10 Surprising Facts About Fleetwood Mac

With a career that began more than 46 years ago and includes 17 studio albums, Fleetwood Mac has some serious history. Here are 10 nuggets you might not know about the band:

1. Santana's "Black Magic Woman" was originally a Fleetwood Mac song.

Via eil.com

"Black Magic Woman" was one of Santana's greatest hits, but many fans don't know that it was originally created by Green and first released as a Fleetwood Mac single in 1968.

Listen to it here:

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2. The Muppet Show's "Animal" is rumoured (ha) to be inspired by Mick Fleetwood.

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A lightbulb just went off in your head, right? That's right, it is rumored that the Muppet's beloved, crazed-drummer Animal is inspired after Fleetwood. They do look alike, after all.

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Hear Mic's awesome drum solo in this live version of "World Turning."

3. Founding member Peter Green left the band for religious reasons.

In July 1967, the band was originally formed by Peter Green and Mick Fleetwood who were formerly part of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (Mayall also hopped on the Mac wagon and agreed to join the band). After some members left and others were added, including bassist John McVie, the band's first critical breakthrough was their third LP, the blues-y Then Play On. A few months after the release, Green left the band. He told Rolling Stone: "I want to lead a freer and more selfless life along Christian principles."

BTW, Then Play On just got a beautiful remastering and deluxe reissue.

4. Christine McVie's maiden name is Christine Perfect.

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After Green left in 1970, the band replaced him with Perfect, a vocalist/pianist who had a small legion of fans in the U.K. She wasn't considered a full member of Fleetwood Mac until 1971, and by that time she had married band bass player John McVie, inheriting his name.

Via fuckyeahchristinemcvie.tumblr.com

They divorced in 1976.

5. The band has had a total of 15 members since its inception.

While most of us are familiar with their "superstar" Rumours lineup – Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood – the band has gone through more than a dozen members over the decades!

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6. The "balls" hanging between Fleetwood's legs on the Rumours cover are actually toilet chains.

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Yup, they're from a club that the 'Mac played at in their early years.

Bonus: Homer & Marge's flawless reenactment.

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Super Bonus: Cats!

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7. Stevie Nicks' inspiration for the song "Gypsy" came from her life before Fleetwood Mac when she and Lindsey Buckingham slept on a single mattress directly on the floor.

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Nicks said the mattress was decorated in lace, with a vase and a flower at its side. In an interview, she said whenever she felt her famous life getting to her, she goes "back to her roots," and takes her mattress off the frame and puts it "back to the floor" and decorates it with "some lace, and paper flowers."

"So I'm back to the velvet underground. Back to the floor that I love"

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8. More than 1 in every 6 households in the United States owns a copy of Rumours.

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Chances are: you, your mother, father, and their parents all own this album. And for good reason, it's an absolute masterpiece.

9. Tango in the Night originally began as a Lindsey Buckingham solo album.

Their 14th studio album recorded in 1987, critics said Tango in the Night developed such gravitational pull that it brought the band back together in top form.

It features Christine McVie's irresistible hit, "Little Lies."

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10. The band self-released their latest triumph, Extended Play.

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The band's first new music in nearly ten years, Extended Play, shows that the Mighty Mac are still goin' strong! Fun fact: The featured track "Without You" was a lost demo written during the Buckingham Nicks era, which Nicks herself had found posted on YouTube.

Now that you’re up to speed about the Mac, check them out on tour in Europe!

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They were joined by Christine McVie onstage last night! Peter Green was in the crowd, too!

Check out their tour dates here.