The band was formed by Peter Green (guitar) and Mick Fleetwood (drums). Both played together in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (Mick got kicked for his drinking habits), and took their name from a track they did at a record session. Afterwards they recruited Jeremy Spencer and John McVie - a long time friend, who had also been in the Bluesbreakers.
In 1968 they recorded two albums: 'Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac' and 'Mr. Wonderful'. The singles 'Black Magic Woman' and 'Need Your Love So Bad' were both hits in the UK.
With the addition of a third guitarist, Danny Kirwan ,they recorded the number one hit records 'Albatross' and 'Man Of The World', which got to number two. Albums made at this time were 'Then Play On' and 'Kiln House'.
With Peter Green as the main creative force behind the group, they established themselves as an important blues oriented band.
Soon after, in the early seventies Peter Green left the band, due to drug problems. Although on top of his career, he went on to pursue a solo career. He was replaced by Christine Perfect, keybords and vocals of the Chicken Shack and also wife to John McVie.
John McVie, Christine Perfect and Mick Fleetwood subsequently moved to America and asked guitarist Lindsay Buckingham to join the group. He said he would agree with the condition to bring partner and singer Stevie Nicks on board. The band had a new lease of life with these new members, losing their blues emphasis, and they found success quickly with the 1975 album 'Fleetwood Mac'.
Their second album in this incarnation, 'Rumours' in 1976, gave the band two hit singles in Britain and four in the US.
In the early eighties various members of the band released their own solo material and, as a band, they released 'Mirage' in 1982. 'Tango In The Night' was released in 1987, which was highly regarded, and included the hit single 'Big Love'.
After that album, various members of the band left, but they all regrouped to play live on their twentieth anniversary.