Relive Fleetwood Mac’s Rare 1968 Performance
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 26: (L-R) Honorees Stevie Nicks, John McVie, Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac take a bow onstage during MusiCares Person of the Year honoring Fleetwood Mac at Radio City Music Hall on January 26, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
When guitarist and composer Peter Green and bassist John McVie left John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers in 1967 to start their own band, Fleetwood Mac’s adventure officially began. With Mick Fleetwood behind the drums and Jeremy Spencer on guitar and vocals, the ensemble soon settled into a groove. The blues was the foundation of Fleetwood Mac’s sound from the start, and their distinctive fusion of musical styles started to bring notice to the British rock scene. Their sound, which drew from the rich blues elements that Green had perfected with the Bluesbreakers, was new, unadulterated, and emotional. The band had not yet had a breakthrough in North America, despite their success in the UK.
An Exceptional Norwegian TV Performance in 1968
A rare performance by Fleetwood Mac was broadcast on Norwegian TV in Oslo in 1968, capturing a moment in time. The band is seen in this video playing two of their best songs, “My Heart Beat Like a Hammer” and “Shake Your Moneymaker.” The band’s dynamic lineup at the time, which included teenage guitarist Danny Kirwan, is what makes this performance so remarkable. Fleetwood Mac underwent a dramatic change when he joined in late 1968, becoming one of the few bands with three guitarists. They were able to produce a larger, richer sound and experiment with a wider variety of musical textures as a result.
The Ideal Combination of Rock and Blues
There was no denying Fleetwood Mac’s musical chemistry at this time. With guitars played by Peter Green, Jeremy Spencer, and Danny Kirwan, the band’s remarkable proficiency in performing complex blues-based rock was evident in the 1968 television performance. Fleetwood Mac was one of the biggest acts in Britain at the time, but they had a hard time getting noticed in North America. However, their influence on the UK music scene was indisputable, and their status as blues legends was cemented by performances such as this one.
This rare video highlights the extraordinary talent of Green, Spencer, and Kirwan as well as their distinctive sound that distinguished them from other bands of the time.
Enjoy this musical moment in a colorized version of the video below:
