6.24.2013

THE FLEETWOOD MAC STORY


There are  three  Fleetwood Mac lineups. One of them is the blues-oriented band of the late Sixties, which arrayed three guitarists (Peter Green, Jeremy Spencer and Danny Kirwan) around the rhythm section of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie



Green inspired B. B. King to say, "He has the sweetest tone I ever heard; he was the only one who gave me the cold sweats..

Green was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia and spent time in psychiatric hospitals undergoing electroconvulsive therapy during the mid-1970s. Many sources attest to his lethargic, trancelike state during this period.

Early in 1971, a born-again Jeremy Spencer abruptly left the band during a U.S. tour to join the Children of God.


The second key configuration found Fleetwood, McVie and Kirwan joined by keyboardist Christine McVie (born Christine Perfect, she’d married bassist McVie) and guitarist Bob Welch, a Southern Californian who became the group’s first American member and a harbinger of new directions.

This configuration produced a pair of ethereal pop masterpieces, Future Games (1971) and Bare Trees (1972).



Kirwan, who was having personal problems, was asked to leave in August 1972. The remaining foursome, joined by new recruits Dave Walker (vocals) and Bob Weston, recorded Penguin (1973); sans Walker, they cut Mystery to Me (1973).



Finally, the platinum edition of Fleetwood Mac came together in 1975 with the recruitment of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. The San Francisco duo had previously cut an album together as Buckingham-Nicks.

Drummer Fleetwood heard a tape of theirs at a studio he was auditioning, and the pair were drafted into the group without so much as a formal audition. This lineup proved far and away to be Fleetwood Mac’s most durable and successful.



In addition to the most solid rhythm section in rock, this classic lineup contained strong vocalists and songwriters in Buckingham, Nicks and Christine McVie. Male and female points of view were offered with unusual candor on the watershed albums Fleetwood Mac (1975) and Rumours (1977).



MySweetestDecline wrote:

My only complaint regarding this documentary is that it isn't long enough. The blues line-up of the band was discussed in all of about 5 minutes when it should have been given far longer. 

Plus the Bob Welch period was hardly touched upon. This would have been a better documentary had it been 2 hours long and really delved into the whole history of the band, especially since this is a UK documentary and the band started out in the UK and had huge success here in the 1960s.


1 comment:

Paul Warren said...

"The real FLeetwood Mac. I loved this band so much. Jeremy did an incredible Elmore James,Danny was really unique and creative,and just a teenager. Most important,Peter Green was one of the best guitarist I've ever heard to this day. 3 brilliant singer,songwriter guitarists with one of my all time favorite rhythm sections. English Rose was my favorite album(or one of)for a long time in the early-mid 70s. Such a shame how Peter turned out. What a a waste. Early recommended listening,John Mayells Blues Breakers "Hard Road"."

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