Mick Fleetwood

The charismatic 6'7" drummer and leader of Fleetwood Mac, Mick Fleetwood laid down the rhythm for the iconic American-British rock band from its early days as a blues act in the late 1960s through its chart-topping success with Rumours in the mid-1970s and a period of decline in the late 1980s and rebirth in the 1990s. A journeyman drummer throughout the early 1960s, he was fired from the legendary Bluesbreakers after only a month, during which he forged a close connection with its guitarist, Peter Green, and bassist John McVie. Green would bring the pair into his solo project, which he named Fleetwood Mac in tribute to them. After Green's departure due to psychological issues, Fleetwood became the group's leader, overseeing its evolution from blues-rock to the mellower, singer-songwriter-influenced stage that produced Rumours (1977), the group's best-selling effort. Tensions between band members drove the group to split and regroup throughout the 1970s and 1980s before reuniting for good in 1997. Fleetwood weathered the ups and downs by maintaining a solo career, though health and financial problems provided some difficult years. Throughout the band's epic history, the eccentric Fleetwood remained its rudder, steering it back to successful waters while providing a rock-solid groove for its songs of love and loss.