Fleetwood Mac were a British-American rock band formed in London in 1967. Founded by guitarist and singer Peter Green, drummer Mick Fleetwood, bassist John McVie and slide guitarist Jeremy Spencer, the group first established itself as a major British blues act before developing into one of the most successful pop-rock bands in music history. The band's name combined the surnames of Fleetwood and McVie, whose rhythm section became its most enduring foundation.
Fleetwood Mac's early recordings were rooted in Chicago blues and British blues-rock. Their self-titled debut album, released in 1968, became a significant success in the United Kingdom, while the instrumental single "Albatross" reached number one on the UK singles chart. Other early highlights included "Black Magic Woman," "Oh Well," "Man of the World" and "The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)." Green's expressive guitar playing and emotionally charged songwriting gave the original group its distinctive identity.
The band's sound began to broaden on albums such as English Rose and Then Play On, both released in 1969. Personnel changes soon became a defining feature of Fleetwood Mac's history. Green left in 1970, followed by Spencer and Danny Kirwan, who had joined the band in 1968. Christine McVie, previously a member of Chicken Shack and a respected singer and keyboard player, became an official member in 1971. Her melodic songwriting and understated vocal style would later become central to the band's success.
During the early 1970s, Fleetwood Mac moved through several lineups and styles. Bob Welch helped steer the group toward a smoother, more atmospheric form of rock on albums including Future Games, Bare Trees, Mystery to Me and Heroes Are Hard to Find. After Welch's departure, Fleetwood Mac relocated from Britain to California in 1974. The following year, Fleetwood and McVie recruited Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks after hearing their album Buckingham Nicks. Their arrival transformed the band's creative and commercial fortunes.
The new lineup's first album, Fleetwood Mac, was released in 1975. Driven by songs such as "Rhiannon," "Landslide," "Say You Love Me" and "Over My Head," it gradually became a number one album in the United States. The follow-up, Rumours, released in 1977, turned the band's complicated internal tensions into a remarkably cohesive set of songs. Written and recorded during a period of personal and professional upheaval, the album produced enduring tracks including "Go Your Own Way," "Dreams," "Don't Stop" and "You Make Loving Fun." It became one of the best-selling albums ever released.
Fleetwood Mac followed Rumours with the ambitious double album Tusk in 1979. Though less commercially direct, it displayed Buckingham's experimental instincts alongside Nicks' theatrical songwriting and Christine McVie's pop craftsmanship. Later successes included Mirage, Tango in the Night and the singles "Hold Me," "Gypsy," "Little Lies" and "Everywhere." Buckingham left the band in 1987, but Fleetwood Mac continued with changing personnel and released Behind the Mask and Time.
The classic lineup reunited for The Dance in 1997, a live album and concert project that renewed the band's public profile. Fleetwood Mac were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. They later recorded Say You Will in 2003 and continued touring in various configurations, including a final major touring era featuring Fleetwood, McVie, Nicks and new collaborators. Across its many incarnations, Fleetwood Mac remained notable for its combination of strong individual songwriters, evolving musical identities and an unusually durable rhythm section anchored by Mick Fleetwood and John McVie.