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Fleetwood Mac: The Complete Illustrated History
This is the first-ever complete, illustrated history of Fleetwood Mac, the legendary band that has sold more than 100 million records worldwide. Required reading for fans.
From this British-American band's blues origins in the 1960s to its pop superstardom in the 1970s and 1980s to its 2015 reunion, Fleetwood Mac has endeared itself to audiences worldwide. Fleetwood Mac: The Complete Illustrated Historycovers the band's illustrious career, highlighting details that will surprise even the most loyal fans. With a career that began fifty years ago and yielded seventeen studio albums, Fleetwood Mac has had a rollercoaster career, detailed here through a carefully researched text and myriad photographs and memorabilia, including some rare and little-seen items.
The band's most popular lineup includes drummer Mick Fleetwood, bassist John McVie, keyboardist and vocalist Christine McVie, guitarist and vocalist Lindsey Buckingham, and singer Stevie Nicks, but its members have shifted over the years since Fleetwood Mac began in 1967. And although the band's superstar phase in the 1970s is most familiar to the public, Fleetwood Mac's roots were in the blues, and the band evolved in fits and starts before finding popular success.
Fleetwood Mac: The Complete Illustrated History documents their entire story, including the troubled circumstances that led to the 1970 withdrawal of the band's original guitarist, Peter Green, as well as the broken marriage of John and Christine McVie and the romantic breakup of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham that threatened to split the group even as they were recording one of the biggest albums of all time, Rumours. This is the whole story of one of rock and roll's greatest bands.
From this British-American band's blues origins in the 1960s to its pop superstardom in the 1970s and 1980s to its 2015 reunion, Fleetwood Mac has endeared itself to audiences worldwide. Fleetwood Mac: The Complete Illustrated Historycovers the band's illustrious career, highlighting details that will surprise even the most loyal fans. With a career that began fifty years ago and yielded seventeen studio albums, Fleetwood Mac has had a rollercoaster career, detailed here through a carefully researched text and myriad photographs and memorabilia, including some rare and little-seen items.
The band's most popular lineup includes drummer Mick Fleetwood, bassist John McVie, keyboardist and vocalist Christine McVie, guitarist and vocalist Lindsey Buckingham, and singer Stevie Nicks, but its members have shifted over the years since Fleetwood Mac began in 1967. And although the band's superstar phase in the 1970s is most familiar to the public, Fleetwood Mac's roots were in the blues, and the band evolved in fits and starts before finding popular success.
Fleetwood Mac: The Complete Illustrated History documents their entire story, including the troubled circumstances that led to the 1970 withdrawal of the band's original guitarist, Peter Green, as well as the broken marriage of John and Christine McVie and the romantic breakup of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham that threatened to split the group even as they were recording one of the biggest albums of all time, Rumours. This is the whole story of one of rock and roll's greatest bands.
208 pages, Hardcover
Published September 1, 2016
16 people are currently reading
438 people want to read
About the author
Richie Unterberger
29 books45 followersRichie Unterberger's book "The Unreleased Beatles: Music and Film" details the incredible wealth of music the Beatles recorded that they did not release, as well as musical footage of the group that hasn't been made commercially available. His other books include "Unknown Legends of Rock'n'Roll," the two-volume 1960s folk-rock history "Turn! Turn! Turn!"/"Eight Miles High," and "The Rough Guide to Shopping with a Conscience." He's also a frequent contributor to the All Music Guide and MOJO magazine, and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area."
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 27, 2016
Brilliant!
My View:
Now this is how the history of a musician/rock band should be written and presented! Others take note, this is a joy to look at, to read, to own.
One of the very first albums I bought as a teenager was Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, what an album! It still holds its own today – and I must dig it out and get the record player working ( or buy the digital version, which may be easier) This book holds so much history - I never realised that there were so many versions of the band or styles of music and albums before Rumours…
Let’s talk photographs/images - they are superb! The quality of the prints, the access to material; the posters advertising concerts, the album covers (and the wonderful “Selective Discography” at the back of the book complete with album covers), the shots taken during concerts, recording sessions…the playfulness, the colour, the fashion…this book has it all.
Informative, spectacular and a treat to hold – this book is a great one for the fans or as a coffee table book.
My View:
Now this is how the history of a musician/rock band should be written and presented! Others take note, this is a joy to look at, to read, to own.
One of the very first albums I bought as a teenager was Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, what an album! It still holds its own today – and I must dig it out and get the record player working ( or buy the digital version, which may be easier) This book holds so much history - I never realised that there were so many versions of the band or styles of music and albums before Rumours…
Let’s talk photographs/images - they are superb! The quality of the prints, the access to material; the posters advertising concerts, the album covers (and the wonderful “Selective Discography” at the back of the book complete with album covers), the shots taken during concerts, recording sessions…the playfulness, the colour, the fashion…this book has it all.
Informative, spectacular and a treat to hold – this book is a great one for the fans or as a coffee table book.
July 26, 2023
A solid though definitely not exhaustive overview of Fleetwood Mac throughout the years.
I found it enjoyable to learn about all the drama behind Fleetwood Mac’s greatest albums, although the exact year in which some events occurred was often not made as clear as it could have been. The author also kept referencing things and then not explaining them. For example:
- He mentions how Fleetwood Mac was plunged into turmoil again in 1975 after Bob Welch’s departure… but never explains why Bob Welch left!!
- He references Mick Fleetwood’s Zoo multiple times, but after finishing the book I still have zero clue what Mick Fleetwood’s Zoo was.
If you don’t already know a lot about the band, it’s still worth a read (just be prepared to fill in the blanks with some Google searches or further reading).
I found it enjoyable to learn about all the drama behind Fleetwood Mac’s greatest albums, although the exact year in which some events occurred was often not made as clear as it could have been. The author also kept referencing things and then not explaining them. For example:
- He mentions how Fleetwood Mac was plunged into turmoil again in 1975 after Bob Welch’s departure… but never explains why Bob Welch left!!
- He references Mick Fleetwood’s Zoo multiple times, but after finishing the book I still have zero clue what Mick Fleetwood’s Zoo was.
If you don’t already know a lot about the band, it’s still worth a read (just be prepared to fill in the blanks with some Google searches or further reading).
October 9, 2020
Sommige liedjes worden nooit oud. En zeker niet als Stevie Nicks er voor iets tussen zit.
April 8, 2023
I’ve been a devoted Christine McVie fan since the early 1970s, and was quite distressed by her recent death. I had read Storms just a few months before she passed, and thought The Complete Illustrated History would be more complete and less biased. It was, but it was also repetitive. The format included quoted reviews of albums and concerts by various people in the press, which was fine. But then author Unterberger restated what the reviewers said, with completely redundant information. I would have like to see more photos and illustrations, and fewer reviews of the reviews.
As a longtime fan I know a lot about Fleetwood Mac, but Illustrated History laid it all out album by album and tour by tour, with particularly interesting backgrounds on the early musicians. Peter Green, FM’s founder, was extremely interesting, his great talent, guitar work, and leadership sidelined by fear apparently stemming from imbibing too much acid. The author detailed each album in a way that inspired me to take on the project of listening to them all over again.
Lots of good information and photos here for those who don’t know the history. But you’ll have to be okay with lots of repetition.
As a longtime fan I know a lot about Fleetwood Mac, but Illustrated History laid it all out album by album and tour by tour, with particularly interesting backgrounds on the early musicians. Peter Green, FM’s founder, was extremely interesting, his great talent, guitar work, and leadership sidelined by fear apparently stemming from imbibing too much acid. The author detailed each album in a way that inspired me to take on the project of listening to them all over again.
Lots of good information and photos here for those who don’t know the history. But you’ll have to be okay with lots of repetition.
August 2, 2023
This book was a great overview of the history of Fleetwood Mac. Lots of great information regarding all of the iterations of this band - its foundation and individuals who have joined over the years. And of course, some interesting accounts regarding some of the turmoils and tribulations individual band members have faced, and how most importantly how their music reflected these struggles. The author also includes some valuable critiques on most of their albums over the years. There’s also many nice photos of band members showcasing performances, as well as the different album covers. A nice read for fans!
September 9, 2023
Great read! It was interesting to hear about the early stages of Fleetwood Mac since it’s not their most popular and I didn’t know much about it. It was cool to see the pictures and learn more about the band!
September 1, 2018
Love Love!!
March 9, 2020
Fun, easy read of a big subject. Lovely pictures, and great for casual fans.
September 25, 2021
Excellent.
A definite for fans of the band pre, post and of course during the Buckingham/ Nicks era, or those who want to know more…As opposed to those who don’t want to know the reason why…
A definite for fans of the band pre, post and of course during the Buckingham/ Nicks era, or those who want to know more…As opposed to those who don’t want to know the reason why…
November 6, 2023
Got obsessed with Stevie and The Mac over the summer. This was informative, but could have been better.
December 5, 2016
The Complete Illustrated History is a well presented book, has some lovely photos and covers the complete band, but...... skimming through it today it contains errors and omissions.
I never really understand the fact checking here, does the writer actually ask anyone knowledgable on the band to fact check the content. Confusing the Live In Boston 2004 release with the blues band release of the early 70s is a travesty, including solo album pictures till 1989's OSOTM but no others seems rushed to me and the discography has errors.
I generally ache for a decent, accurate bio of Fleetwood Mac to be released that is factually correct, covers the whole timeline in equal measure, stays consistent with content and fills in some of the blanks, this would be great, but I fear I will continue to wait.
I never really understand the fact checking here, does the writer actually ask anyone knowledgable on the band to fact check the content. Confusing the Live In Boston 2004 release with the blues band release of the early 70s is a travesty, including solo album pictures till 1989's OSOTM but no others seems rushed to me and the discography has errors.
I generally ache for a decent, accurate bio of Fleetwood Mac to be released that is factually correct, covers the whole timeline in equal measure, stays consistent with content and fills in some of the blanks, this would be great, but I fear I will continue to wait.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews