Mick Fleetwood revealed the first true “champion” of Fleetwood Mac: “It definitely clicked”
There’s somewhat of a widespread, albeit understandable, misconception when it comes to Fleetwood Mac.
Understandable because I myself fell into this trap when first learning about the music world, which is that the Rumours line-up of Fleetwood Mac is all that ever existed. Of course, the eventual lineup that put up Fleetwood Mac’s biggest commercial project to date will be remembered more than others, not least for the drama that existed behind them. But the truth is, Fleetwood Mac were around long before the imperious Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined the fold.
Eight whole years before the American duo joined, the original line-up formed in the foggy haze of London’s late-night blues scene. Working the circuit, the rhythm section of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie searched for the right lineup that could dominate this competitive blues landscape.
Immediately, in Peter Green, they found a frontman who could do just that. Desperately charismatic, precisely talented on guitar and with a voice tailor-made to captivate an audience, Green had all the makings of being the next decade’s biggest superstar. It was plain for all to see on stage, but perhaps more crucially, was that it was similarly evident on record.
On the band’s 1969 album Then Play On, the charisma of this early line-up is overwhelmingly evident. ‘Rattlesnake Shake’ and ‘Oh Well’ showcase Fleetwood Mac, as many people don’t know them, an unrelenting and raw blues outfit led by a mercurial frontman.
But like many bands of that London scene, Fleetwood Mac were building on the back of blues artists who came before. While Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page were keen to label Muddy Waters and BB King as their inspirations, Mick Fleetwood was understandably more rhythm-focused and named one iconic bass player as the linchpin to their heavy rock sound.
He explained, “Willie Dixon was our guide, and he put so many great people together and was the champion of champions. He knew us and was so kind. But there was a lot of, ‘Who are these little punks?’”
He continued, “I didn’t go, but the second night we were in Chicago, Willie took Peter and I think maybe John went and went down to where you don’t go, to a joint. And Peter got up and played, and Willie was with him, and from that moment on, something clicked. And in the studio, it definitely clicked.”
His stewardship gave Green license to be the frontman the band needed and help take the band one step further towards rock supremacy. But sadly, Dixon’s guidance couldn’t prevent Green from spiralling into a state of LSD-induced madness that ultimately brought Fleetwood Mac, the blues band, to a close.
Luckily for Mick Fleetwood and McVie, they found musicians who would restore their former glory and take them to the very top of the charts, with a dream pop sound. But as a fan of those early records, I can’t help but continuously wonder what may have happened if Green had remained stable and taken Fleetwood Mac into the exciting 1970s.
