By Mackenzie Grizzard | Staff Writer
There are very few bands that survive the passage of time. From The Beatles to One Direction, pressure in the music industry and fame itself proves to be too much for many to handle.
Some artists release a few hit songs and fade into irrelevance as time goes on. Others might create a brand for themselves and use that brand to build an empire that withstands the test of time and inevitable band breakups. Fleetwood Mac is one of those bands.
One of the major aspects that sets Fleetwood Mac apart from other arguably timeless bands is their cultural and stylistic evolution throughout the years. Many successful bands find a music style and stick to it, but Fleetwood Mac crossed several musical barriers — and it paid off.
Fleetwood Mac originated as a blues-folk band in 1960s London, it’s original members being Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie, Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer. Their debut album, alongside their hit single “Albatross,” successfully hoisted them into the British blues scene.
However, their move to the United States in 1974 catapulted them into the fame they are associated with today. The addition of mystical sensation Stevie Nicks and accomplished guitarist Lindsey Buckingham transformed their once bluesy-folk style into American ’70s rock. With the combination of Stevie Nicks’ and Christine McVie’s incredible vocal talent, Fleetwood Mac finally had what set them apart – a unique sound.
Despite their success, Fleetwood Mac was not immune to the fate that befalls many bands. Band breakups typically overshadow a band’s legacy simply because they are remembered for the drama rather than their art. Fleetwood Mac is the exception. They didn’t need a breakup to form an iconic legacy.
Arguably, Fleetwood Mac didn’t suffer a breakup like many other bands did. The romantic drama between several members of the band caused lineup changes over the years, but that didn’t stop them.
While members like Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks pursued successful solo careers, Fleetwood Mac still produced albums together all the way up until 2017. That is over 50 years of producing music together. There are very few, if any, bands that can say the same.
They are even said to have inspired the novel and now hit television series “Daisy Jones and the Six” by Taylor Jenkins Reid, decades later.
50 years of producing multi-million dollar albums together, successful solo careers and having television and book series based on them is an incredible legacy. At least for a previously-obscure British blues band.
No other band even comes close to what Fleetwood Mac has accomplished. Even as music has changed and adapted, they’ve still remained as classic as they were 30 years ago.
Their story is somewhat of a cautionary tale as well: Don’t let breakups and romantic drama overshadow what really matters. After all, a name in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame surely lasts longer than a heartbreak.
