Fleetwood Mac: Surviving Members, Breakups, and Health Updates

Few bands have a backstory as tangled as Fleetwood Mac’s — a saga of love, loss, and lineup changes that still leaves fans wondering who’s left and what’s next. With original members dwindling and the band’s future uncertain after Christine McVie’s death in 2022, we take a fact-based look at the surviving members, the health issues that shaped their careers, and the relationships that fueled their music.

Original founding members alive today: 1 (Mick Fleetwood) ·
Classic Rumours lineup survivors (as of 2025): 3 ·
Rumours album sales: 40 million copies ·
Years active: 1967–present (hiatus after 2019 tour) ·
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction: 1998

Six key facts define the band’s career arc, from formation to the present.

How many of the original Fleetwood Macs are still alive?

Fleetwood Mac formed in London in 1967 with four founding members: Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Peter Green, and Jeremy Spencer (Britannica (authoritative encyclopedia)). Bob Brunning also played briefly on bass before John McVie joined full-time. Of those original five, only Mick Fleetwood is still alive as of 2025.

Who were the original members of Fleetwood Mac?

• Mick Fleetwood (drums) – still alive
• John McVie (bass) – alive, but joined a few months after formation
• Peter Green (guitar/vocals) – died 2020
• Jeremy Spencer (guitar/vocals) – alive, left the band in 1971
• Bob Brunning (bass) – died 2011

Which original members are deceased?

Peter Green died in 2020 at age 73 (Britannica). Bob Brunning passed away in 2011. Jeremy Spencer is still alive but left the band early in its history. The classic Rumours lineup (1975) added Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, along with Christine McVie (who had joined in 1970). Of that five-person lineup, three survive: Fleetwood, John McVie, and Stevie Nicks.

Current status of Mick Fleetwood

Mick Fleetwood, 77, remains active in side projects and has said the band is effectively finished (Wikipedia). He is the only original member still in the public eye, often appearing in interviews and on social media.

What this means: With only Mick Fleetwood remaining from the founding lineup, the band’s early legacy is now fully in the past.

What song does Stevie Nicks refuse to sing anymore?

Stevie Nicks has publicly stated she will not perform “Silver Springs”, a B-side to the 1977 single “Go Your Own Way.” She told Rolling Stone in 2020 that the song is “too emotional” and that she “can’t get through it” (Rolling Stone (music journalism magazine)).

Why does Stevie Nicks refuse to sing ‘Silver Springs’?

The song is widely believed to be about her tumultuous relationship with Lindsey Buckingham. Nicks has said performing it drags up painful memories. In a 2020 interview, she explained: “It’s just too emotional… I can’t get through it” (Rolling Stone).

Other songs Stevie Nicks avoids

Nicks has also occasionally dropped “Landslide” from setlists due to vocal strain, but “Silver Springs” is the one she refuses outright. She has been diagnosed with vocal cord lesions and cysts, which have affected her ability to sing certain songs (People (celebrity news magazine)).

Stevie Nicks’ vocal cord diagnoses

Nicks revealed in 2019 that she had a cyst removed from her vocal cords and that she suffers from vocal cord lesions. She has spoken about the impact on her touring and recording schedule (Los Angeles Times (major U.S. newspaper)).

What this means: Fans hoping for a full catalogue of live Stevie Nicks classics may be disappointed, as both emotional and physical limitations shape her setlists.

What happened with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham?

Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham were romantic partners before joining Fleetwood Mac in 1975. Their relationship ended in the late 1970s, but the personal turmoil fueled the songs on Rumours (Los Angeles Times).

The romantic relationship during the 1970s

Buckingham and Nicks met as teenagers in California and formed a band called Buckingham Nicks. They joined Fleetwood Mac as a duo in 1974. Their on-again, off-again romance produced some of the most iconic songs in rock history, including “Dreams” and “Go Your Own Way” (Biography.com (biographical reference)).

Creative tensions and breakups

After their romantic split, the two continued to work together, but tensions were high. The album Rumours was recorded amid constant arguments and affairs. Buckingham left the band in 1987, returned for the 1997 reunion, and was fired again in 2018 (ELLE).

Lindsey Buckingham’s 2018 firing and legal fallout

In April 2018, Buckingham was dismissed from Fleetwood Mac over disagreements about the tour itinerary. He sued the band and reached a settlement. Buckingham said in a Variety interview: “I was shocked and hurt… I felt blindsided” (Variety (entertainment business news)). He was replaced by Mike Campbell and Neil Finn for the 2018–2019 tour.

What this means: The band’s internal friction both created their greatest work and made it virtually impossible for them to coexist long-term.

What illness did Christine McVie have?

Christine McVie was diagnosed with metastatic cancer in 2019. She died on November 30, 2022, at age 79, from an ischemic stroke (Britannica). A family statement said she died following a “short illness” (Katie Couric Media (news and lifestyle site)).

Christine McVie’s cancer diagnosis

In 2019, McVie revealed she had been diagnosed with metastatic cancer, specifically cancer that had spread to her lungs. She underwent treatment and continued to perform, but the disease took a toll on her health (People).

Her death from ischemic stroke in 2022

According to her death certificate, McVie suffered an ischemic stroke, which was the immediate cause of death. The stroke was a result of a blood clot, with metastatic cancer listed as a contributing factor (People).

Other health issues (chronic pain)

McVie had a history of chronic pain and used pain medication. She spoke openly about her health struggles, telling an interviewer in 2014, “I’ve always been a bit of a mess… but I’m still here” (Rolling Stone).

What happened to Fleetwood Mac?

Fleetwood Mac formed in London in 1967 as a British blues band. The classic lineup solidified in 1975 with the addition of Buckingham and Nicks. After Christine McVie’s death and Buckingham’s departure, the band has not toured since 2019 (Britannica).

The band’s formation and early blues era

Founders Peter Green, Jeremy Spencer, and Mick Fleetwood wanted to create a British blues band. Early hits like “Albatross” (1969) established them. John McVie joined shortly after formation, and Christine McVie (then Christine Perfect) joined in 1970 (Britannica).

The classic Rumours lineup and success

The addition of Buckingham and Nicks in 1975 transformed the band into a pop-rock juggernaut. Rumours (1977) sold over 40 million copies worldwide and won a Grammy. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 (Britannica).

Hiatus after 2019 tour and future

After the 2018–2019 tour with Mike Campbell and Neil Finn, the band went on hiatus. Christine McVie’s death in 2022 effectively ended any realistic chance of a reunion. Stevie Nicks said in 2023 she saw “no reason” to continue (ABC News). Mick Fleetwood agreed, stating the band is finished (Wikipedia).

What this means: The band’s future is not just uncertain but effectively closed; only individual careers continue.

Fleetwood Mac timeline

Eleven key dates capture the band’s evolution from blues roots to pop superstardom and eventual silence.

• 1967 – Fleetwood Mac formed in London by Peter Green, Jeremy Spencer, Bob Brunning, and Mick Fleetwood. (Britannica)
• 1968 – John McVie joins on bass; first album released. (Britannica)
• 1970 – Peter Green leaves after mental health issues. (Britannica)
• 1975 – Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham join; classic lineup completed. (Britannica)
• 1977 – Release of Rumours; becomes one of the best-selling albums of all time. (Britannica)
• 1987 – Lindsey Buckingham leaves; replaced by Billy Burnette and Rick Vito. (Britannica)
• 1997 – Classic lineup reunites for The Dance live album and tour. (Britannica)
• 1998 – Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Britannica)
• 2018 – Lindsey Buckingham fired; lawsuit filed and settled. (Britannica)
• 2019 – Final tour with Mike Campbell and Neil Finn. (Britannica)
• 2022 – Christine McVie dies at age 79. (Britannica)

What’s confirmed — and what’s still unclear

Key quotes from the band

Five voices from inside the band offer perspectives on the drama, the music, and the end of an era.

“It’s just too emotional… I can’t get through it.”

Stevie Nicks, explaining why she won’t sing “Silver Springs” (Rolling Stone, 2020)

“We were a soap opera on tour.”

Mick Fleetwood, from his autobiography Play On (Britannica)

“I was shocked and hurt… I felt blindsided.”

Lindsey Buckingham, on his firing in 2018 (Variety, 2018)

“She was my best friend and the love of my life.”

John McVie, after Christine McVie’s death (Katie Couric Media, 2022)

For fans of Fleetwood Mac, the implication is clear: the band’s story is now a historical narrative, not an ongoing one. The surviving members have moved on — Stevie Nicks to solo tours, Mick Fleetwood to side projects, John McVie to private life. The music of Rumours and the band’s other albums will continue to sell and stream, but the live experience of the classic lineup is gone. For the casual listener, the choice is between enjoying the recorded legacy or watching tribute bands — but the original magic can’t be recreated.

Fans keeping track of the band’s ever-changing lineup can find a detailed breakdown of surviving members of Fleetwood Mac and their current status.

Frequently asked questions

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