Fleetwood Mac
United Kingdom, 1967–now
British-American band with two distinct periods: Peter Green's London blues group of the late 1960s, and the California line-up with Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, whose Rumours (1977) sold over 40 million copies.
MusicRoots documents 4 artists who influenced Fleetwood Mac and 2 artists Fleetwood Mac influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced Fleetwood Mac?
- Elmore James — Founding guitarist Jeremy Spencer built his entire early Fleetwood Mac repertoire on Elmore James's slide style — whole sets were James covers.
- B.B. King — Peter Green's singing tone and economy came straight from B.B. King — who famously said Green was the only guitarist who gave him 'the cold sweats'.
- Muddy Waters — Early Fleetwood Mac was a Chicago-blues repertory band — they recorded Blues Jam in Chicago at Chess with Muddy Waters's sidemen in 1969.
- The Beach Boys — Lindsey Buckingham has repeatedly named Brian Wilson his production and harmony model — the studio craft behind the Rumours-era sound.
Which artists did Fleetwood Mac influence?
- Florence and the Machine — Melodic debt to the Tusk-era records, and a stage persona that openly recalls Stevie Nicks.
- Whitesnake — The British blues boom is audible all through the early Whitesnake records, before the band was rebuilt for American radio.