In 1974, Fleetwood Mac embarked on a groundbreaking tour with an entirely new lineup following a tumultuous split within the original band. However, the complexities surrounding this transition were far from straightforward. Co-founding drummer Mick Fleetwood initially planned to join the new formation shortly after the tour commenced, but unforeseen circumstances delayed his participation. Meanwhile, the band’s manager, who was instrumental in orchestrating this change, aimed to maintain the group’s rising popularity, yet his motivations were shrouded in controversy and confusion. The story of Fleetwood Mac during this period is a testament to their resilience amidst chaos.

The narrative of scandal and upheaval has shadowed Fleetwood Mac since their early days as a British blues-rock band. In 1970, the sudden departure of guitarist Peter Green marked a significant turning point, driven by his struggles with mental health and substance use. The following year, guitarist-pianist Jeremy Spencer left to pursue a religious calling, further destabilizing the group. By 1973, the personal lives of band members were also in turmoil, with the marriage of bassist John McVie and vocalist-keyboardist Christine McVie disintegrating, while guitarist Bob Weston was embroiled in an affair with Fleetwood’s wife, adding to the band’s mounting issues.

Given the escalating crises, Fleetwood made the difficult decision to cancel the planned U.S. tour, a move that did not sit well with manager Clifford Davis. Determined to keep the momentum going, Davis sought to create an alternative lineup to continue touring under the Fleetwood Mac name, showcasing the band’s adaptability in the face of adversity.

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Elmer Gantry, a seasoned musician in the British scene, was approached by Clifford about joining this revamped version of Fleetwood Mac. In a 2017 interview with Classic Rock, Gantry revealed that Fleetwood was also in the discussions, indicating a level of involvement. “Clifford suggested to Mick that [bandmate] Kirby Gregory and I would be ideal figures to be part of a new formation of Fleetwood Mac,” he stated, highlighting the attempt to blend fresh talent with the band’s legacy.

Several meetings transpired during which Fleetwood appeared to endorse the new lineup. Gantry recounted, “Mick later asked to be excused from rehearsals as he was going through heavy personal issues,” but he expressed confidence in the new members, promising to join the tour once it kicked off, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to the band’s success.

In another interview with the BBC, Gantry shared a conversation with Fleetwood at his home, where they discussed the new band dynamics. “Mick said, ‘Well, I can’t actually come and rehearse with you,’ but reassured us that if we secured a temporary drummer, he’d be there for the tour,” illustrating the complexities of balancing personal challenges with professional commitments.

Fleetwood Mac – ‘Believe Me’ (1973)

The inaugural show of the new lineup took place on January 16, 1974, in Pittsburgh, with the expectation of Fleetwood’s imminent arrival. However, he failed to appear, leaving stand-in drummer Craig Collinge to lead the performance. Promoter Rich Engler recalled the chaotic scene, where he mistook the new musicians for roadies until he realized they were the band. Davis claimed the group was complete, but the absence of Fleetwood caused confusion and tension among everyone involved.

As the situation escalated, Engler refused to let the band take the stage without Fleetwood, leading to a confrontation with Davis. “He started to take a swing at me,” Engler recounted, highlighting the volatile atmosphere. Fortunately, security intervened, and the band ultimately took the stage, initiating a performance that, against all odds, resonated well with the audience. Engler noted, “There’s no MTV, no social media, no internet. Unless you were a big fan of Fleetwood Mac, you might not know that this wasn’t them… The audience was going wild and loving it. They weren’t Fleetwood Mac, but they were actually really good.”

The Controversy Surrounding the Alternative Fleetwood Mac Lineup

Despite the enthusiastic reception, former member Bob Welch, who had joined the band in 1971, openly criticized this venture, stating to Rolling Stone: “It is a rip-off. The manager put together a group real fast using the name Fleetwood Mac before we had a chance to do anything about it.” His comments reflect the discontent and sense of betrayal felt by original members and loyal fans alike.

The tour progressed to its seventh stop in New York on January 26, where the band was initially supported by Kiss and Silverhead. However, Gantry faced vocal issues, rendering him unable to perform. Consequently, the rest of the band was left to fulfill their contractual obligations by playing a set of instrumental jams, which did not sit well with the audience, showcasing the challenges of maintaining performance quality under duress.

Fleetwood Mac – ‘Miles Away‘ (1973)

Amidst growing accusations of misrepresentation, Davis remained adamant about his control over the new lineup, asserting to Rolling Stone: “I want to get this out of the public’s mind as far as the band being Mick Fleetwood’s band. This band is my band. This band has always been my band.” His defiant stance underscored the contentious nature of Fleetwood Mac’s identity during this turbulent time.

As rumors of the “fake Mac tour” proliferated, public and band member sentiment shifted dramatically, ultimately leading to the cancellation of the tour. Gantry expressed his feelings of anger towards Fleetwood, stating, “For a while we believed that Mick would show,” but he never did. The pressure to perform was immense, and the band felt trapped by contractual obligations, despite the growing animosity and dissatisfaction among them.

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“We were receiving encores and ovations, but it felt bad. I thought: ‘What’s the point? This has no future.’ Kirby and I were getting really depressed and stoned all the time. We even sacked the pianist on stage one night as he was too drunk to play. Two gigs later, mercifully, Cliff pulled the plug,” Gantry detailed, highlighting the emotional toll of the experience.

Gantry refuted Fleetwood’s claims from his memoir, where the drummer stated: “To this day, I don’t know the names of the musicians involved.” Gantry insisted, “[H]e wrote that he didn’t even know our names, but that I contacted him years later to apologize. Total bollocks! … If Mick had at any point said to us that he had changed his mind, or simply didn’t want to do it, we would never have gone to the States.”

Bassist Paul Martinez reflected positively on their U.S. live dates, noting, “The U.S. live dates were great because we were a tight band; and against all the odds we still managed to play some really good shows. Joe Walsh told me at one gig in Florida that despite Mick Fleetwood not being there, he thought we were rockin’ with the best of ’em.” His comments reveal the resilience and camaraderie among the band members despite the external challenges.

The Aftermath of Fleetwood Mac’s Legal Battles and Rise to Fame

Following the tumultuous tour, the musicians regrouped and formed the band Stretch, producing the track “Why Did You Do It.” Martinez explained, “The line that says: ‘The only ones who know the truth / Man that’s him, me and you,’ referred to discussions between me, Elmer, and Mick regarding the new Fleetwood Mac.” This song encapsulated the complexities of their shared experiences and the truths hidden behind the scenes.

It took a significant two years for the intricate legal controversies stemming from the “fake Mac” tour to resolve. During this period, Welch encouraged the band to establish a company to manage their affairs independently and relocate to the United States, allowing them to focus on the ongoing court cases. These strategic decisions laid the groundwork for Fleetwood, the McVies, and eventually Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham to achieve superstardom in the late 1970s.

“I can say, despite all the lurid claims, we never were required to go to court,” Gantry stated, and he explained that Davis eventually parted ways with the original band, leading to an “accommodation” that seemed to benefit him financially. Despite the drama, the legacy of Fleetwood Mac continued to flourish, and the band’s influence on rock music remained significant.

Davis has remained relatively silent regarding the events surrounding the tour, leaving much of the narrative to be shaped by those who experienced it firsthand.

Stretch – ‘Why Did You Do It’