Every once in awhile you come upon old video of classic rock bands that you have to see to believe….Fleetwood Mac, in its original lineup (circa 1970), on Playboy After Dark, with Hugh Hefner and then girlfriend Barbi Benton!

For those two or three of you who don’t know the band’s story, here it is, very briefly….in 1967 guitarist Peter Green leaves John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and forms Fleetwood Mac with former Bluesbreaker Mick Fleetwood and guitarist Jeremy Spencer. They are soon joined by bassist John McVie. They record 2 very successful albums (in the UK). Guitarist Danny Kirwan joins band in 1968, more recording success….but in 1970 Peter Green begins having emotional problems and quits the band. The remaining four members bring in John’s wife, Christine McVie to play keyboards and sing, she becomes a fulltime member. At that point ( end of 1970, early ‘71) Spencer leaves to become a member of the Children of God. An American friend of a friend, Bob Welch replaces Spencer in early 1971. Danny Kirwan is fired in August 1972.
In September 1972 singer Dave Walker and guitarist Bob Weston join, Walker leaves after one album, Weston after two. The remaining quartet ( The McVies, Fleetwood, and Welch) soon have a court battle with their manager who says he owns the name of the band and has the right to replace them, and sends out a bogus Fleetwood Mac to perform. The real Mac wins in court, they move to California, they record one more album as a quartet, and then Welch leaves….Mick visits a recording studio in early 1975, and hears a demo of the duo Buckingham Nicks. He likes the sound, asks guitarist Lindsey Buckingham to join the band- he says “Yes” but his girlfriend Stevie Nicks has to be part of the package. They join, sell zillions of records, break each others hearts, sell more records, break up, reconcile, breakup again….and that should just about take us to 2009.

WHEW!!!

Here’s’ the ORIGINAL Fleetwood Mac with Rattlesnake Shake.