![\"Fleetwood](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Fleetwood-Mac-Peter-Greens-Fleetwood-Mac-1960s-Far-Out-Magazine-F-1140x855.jpg\")
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(Credits: Far Out \/ Columbia \/ Sony BMG)<\/p>\n
Mon 10 November 2025 19:03, UK <\/p>\n
A survivor of the classic rock period,\u00a0Mick Fleetwood<\/a>\u00a0has achieved more than most during his time in music. <\/p>\n The drummer and co-founding member of Fleetwood Mac, he\u2019s been there throughout their entire history, from formation in 1967 to the present. This encompasses the band\u2019s creative arc, including the blues rock of their early period and the chart-topping pop-rock of later years, which produced 1977\u2019s\u00a0Rumours\u00a0and 1987\u2019s\u00a0Tango in the Night.<\/p>\n This ever-present status also means that Fleetwood has experienced the various band hardships that have occurred in their time, including the mental breakdown of fellow co-founding member and original frontman Peter Green, the moment guitarist Jeremy Spencer abruptly left to join a cult<\/a>, and the cocaine-fuelled nightmare of recording Rumours. <\/p>\n Being the only one with complete knowledge of Fleetwood Mac\u2019s history made Mick Fleetwood the most important commentator on the subject. When speaking to NME<\/a> for the \u2018Soundtrack of My Life\u2019 segment, he provided insight by naming the song that changed his life: 1968\u2019s hit instrumental \u2018Albatross\u2019. He told the publication: \u201cIt was a number one hit, and I was in a band called Fleetwood Mac, and that pretty much started the whirlwind of what happened to us.\u201d<\/p>\n Written by Peter Green, the track is hailed as one of his masterworks. Taking inspiration from a variety of subjects, the title derives from the English phrase, \u201can albatross around your neck\u201d, which is traced back to sailors who believed the bird was a sign of bad luck. The bird also appears in\u00a0The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,\u00a0the 1798 poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, which cemented this view in broader society. Green read the poem as a child, and its themes stuck with him.<\/p>\n Musically, a handful of songs also inspired \u2018Albatross\u2019. Santo & Johnny\u2019s 1959 rock and roll instrumental \u2018Sleep Walk\u2019 is said to have inspired Green when writing it. Some claims also draw parallels between \u2018Albatross\u2019 and Chuck Berry\u2019s 1957 track \u2018Deep Feeling\u2019, a classic blues number.<\/p>\n In 2021, Fleetwood reflected on the Mick Fleetwood and Friends tribute concert to Peter Green that was held at London\u2019s Palladium in February of the previous year. It featured performances from the likes of bandmate Christine McVie, as well as Noel Gallagher, Pete Townshend and Billy Gibbons. The night held great significance for Fleetwood since Peter Green passed away at the age of 73 in July 2020.<\/p>\n \u201cI just thought that so many people really don\u2019t know how the band started\u2026people say, well, Mick Fleetwood must have started the band, and of course, it\u2019s not true; Peter Green started this band with me as a side,\u201d Fleetwood reflected<\/a>. \u201cAnd then shortly after that, John (McVie) and Jeremy (Spencer) and later a little later, Danny Kirwan joined. So I felt that it was just time. The longer the journey has been, I think the beginning of the story stands the danger of being forgotten,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cI so wanted him to just have something,\u201d the drummer continued of his motivation for the concert, adding: \u201cNot that he needed it. He was so humble about who he was. He really almost disconnected himself from having done any of this and written so many incredible songs. But that didn\u2019t matter. And it still doesn\u2019t matter.\u201d<\/p>\n Fleetwood expressed: \u201cBut it certainly made it more poignant that not only were we able to do it, it\u2019s also got a lot of personal emotions in it, in the fact that Peter passed away before I could say, \u2018Hey, I just want you to sit down, have a listen and realise that we\u2019re all really grateful\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Mick](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Mick-Fleetwood-Drummer-Fleetwood-Mac-2017-Far-Out-Magazine-F-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/a>Mick Fleetwood on stage. (Credits: Far Out \/ Raph Pour-Hashemi)<\/p>\n