Nostalgic Photos Of Fleetwood Mac Document Their Incredible Rise To Fame
Fleetwood Mac is considered one of the greatest bands of all time. But their music wasn’t the only thing that made the British-American group so incredibly successful; the bandmates’ real-life drama behind the scenes also contributed to their iconic status. Rumours, still one of the best-selling albums in history, was famously fueled by tensions, love affairs, and complicated breakups among the band members. As these rare and nostalgic photos from the archives show, real life — the ups and the downs — was always a huge part of Fleetwood Mac’s meteoric rise to fame.
“She will be so very missed”
Christine McVie passed away at the age of 79 in November 2022. Following the news of her death, the band released a statement, which said, “There are no words to describe our sadness at the passing of Christine McVie. She was truly a one-of-a-kind, special and talented beyond measure. She was the best musician anyone could have in their band and the best friend anyone could have in their life. We were so lucky to have a life with her. Individually and together, we cherished Christine deeply and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. She will be so very missed.”
Fleetwood Mac
If any photograph could sum up how effortlessly cool Fleetwood Mac was, this is it. Pictured here in 1975 — the same year they released their self-titled album Fleetwood Mac — John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, Stevie Nicks, and Mick Fleetwood are on the precipice of stardom. The album was an instant success, soaring to no.1 in the United States and selling over 7 million copies.
Life on tour
This picture, taken in 1976, shows what looks like a moment of almost-normality for Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie as they board the Fleetwood Mac tour bus. The band was massive by then, and touring was becoming more and more of an endurance test. They were also working on their album Rumors that year — adding to everybody’s stresses.
“It was horrifying. It should never have happened.”
In true Fleetwood Mac fashion, Stevie Nicks and Mick Fleetwood, pictured here in 1983, had a mad, short-lived relationship, which started off as an affair. Mick was a married man when he and Stevie got together during a tour in 1977. Stevie has some regrets about it now, but she still considers him one of the loves of her life. “I fell in love with Mick, and I think Mick fell in love with me,” Stevie told Q Magazine in 2008. “It was horrifying. It should never have happened.”
