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There are few bands that manage to last as long as Fleetwood Mac has. They have had hiatuses, challenges, and several changes in their lineup, but all in all, they have maintained the spirit of the iconic '70s group for decades. Every member of the band has had a wonderfully succesful career in music.Sadly, many of the former members of the band, including their founder, have passed away in the last decade. However, their legacy is as alive as it has ever been. Let's remember these incredible musicians that are no longer with us and their contributions to the band and to music in general.Updated on January 11, 2023: Fleetwood Mac is still performing in 2023. After over 55 years, the group's success is unprecedented in the music industry. As of now, there have not been any details released regarding a tour this year, but the band's official tour website shares that there may be some planning to get one in the works. Stevie Nicks, however, is keeping busy in her solo career with an upcoming stadium tour alongside Billy Joel set to begin in March and finish in November at the U.S. Bank Stadium.
7 Bob Brunning Lived From 1943-2011
Bob Brunning was an essential component when it came to the formative years of Fleetwood Mac. He was not exactly one of the founders, but when Peter Green first started the band, the bass player he wanted (John McVie) wasn't available yet, so he asked Bob to fill in for him. Brunning was hired on a temporary basis and soon proved himself to be an incredible musician.
He played live with the group in some important concerts and leant his talent for the song "Long Grey Mare" on the band's debut album, Fleetwood Mac. His time in the band was just a small part of his career, though. He went on to join the English band Savoy Brown, and then completely changed directions, deciding to teach at The College of St. Mark & St. John for decades. He left us in 2011.
6 Bob Weston Passed In 2012
Bob Weston joined Fleetwood Mac in 1972, when the band had been around for about five years, as a second guitar player when musician Danny Kirwan quit. He had been playing with Long John Baldry and the rest of the band was aware of how talented he was, so he was an obvious choice.
He stayed in the band for two years and was part of the recording of two of Fleetwood Mac's great albums: Penguin and Mystery to Me. He co-wrote some of the songs and sang a duet with lead singer Christine McVie. He passed away in January 2012.
5 Bob Welch Lived From 1945 To 2012
When, in 1971, guitarist Jeremy Spencer quit, a friend of the band introduced them to Bob Welch. Welch joined Fleetwood Mac as a rhythm guitar player, and his contributions completely changed the band's history. He was the writer of the hit song "Sentimental Lady" that came out on the 1972 album Bare Trees. The song reached the top 10 on the charts, and years later Welch re-recorded the track for his solo album French Kiss. He was also on Fleetwood Mac's Future Games, Penguin, and Mystery to Me. During his years in the band, he struggled with friction with lead guitarist Danny Kirwan. Danny had lots of issues with alcoholism, and although their musical chemistry was good, it wasn't enough for them to get along.
"(Danny) probably shouldn't have been drinking as much as he did, even at his young age," Bob said years later. "I always considered myself a 'realist' and would try to have rational conversations with him, but he always seemed to respond with some kind of suspicion, as if there was a subtext to what I was saying. He was always very intense about his work, as I was, but he didn't seem to ever be able to distance himself from it....and laugh about it. Danny was the definition of 'deadly serious' I don't think he had a very supportive or nurturing family background either, which is crucial for somebody with an artistic temperament as finely tuned as his."
4 Danny Kirwan Died In 2018
Danny Kirwan was ecstatic when he was asked by Peter Green to audition for Fleetwood Mac in 1968. He was a great fan of Peter's at the time, and playing with his band was a huge honor. His guitar style impressed the rest of the band instantly, and he was invited to join.
Sadly, due to his alcoholism and the tensions that it eventually generated, he was fired from the band in 1972. He continued his music career for a few years, though not without challenges and setbacks due to his addiction, and eventually retired and lived a quiet life. He passed in 2018.
3 Peter Green Was Born In 1946 & Passed In 2020
One of the many tragedies that 2020 brought was the death of Peter Green, the founder of Fleetwood Mac and an exceptional guitar player and songwriter. He was already an accomplished musician by the time he founded the band in 1967 due to his work with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, and that same year he took Fleetwood Mac to the Windsor National Jazz and Blues Festival. He only stayed in the band during its first years, but that was enough to leave his mark and push them to become the iconic group they are.
2 Christine McVie Died In 2022
Christine McVie joined Fleetwood Mac in 1970 as a keyboard player after years of being a fan. She already had an established music career prior to working with the band, though it certainly helped give her a boost. McVie quickly became an integral member of the team, not only playing keys but also as a vocalist and songwriter.
In 1999, Christine announced she was taking a hiatus from Fleetwood Mac. It wasn't until 2014 that she rejoined the band, though she had released several solo projects during her time away. She continued to tour and perform with the group up until a few years ago. McVie passed away in November of last year.
1 The Band's Current Members
Each one of the musicians previously mentioned in this list had a significant effect on this incredible band, and their extraordinary lives will always be remembered both by the fans and by the current members of Fleetwood Mac.
The current lineup consists of the man behind the name, Mick Fleetwood, on drums, John McVie on bass, Mike Campbell and Neil Finn on guitar, and of course, the one and only Stevie Nicks on lead vocals.