Fleetwood Mac, The #12 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Six

 

(Continued from Part Five)

 

"Big Love" hit the Top 5 in the U.S., #8 in Ireland and the Netherlands.  The "love grunts" were from Buckingham processed through an oscillator.

 

This late gem is one of The Top Tracks of the Rock Era*--"Isn't It Midnight".

(From left:  John McVie, Burnette, Nicks, Fleetwood, Vito, Christine McVie)

Fleetwood Mac had enjoyed incredible success for over a decade, but as with nearly all groups of that caliber, the success created ego problems.  After a group meeting in August, Buckingham left the group, replaced by guitarists Billy Burnette (son of Dorsey Burnette and nephew of Johnny Burnette) and Rick Vito.  Burnette had worked with most of the members previously in some capacity and was a good fit.  Vito had worked with McVie on two Mayall and the Bluesbreakers albums.

 

This lineup rehearsed for several months before a successful tour in 1987-88, with the performance at San Francisco's Cow Palace filmed for release as a video.  Fleetwood Mac also released their Greatest Hits compilation in 1988 with the new song "As Long As You Follow", written by Christine and her husband Eddy Quintela.  Vito points to the song as his best guitar work in Fleetwood Mac.  The single stalled at #43 overall but hit #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

The Greatest Hits album has sold over eight million in the United States alone.  In 1990, the group released the album Behind the Mask, which went Gold and topped the U.K. chart.  The accompanying tour was successful, but the following year, Nicks and Vito both left the group as well.

In 1992, Fleetwood arranged tracks for the box set 25 Years - The Chain.  Although the star lineup responsible for much of the group's success hadn't performed together for five years, they did so when U.S. President Bill Clinton requested they play "Don't Stop", which he had adopted as his campaign theme song, at the Inaugural Ball.  However, that classic lineup did not record together and has only appeared together briefly since.

Burnette left soon afterward with Bekka Bramlett coming into the band.  There have been numerous other personnel changes over the years with people coming and going, including former Traffic member Dave Mason, Neil Finn of Split Enz and Crowded House, and Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers all working a short stint.  

In 1995, Fleetwood Mac released the album Time, but the creative magic evident in the golden years was gone.  In 1997, however, after members had worked with each other on other projects and select appearances, the classic lineup performed at the Warner Brothers stage in Burbank, California, and the live album The Dance was released.  

 "Silver Springs" is a song originally written for Rumours but relegated to B-side status until revived by its inclusion on The Dance.  It was released as a single and hopped to #5 on the AC chart.

The album has sold over five million copies in the U.S. alone, and earned Grammy nominations for Best Pop Album, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals (for "Silver Springs"), and Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for "The Chain".  The group toured extensively, with the concerts being the last featuring all five for 16 years.

In 1998, Fleetwood Mac was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which the five classic members did perform for.  In 2002, Rumours was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. 

Christine left the group in 1998, but the Mac recorded the album Say You Will in 2003, which debuted at #3 in the U.S. and #6 in the United Kingdom.  At the time, the Peacekeeper nuclear missile program Ronald Reagan created was due to be scrapped.  "Peacekeeper" was their biggest hit in years, and Fleetwood Mac received an American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group.

Another solid track is a Buckingham tune--"What's The World Coming To".

 Buckingham also wrote "Miranda".

Fans were still hungry to see the group live, and even without Christine, the tour grossed $27 million.  Fleetwood Mac toured Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, and grossed $84 million this time.  The compilation album The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac was released in 2002 and has now topped four million in sales.

Weston died at the age of 64 on January 3, 2012 from effects of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by cirrhosis.  Welch died the same year at age 66 on June 7 in Nashville, Tennessee.  Welch, who had undergone spinal surgery three months prior, had been told his chances for recovery were poor and that he would eventually be an invalid.  Bob was in considerable pain and early that morning, he shot himself.  

The band toured again in 2013 until John was diagnosed with cancer.  Fleetwood Mac also released the studio EP Extended Play.  The following year, Christine rejoined the group, which toured North America in a highly-successful tour.  Various incarnations of the group have performed in the years since.

 

"Sad Angel" reflects on former lovers, and the relationship that Nicks and Buckingham had.  Stevie was working on a solo album at the time and joined the sessions towards the end.  "All these years later, we are still writing songs that are dialogues for each other," Buckingham told Rolling Stone magazine.  "That was part of the appeal of Rumours, and of the group in general.  It was really kind of the best stuff we have done in a while."

In 2018, Fleetwood Mac received the MusiCares Person of the Year award.  Green, the group's founder, died July 25, 2020.

The group has sold over 120 million albums.  They have 25 hits to their credit, with 9 Top 10's and one #1.  They have scored 26 career hits on the Adult Contemporary chart, with 10 of those reaching the Top 10 and 3 #1's.