The Many Faces of Fleetwood Mac
April 14, 2010 Lorne Cansler
When many fans think of Fleetwood Mac, they naturally think of the five members that brought the band its most commercial success. However, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie had recorded 10 albums with seven different combinations of musicians under the name of Fleetwood Mac, before they assembled the lineup that made the band superstars.
The Early Years of Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac, then a British blues band, released their first album in 1968. Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac featured Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer, both on guitars and vocals, while Spencer also contributed as a pianist. The band's rhythm section, drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie, would remain the only constants in the band. The same foursome would release their second album, Mr. Wonderful, later that same year.
Their third album, Then Play On (1969) featured a new member, 18-year-old Danny Kirwin on guitar and vocals. With three guitarists in the group, Jeremy Spencer contributed less to Then Play On than he did on previous albums.
The 1970 release, Kiln House, was Fleetwood Mac's first album without Peter Green, who left the band while struggling with psychoses. The band chose not to replace Green and Fleetwood Mac was once again a quartet.
In 1971, Fleetwood Mac released Future Games, their first album without Jeremy Spencer, who had joined the Children of God. John McVie's then-wife, Christine, joined the band to replace Spencer on keyboards.
Bob Welch became the first American to join Fleetwood Mac by replacing Spencer on guitar. Welch and Christine McVie's contributions to the band also included vocal and songwriting talents. Along with Danny Kirwin, Fleetwood Mac had three singer-songwriters. The same line released Bare Trees in 1972.
Danny Kirwin's alcohol dependence and related problems created problems within the band and Mick Fleetwood found it necessary to fire him. Kirwin was replaced by guitarist Bob Weston and vocalist Dave Walker. Now a six-member band, Fleetwood Mac released Penguin in 1973.
The band fired Dave Walker because they thought his vocal style was not compatible with the group. Without replacing Walker, Fleetwood Mac released another album in 1973, Mystery to Me. While on tour, Mick Fleetwood discovered that his wife was having an affair with Bob Weston, who was immediately fired.
Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie, and Bob Welch returned to the studio and released Heroes are Hard to Find. It would be the last Fleetwood Mac album with Bob Welch, who left the band for a solo career.
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