When I think of Fleetwood Mac, I actually think of three groups. There was Peter Green’s branchild in the late 1960s. That was followed by the early-70s version that included Bob Welch and Christine McVie. Then came the more recognizable roster with Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham. That’s the one we’re featuring in this installment of the Throwback Threesome. But first, a little history.
In The Beginning
The Fleetwood Mac you know and love began as a British blues band. The original lineup included three former members of the influential English band, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers: drummer Mick Fleetwood, bassist John McVie (the “Mac” in Fleetwood Mac), and the brilliant but troubled blues guitarist, Peter Green. The band released a handful of albums and enjoyed success in Europe, Canada, and Australia with singles such as “Albatross” and “Oh Well.”
17th June 1968: Blues, rock ‘n’ roll and progressive pop influenced band Fleetwood Mac, when their instrumental single ‘Albatross’ was topping the British charts. The line up is, from left to right; Mick Fleetwood, Peter Green, Jeremy Spencer and John McVie. (Photo by Keystone Features/Getty Images)
Fleetwood Mac 2.0
After Peter Green left the group in 1970, Fleetwood Mac went through a transitional phase that brought new members into the fold. John McVie’s wife, Christine, would contribute backing vocals and cover art on the the 1970 album, Kiln House. By 1971, Christine McVie was a permanent member of the band. That summer, guitarist Bob Welch would also join the group as a replacement for founding member Jeremy Spencer.
English singer, songwriter and keyboardist Christine McVie, UK, 13th June 1980. (Photo by Davidson/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Third Time’s the Charm
The period from 1970 to 1974 was productive for Fleetwood Mac, but they weren’t charting like they had in the late-’60s. Then, on New Year’s Eve of 1974, a musical mistral blew in that would forever change the band’s sound and fortunes. That was the day that guitarist Lindsay Buckingham and his girlfriend, Stevie Nicks, officially joined. Despite the talented Bob Welch opting to embark on a solo career, the revamped group would climb to new heights.
(L-R) Honorees Mick Fleetwood (on drum riser), Stevie Nicks, and Lindsey Buckingham perform onstage during MusiCares Person of the Year honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on January 26, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ferdman/Getty Images)
The dynamic duo of Buckingham and Nicks immediately made their mark on the band in 1975 with the release of Fleetwood Mac’s second eponymous album. The singles “Over My Head,” “Rhiannon,” and “Say You Love Me,” exposed the band to a much wider audience and they finally topped the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart. The group would top themselves with the release of the monumental Rumours album in 1977, followed by Tusk in 1979.
Fleetwood Mac would continue to ride their wave of worldwide success through the 1980s and into the 21st Century, though not without some turmoil. Christine McVie left the group in 2007, only to return in 2014. Then Lindsay Buckingham and the band had a parting of the ways in 2018, which was followed by a lawsuit that was eventually settled out of court. The most devastating blow came with the passing of Christine McVie in 2022. She suffered from metastatic cancer and died of a stroke at the age of 79.
Throwback Threesome: Fleetwood Mac
