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Better Than Ever
In the history of the music industry, a lot of bands have come and gone. Some have made an overnight splash and faded away, leaving only the faintest echo for posterity. Many have had a good long run. Very few can claim a forty-year span, often interrupted but never quite gone from the scene. Score one for Fleetwood Mac, back for yet another (possibly) tumultuous tour of the U.S. With the four original members together again, this enduringly popular and charismatic band is back to remind fans of just why they have never been forgotten.
Way Back When
The saga of Fleetwood Mac is a fascinating story in itself, but we'll have to abbreviate. In 1967, three young British lads got together to start a new band. Led by Peter Green, guitarist, two others from the band "Bluesbreakers" formed a group they called Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac. The other two were Mick Fleetwood, drummer and John McVie, bassist. At the time they played blues, and they did very well in the British market, but made little impression in the U.S. Not until their third album did they begin to catch American attention with the single "Black Magic Woman".
Between 1967 and 1975 a great many changes occurred, including the departure of Peter Green and the addition of Christine Perfect McVie, who came from Sugar Shack to be keyboardist for the band, and incidentally married John McVie. (She used to be Perfect!) Lindsey Buckingham came on as guitarist, and Stevie Nicks as vocalist.
Changes in Attitudes
Success and fortune did what they often do - caused internal strife among band members and some excessive use of alcohol and various other drugs, notably cocaine. However, the 'backbone' of the group somehow stuck with it and kept on recording. Though Stevie Nicks went off to do a solo gig on her own, and other contributing members "flamed out" either temporarily or finally, the music kept on and the fans kept asking for more. While still with the band, Stevie Nicks had a hit single with "Rhiannon" from the album "Fleetwood Mac".
When the album "Rumours" was released it sparked even more interest and accolades. The album contained four Top Ten singles, and won the 1977 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. However, the fame and fortune did not help pull the group together or solve their personal problems, and nothing much was heard from them until some members got it together again in 1985.
For several more years the band continued to record and tour, with the personnel roster in a state of constant flux. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks had their own solo gigs. As an interesting 'sidelight', the band's hit single "Don't Stop" was Bill Clinton's campaign theme song, and he persuaded the five "core" members to perform it live at his 1993 Inaugural Ball.
After that appearance, things became chaotic again, but the band continued to perform. They had their own successful road tour, and they opened for other artists such as Pat Benatar and REO Speedwagon, and their public never quite lost sight of them. Fleetwood Mac as a band kept splitting up and reforming, and it was not until 2004 that they came together again with the release of "Say You Will", their 15th album.
"Glad to be Back"
Now it is 2009, and we can say "Hello!" again to Fleetwood Mac, the real thing! The 'core' and key members, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks are together again, and they are "Unleashed"! The U.S. tour is set to begin on March 1st at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburg, and fans can look forward to some grand entertainment. A joint statement released by the band says it all: "We love our band and think the title of the tour "Unleashed" perfectly describes how we all feel when we get on stage together - especially in 2009.
In the history of the music industry, a lot of bands have come and gone. Some have made an overnight splash and faded away, leaving only the faintest echo for posterity. Many have had a good long run. Very few can claim a forty-year span, often interrupted but never quite gone from the scene. Score one for Fleetwood Mac, back for yet another (possibly) tumultuous tour of the U.S. With the four original members together again, this enduringly popular and charismatic band is back to remind fans of just why they have never been forgotten.
Way Back When
The saga of Fleetwood Mac is a fascinating story in itself, but we'll have to abbreviate. In 1967, three young British lads got together to start a new band. Led by Peter Green, guitarist, two others from the band "Bluesbreakers" formed a group they called Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac. The other two were Mick Fleetwood, drummer and John McVie, bassist. At the time they played blues, and they did very well in the British market, but made little impression in the U.S. Not until their third album did they begin to catch American attention with the single "Black Magic Woman".
Between 1967 and 1975 a great many changes occurred, including the departure of Peter Green and the addition of Christine Perfect McVie, who came from Sugar Shack to be keyboardist for the band, and incidentally married John McVie. (She used to be Perfect!) Lindsey Buckingham came on as guitarist, and Stevie Nicks as vocalist.
Changes in Attitudes
Success and fortune did what they often do - caused internal strife among band members and some excessive use of alcohol and various other drugs, notably cocaine. However, the 'backbone' of the group somehow stuck with it and kept on recording. Though Stevie Nicks went off to do a solo gig on her own, and other contributing members "flamed out" either temporarily or finally, the music kept on and the fans kept asking for more. While still with the band, Stevie Nicks had a hit single with "Rhiannon" from the album "Fleetwood Mac".
When the album "Rumours" was released it sparked even more interest and accolades. The album contained four Top Ten singles, and won the 1977 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. However, the fame and fortune did not help pull the group together or solve their personal problems, and nothing much was heard from them until some members got it together again in 1985.
For several more years the band continued to record and tour, with the personnel roster in a state of constant flux. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks had their own solo gigs. As an interesting 'sidelight', the band's hit single "Don't Stop" was Bill Clinton's campaign theme song, and he persuaded the five "core" members to perform it live at his 1993 Inaugural Ball.
After that appearance, things became chaotic again, but the band continued to perform. They had their own successful road tour, and they opened for other artists such as Pat Benatar and REO Speedwagon, and their public never quite lost sight of them. Fleetwood Mac as a band kept splitting up and reforming, and it was not until 2004 that they came together again with the release of "Say You Will", their 15th album.
"Glad to be Back"
Now it is 2009, and we can say "Hello!" again to Fleetwood Mac, the real thing! The 'core' and key members, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks are together again, and they are "Unleashed"! The U.S. tour is set to begin on March 1st at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburg, and fans can look forward to some grand entertainment. A joint statement released by the band says it all: "We love our band and think the title of the tour "Unleashed" perfectly describes how we all feel when we get on stage together - especially in 2009.
About the Author:
Written by Matt Ryan, sponsored by StubPass.com. StubPass sells Fleetwood Mac Tickets, sports tickets, concert tickets, theater tickets and many more tickets to your favorite events around the world.
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