Fleetwood Mac are a British-American rock band originally formed in London. Formed in July 1967, the group originally consisted of lead guitarist and singer Peter Green, slide guitarist and singer Jeremy Spencer, bassist Bob Brunning and drummer Mick Fleetwood. After several personnel changes, the band's classic lineup, in place from December 1974 to September 1987, consisted of Fleetwood, bassist John McVie, keyboardist and singer Christine McVie, singer Stevie Nicks, and guitarist and singer Lindsey Buckingham. The band then underwent several more changes in personnel, with the final lineup, beginning in November 2018, consisting of Fleetwood, John and Christine McVie, Nicks, lead guitarist Mike Campbell and rhythm guitarist and singer Neil Finn. Christine McVie died in 2022, after which Nicks stated that the band would not continue without her.
History 1967–1973 After leaving John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, guitarist and vocalist Peter Green and drummer Mick Fleetwood formed Fleetwood Mac in July 1967 with slide guitarist Jeremy Spencer and bassist Bob Brunning. In September, Brunning was replaced by John McVie, Green and Fleetwood's original choice for the role. Danny Kirwan was added as a third guitarist following the release of Mr. Wonderful in August 1968. Green suddenly left the band in 1970 due to problems with drug abuse and mental health issues, playing his last show with the band on 20 May. McVie's wife Christine – who had collaborated with the band multiple times – joined on keyboards and vocals shortly after Green's departure, officially becoming a member in August.
During a United States tour in February 1971, Spencer departed Fleetwood Mac after leaving the band's Los Angeles hotel and not returning; it was later revealed that he had joined the Children of God organisation. Green temporarily returned to take Spencer's place on the tour, with Bob Welch joining after its conclusion. Kirwan was fired by Fleetwood in August 1972, after he got into a drunken argument with Welch backstage, injured himself, broke his guitar and refused to perform. He was replaced by Bob Weston the following month, when vocalist Dave Walker also joined the band. Walker had left by June the following year, shortly after the release of Penguin. Weston stayed to perform on its follow-up Mystery to Me later in the year, but was fired in October after having an affair with Fleetwood's wife Jenny Boyd Fleetwood.
1974 onwards After spending much of the year involved in a legal dispute with former manager Clifford Davis, the four-piece Fleetwood Mac returned in late 1974 with Heroes Are Hard to Find. By the end of the year, Welch had left the band, with his replacement Lindsey Buckingham joining on New Year's Eve 1974 with his girlfriend, vocalist Stevie Nicks. This lineup of the band remained constant for over twelve years and multiple successful releases, before Buckingham left in August 1987. He was replaced by two guitarists: Billy Burnette and Rick Vito. Nicks and Christine McVie both retired from the touring lineup of the band after the last show of the Behind the Mask Tour on 7 December 1990, although McVie contributed to recordings for the band's next studio album Time in 1995. Vito also left the band in October 1991.
The 1974–1987 lineup of Fleetwood Mac reunited for a performance at Bill Clinton's inauguration on 20 January 1993. Nicks and Burnette left the band shortly thereafter, with Bekka Bramlett and Dave Mason, respectively, replacing the departed members later in the year. Both performed on 1995's Time, which also featured a returning Burnette on guitar. Shortly after the album was released in October, Fleetwood Mac disbanded. Within a year, however, the band had returned with a lineup including Nicks, Buckingham, the McVies and Fleetwood. They returned to touring in 1997, releasing the live album The Dance in August, before Christine McVie left again in 1998 and all but retired from music. She ultimately returned to Fleetwood Mac sixteen years later in January 2014.
In April 2018, Buckingham was fired from Fleetwood Mac after a disagreement over touring; he was replaced by two guitarists, Mike Campbell and Neil Finn.
Christine McVie died in 2022, putting the future of the band in question, with Nicks saying in October 2023 that she has no desire to continue the band after McVie's death.
Members ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsMick Fleetwoodall Fleetwood Mac releasesPeter Green Jeremy Spencer1967–1971Bob Brunning1967 bassJohn McVieall Fleetwood Mac releases, except Live at the Marquee 1967 (1992)Danny Kirwan1968–1972 Christine McVieBob Welch1971–1974 all Fleetwood Mac releases from Future Games (1971) to Heroes Are Hard to Find (1974)Bob Weston1972–1973 Dave Walker1972–1973Penguin (1973)Lindsey BuckinghamStevie NicksBilly BurnetteRick VitoDave Mason 1993–1995 Time (1995)Bekka Bramlett 1993–1995lead and backing vocalsMike Campbell2018–2022noneNeil Finn
Touring ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsNigel Watson1971 percussionWatson joined Fleetwood Mac alongside Peter Green for the band's early 1971 tour of the United States.Doug Graves1974keyboardsGraves joined the band as a second keyboardist for the Heroes Are Hard to Find Tour in late 1974.Bobby HuntHunt replaced Graves during the Heroes Are Hard to Find Tour, remaining until its conclusion in December.Ray Lindsey1977–1982rhythm guitarLindsey Buckingham's guitar tech Lindsey contributed guitar during shows between 1977 and 1982.Jeffery Sova1979–1980keyboardsSova and Todaro performed on the Tusk Tour from 1979 to 1980, featuring on the 1980 Live release.Tony TodaropercussionSharon Celanibacking vocalsSince joining on the Shake the Cage Tour in 1987, Celani has performed on multiple Fleetwood Mac tours.Okyerema Asante1987–1990percussionAsante and Garfield joined Fleetwood Mac on percussion and keyboards starting with the band's Shake the Cage Tour in 1987.Dan GarfieldLori Nicksbacking vocalsNicks performed with Fleetwood Mac on the Shake the Cage Tour, and later from 2009 to 2016.Eliscia Wright1987–1988Wright toured with the band as one of three backing vocalists on the 1987–1988 Shake the Cage Tour.Lynn Mabry1990Mabry and Likins toured with Fleetwood Mac as two of their backing vocalists for the Behind the Mask Tour.Liza Jane LikinsSteve Thoma1994–1995Thoma joined the band for the Another Link in the Chain Tour in 1994, and performed on the album Time.Brett Tuggle1997–2018 Tuggle and Heywood were main fixtures of Fleetwood Mac's touring band between 1997 and 2018. Tuggle left the touring lineup to play with Buckingham after the latter's dismissal.Neale Heywood1997–2022Mindy Stein1997–2003backing vocalsStein joined Fleetwood Mac's touring lineup for The Dance Tour, remaining until the 2003 Say You Will Tour.Lenny CastropercussionCastro performed percussion on the band's reunion tour The Dance in 1997. He also played at Clinton's "going away party" in 2001.Steve Rinkov2003–2018Rinkov has performed additional percussion and drums for the band from their 2003 Say You Will Tour until early 2018.Carlos Rios2003–2004rhythm guitarRios and Hirano performed with Fleetwood Mac between 2003 and 2004 on the Say You Will Tour. Hirano returned in 2018 for the An Evening with Fleetwood Mac tour.Taku HiranopercussionJana Anderson2003–2009backing vocalsAnderson joined partway through the Say You Will Tour, replacing former backing vocalist Mindy Stein.Stevvi Alexander2014–2018Alexander joined as the band's third live backing vocalist starting for the On with the Show Tour in 2014.Marilyn Martin2018–2022Martin replaced Stevvi Alexander as the band's second live backing vocalist for the An Evening with Fleetwood Mac Tour.Ricky PetersonPeterson replaced Brett Tuggle as the band's touring keyboardist for the An Evening with Fleetwood Mac tour.
Timeline
Official
Touring
Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesJuly – September 1967Peter Green – guitar, vocals, harmonica Jeremy Spencer – slide guitar, vocals, piano Bob Brunning – bass guitar Mick Fleetwood – drums, percussion"I Believe My Time Ain't Long" (1967) Fleetwood Mac (1968) Live at the Marquee 1967 (1992)September 1967 – August 1968Peter Green – guitar, vocals, harmonica Jeremy Spencer – slide guitar, vocals, piano John McVie – bass guitar Mick Fleetwood – drums, percussionFleetwood Mac (1968) "Black Magic Woman" (1968) "Need Your Love So Bad" (1968) Mr. Wonderful (1968) London Live '68 (1998)August 1968 – May 1970Peter Green – guitar, vocals, harmonica Jeremy Spencer – slide guitar, vocals, piano Danny Kirwan – guitar, vocals John McVie – bass guitar Mick Fleetwood – drums, percussion"Albatross" (1968) "Man of the World" (1969) Then Play On (1969) "Oh Well" (1969) Fleetwood Mac in Chicago (1969) "The Green Manalishi" (1970) Live in Boston (1985) Shrine '69 (1999)May – July 1970Jeremy Spencer – slide guitar, vocals, piano Danny Kirwan – guitar, vocals John McVie – bass guitar Mick Fleetwood – drums, percussionKiln House (1970)July 1970 – February 1971Jeremy Spencer – slide guitar, vocals, piano Danny Kirwan – guitar, vocals Christine McVie – keyboards, vocals John McVie – bass guitar Mick Fleetwood – drums, percussion"Dragonfly" (1971)February – April 1971Danny Kirwan – guitar, vocals Christine McVie – keyboards, vocals John McVie – bass guitar Mick Fleetwood – drums, percussion Peter Green – guitar, vocals (temporarily rejoined to substitute Spencer, who left during a tour)April 1971 – August 1972Danny Kirwan – lead guitar, vocals Bob Welch – rhythm guitar, vocals Christine McVie – keyboards, vocals John McVie – bass guitar Mick Fleetwood – drums, percussionFuture Games (1971) Bare Trees (1972)September 1972 – June 1973Dave Walker – vocals, harmonica Bob Weston – lead guitar, backing vocals, banjo, harmonica Bob Welch – rhythm guitar, vocals Christine McVie – keyboards, vocals John McVie – bass guitar Mick Fleetwood – drums, percussionPenguin (1973)June – October 1973Bob Weston – lead guitar, backing vocals, slide guitar Bob Welch – rhythm guitar, vocals Christine McVie – keyboards, vocals John McVie – bass guitar Mick Fleetwood – drums, percussionMystery to Me (1973)October 1973 – December 1974Bob Welch – guitar, vocals Christine McVie – keyboards, vocals John McVie – bass guitar Mick Fleetwood – drums, percussionHeroes Are Hard to Find (1974)December 1974 – August 1987Stevie Nicks – vocals, tambourine Lindsey Buckingham – guitar, vocals, keyboards Christine McVie – keyboards, vocals John McVie – bass guitar Mick Fleetwood – drums, percussionFleetwood Mac (1975) Rumours (1977) Tusk (1979) Live (1980) Mirage (1982) Mirage Tour (1983) Tango in the Night (1987) In Concert (2016) Rumours Live (2023)September 1987 – December 1990Stevie Nicks – vocals, tambourine Rick Vito – lead guitar, vocals Billy Burnette – rhythm guitar, vocals Christine McVie – keyboards, vocals John McVie – bass guitar Mick Fleetwood – drums, percussionTango in the Night Tour (1988) Greatest Hits (1988) Behind the Mask (1990) 25 Years – The Chain (1992) December 1990 – July 1994Billy Burnette – guitar, vocals Christine McVie – keyboards, vocals John McVie – bass guitar Mick Fleetwood – drums, percussion25 Years – The Chain (1992) July 1994 – January 1996Bekka Bramlett – vocals Dave Mason – lead guitar, vocals Billy Burnette – rhythm guitar, vocals Christine McVie – keyboards, vocals (studio only) John McVie – bass guitar Mick Fleetwood – drums, percussionTime (1995)Band inactive January 1996 – March 1997March 1997 – March 1998Stevie Nicks – vocals, tambourine Lindsey Buckingham – guitar, banjo, vocals Christine McVie – keyboards, vocals John McVie – bass guitar, vocals Mick Fleetwood – drums, percussionThe Dance (1997)March 1998 – January 2014Stevie Nicks – vocals, keyboards, tambourine Lindsey Buckingham – guitar, vocals, keyboards John McVie – bass guitar Mick Fleetwood – drums, percussionSay You Will (2003) Live in Boston (2004)