This is the story of how Fleetwood Mac became Fleetwood Mac, part 1

In the beginning, they were a blues group that actually landed a #1 hit on the British charts in 1968 with a song called “Albatross.”  It brought them fame and fortune and screaming fans.  And then reality set in.

Their lead guitarist took an acid trip and “never came back.”  Their second guitarist suddenly disappeared one day while on tour and joined a religious cult.  His replacement smashed up his guitar onstage during a show and was dismissed.  His replacement had an affair with Mick Fleetwood’s wife and was given a plane ticket and driven to the nearest airport.  And then by the end of 1974, Bob Welch, the group’s most dependable lead singer and guitarist, had had enough and resigned.

The band resolved to carry on and put together a new album without him.  While Mick Fleetwood was shopping around in California for a place to record that album, a friend invited him to come check out his studio.  During the visit, that friend played Fleetwood a sample of an album that was recorded there by a duo named Buckingham Nicks, a song called “Frozen Love.”   But when Mick heard the playback, he was more impressed with the guitar playing than the studio’s sound quality.  Mick asked who the guitarist was.  Coincidentally, he happened to be working in the room right next door.

His name?  Lindsey Buckingham.

For the rest of the story, catch us at The Promenade in Bolinbrook this Thursday night (June 16th) when we pay tribute to Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours and more!