the end of Fleetwood Mac! |
