Palm Beach Post (FL), August 29, 1994
Section: ACCENT
UNEARTHING MAC'S GHOSTS
Fleetwood Mac has been a revolving door for musicians since its inception in 1967. The only original members still with the group are the Mac namesakes - drummer Mick Fleetwood and bass player John McVie. Here's what happened to a few of the group's key members over the years:
Peter Green: The songwriter-guitarist co-founded the band in July 1967 and left the group in May 1970 to join a religious sect. (Few realize it, but Green is the author of Black Magic Woman. A hit for Santana in 1970, the song appeared on Mac's second album, English Rose, in 1969.) Green lives in London, hasn't made music in years, but is still viewed as a guitar god by British music fans. Over the years, more than one Green wannabe has tried to pass himself off as the guitarist to get a record deal. There is rumor of a Green tribute album, says Mac manager Carl Stubner.
``He is one of the most unsung guitar players ever,'' says Stubner, ``and in London there is still a Peter Green mystique.''
Jeremy Spencer: In early 1971 guitarist Spencer, an original Mac member, left the group in the middle of a U.S. tour and joined a religious sect called the Children of God. He released several solo albums during the '70s. He lives in Brazil and is still a member of the Children of God.
Danny Kirwan: The singer-songwriter-guitarist joined the band in 1968 and, depending on the account, either left or was fired in 1972. He released a string of solo albums in the United Kingdom in the mid '70s. He lives in London.
Bob Welch: Singer-songwriter-guitarist Welch is living in Nashville, according to Mac manager Stubner. Welch was a band member from April 1971 through December 1974. He left the band to form a power trio called Paris, which released a pair of albums. Welch had a moderately successful solo career, releasing a series of solo albums throughout the '70s and '80s, but may best be known for the Mac song Hypnotized.
Lindsey Buckingham: The singer-songwriter-guitarist joined the band in January of 1975 along with singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks. He left the band in 1987 to pursue a solo career which had already generated the Top 40 hits Trouble and Go Insane. His most recent album, Out of the Cradle, released in 1992, made a lot of critics' Top 10 lists. He is working on a follow-up record scheduled for release late next year.
Stevie Nicks: Nicks left the band after the release of the Mac album in 1990 to pursue an already substantial solo career. Hits such as Stop Draggin' My Heart Around (with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), Edge of Seventeen and Stand Back made her an arena act in the '80s. Nicks' latest album, Street Angel, was released about a month ago. She was supposed to perform at the Kravis Center on Sept. 23 and 24, but abruptly shortened her tour.
- SCOTT BENARDE
|