There's been so much said and documented about the band Fleetwood Mac, but more and more people seem to know less and less about the band's roots, as the lineup that smashed through into the mainstream in the 70's is the one that most people associate with the name.

Those in the know, however would quickly make you aware that even thought they are considered a pop rock band, Fleetwood Mac was for the first half of their career a blues rock band.

Peter Green was a hot up and coming guitarist who got together with drummer Mick Fleetwood in the band Shotgun Express, which also featured a young Rod Stewart. Green would leave the band to go join John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, after Eric Clapton's departure to from the band Cream. Green would suggest for Mayall to later invite Fleetwood to join the band, when drummer Ansley Dunbar left to join the Jeff Beck group, so Fleetwood was in and the Bluesbreakers were made up of Green, Mayall, Fleetwood, and bassist John McVie.

After their success in the band, Green and Fleetwood would leave to form a new band that they wanted to include McVie in. They would name the band Fleetwood Mac, after a song that Green made during one of the Bluesbreaker sessions where he combined both Mick and John's names. McVie didn't want to leave the Bluesbreakers, so Fleetwood and Green would recruit slide guitarist Jeremy Spencer and bassist Bob Brunning to make their debut.

On Sunday August 13th 1967 at the National Jazz and Blues Festival "Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac featuring Jeremy Spencer" would hit the stage for the first time, with Brunning as a featured, as he knew that if John McVie ever changed his mind, he would have to give up his spot. The band only ever played a few shows with Brunning, as eventually McVie did change his mind and would formally join the band that shares his name. Fleetwood Mac's self-titled debut album was released on February 24, 1968, and featured the hit singles "Black Magic Woman" and "Need Your Love So Bad". Fleetwood Mac would be one of the top blues bands in the UK, but would eventually begin to change their sound when Green would eventually leave the band. Years later the transformation would be complete when Lindsay Buckingham & Stevie Nicks joined, and the pop version we know today would be complete.

For those in the know, the great legend of Peter Green was personified in the band he created even if the band's history has now eclipsed his involvement. The band would eventually be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Green's name would be amongst the inductee's reminding all that Fleetwood Mac is his creation.

Doc Reno