Fleetwood Mac fans have had plenty to celebrate lately. In 2025 Rhino marked fifty years of the 1975 self-titled album with a new Dolby Atmos mix and an audiophile vinyl pressing, and in summer 2026 a deluxe edition of the 1988 Greatest Hits arrived on 2LP and 2CD with ten extra songs, among them "The Chain" and "Landslide". With the fiftieth anniversary of Rumours due in February 2027, it is the perfect time to revisit the story.
From London blues outfit to global superstars with more than 120 million records sold, their music keeps finding new listeners. Browse our rock music clothing collection for more tributes to the greats.
Fleetwood Mac Fact File
| Formed | July 1967 (first gig 13 August 1967) |
|---|---|
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Blues rock, soft rock, pop rock |
| Founding line-up | Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood, Jeremy Spencer, with John McVie joining weeks later |
| Classic line-up | Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks |
| Labels | Blue Horizon, Immediate, CBS, Reprise, Warner Bros. |
| Name origin | Peter Green named it after the rhythm section of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie |
| Years active | 1967-1995, 1997-2022 |
Career History
| Year | Album | Label/Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Fleetwood Mac | Blue Horizon - blues debut |
| 1969 | Then Play On | Reprise - last album with Peter Green |
| 1975 | Fleetwood Mac | Reprise - first with Buckingham and Nicks, US No. 1 |
| 1977 | Rumours | Warner Bros. - Grammy Album of the Year |
| 1979 | Tusk | Warner Bros. - 20-track double album |
| 1987 | Tango in the Night | Warner Bros. - UK No. 1 |
| 2003 | Say You Will | Reprise - final studio album |
Selected studio albums from a total of 17; release years are original release dates, and labels refer to the original release.
The Early Years: London Blues
Fleetwood Mac began in London in July 1967, when guitarist Peter Green left John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers and teamed up with drummer Mick Fleetwood. Green named the band after Fleetwood and bassist John McVie, partly to tempt McVie into joining. Green's haunting instrumental "Albatross" topped the UK chart, and "Man of the World" followed as another hit. After Green left, Christine McVie officially joined in 1970 and Bob Welch steered them towards a softer sound.
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The Breakthrough: Buckingham and Nicks
In 1974 the band relocated to the United States. That autumn Mick Fleetwood invited Lindsey Buckingham to join, and he agreed on condition that Stevie Nicks came too. The pair joined on New Year's Eve 1974, and the 1975 album Fleetwood Mac, featuring "Rhiannon" and "Landslide", climbed all the way to No. 1 in America about fifteen months after release.
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Rumours and the Peak Years
Released in 1977, Rumours became one of the best-selling albums of all time, with more than 40 million copies sold worldwide. It won the Grammy for Album of the Year, and "Dreams" became the band's only US No. 1 single. The adventurous double album Tusk followed in 1979, and Tango in the Night hit No. 1 in the UK three times in the year after its 1987 release.
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Later Career and Legacy
The classic line-up reunited in 1993 to play "Don't Stop" at Bill Clinton's inaugural ball, then again for the 1997 live album The Dance, which took them back to the top of the US chart. Christine McVie returned in 2014, and the band's final tour, An Evening with Fleetwood Mac, ran from 2018 to 2019 with Mike Campbell and Neil Finn. Peter Green died in 2020 and Christine McVie in November 2022.
Awards and Honours
Music Awards
- Grammy Award for Album of the Year for Rumours (1978)
- Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music (1998)
- MusiCares Person of the Year (2018)
Halls of Fame
- Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1998)
- Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1979)
Away From the Spotlight
Mick Fleetwood has long made his home in Lahaina on Maui, where his restaurant, Fleetwood's, was lost in the 2023 wildfires. Stevie Nicks has supported wounded service personnel through her Band of Soldiers charity work.
FAQs
When was Fleetwood Mac formed?
Fleetwood Mac formed in London in July 1967.
Why is the band called Fleetwood Mac?
Founder Peter Green named the band after drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie, the "Mac" being short for McVie.
How many albums has Fleetwood Mac released?
Fleetwood Mac released 17 studio albums, from their 1968 debut to Say You Will in 2003.
What is Fleetwood Mac's best-selling album?
Rumours (1977) is their biggest seller, with more than 40 million copies sold worldwide.
When did Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham join?
They joined together on New Year's Eve 1974.
Is Fleetwood Mac still together?
The band have been inactive since Christine McVie's death in 2022, and in 2024 Stevie Nicks said she did not believe they would continue.
Shop the Fleetwood Mac Collection
Our Fleetwood Mac tribute designs are fan-made hoodies and tees, printed to order in the UK.
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Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Led Zeppelin Career Story and The Rolling Stones Career Story.
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