{"id":606598,"date":"2026-05-27T12:51:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T12:51:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/606598\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T12:51:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T12:51:11","slug":"the-song-mick-fleetwood-called-stupidly-simple","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/606598\/","title":{"rendered":"The song Mick Fleetwood called “stupidly simple”"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Mick<\/p>\n

Credit: Far Out \/ Mick Fleetwood<\/p>\n

Wed 27 May 2026 11:51, UK <\/p>\n

Across a long and eventful studio career, Fleetwood Mac<\/a> has crafted an extensive discography packed with more soft rock hits than most could hope to explore. <\/p>\n

Amid changing band members, however, Mick Fleetwood remained a constant presence. Initially enlisted by founder Peter Green in 1967, Fleetwood is the sole member to have journeyed through the band\u2019s entire lifespan.<\/p>\n

That longevity gives Fleetwood a uniquely authoritative perspective on the band\u2019s history. Few musicians have witnessed so many stylistic reinventions and internal upheavals while remaining at the centre of the creative process throughout.<\/p>\n

As the anchor behind the drum set, Fleetwood lent his percussion skills to early classics like \u2018Rhiannon\u2019 and \u2018Say You Love Me\u2019, as well as the band\u2019s monumental achievement, Rumours, released in 1977, and their sole full-length studio album of the 21st century, Say You Will, released in 2003. Spanning an illustrious six decades, his career solidifies his standing as one of the foremost drummers in music history.<\/p>\n

Although picking favourites may seem a difficult ask for many fans, Fleetwood once provided a breakdown of some of his top picks for Music Radar<\/a>. Starting with \u2018Love That Burns\u2019, Fleetwood describes the song as one that kills him: \u201cPeter Green. Fleetwood Mac. This is probably, almost, my favourite song,\u201d he said. \u201cIt kills me. Peter kills me. He was my friend, remains a friend, and he started Fleetwood Mac with me in 1967,\u201d he said of the song.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe intro, I think is one of those stupidly simple things that came from the drummer who played with Al Green and The Staple Singers, so it\u2019s from my love of what I call \u2018greasy music.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Mick Fleetwood<\/p>\n

However, perhaps Fleetwood\u2019s description of one of the band\u2019s biggest hits seems most intriguing, particularly as he also names it as one of his favourites of all time. \u201c\u2018Dreams\u2019 is a given,\u201d he said. \u201cI think it\u2019s the most famous song that Stevie ever wrote. The intro, I think is one of those stupidly simple things that came from the drummer who played with Al Green and The Staple Singers, so it\u2019s from my love of what I call \u2018greasy music.\u2019 It has a real feel, and it\u2019s lazy, behind the beat \u2013 stupidly simple but well-thought-out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Discussing another hit, \u2018Go Your Own Way\u2019, Fleetwood recalled the moment he first encountered the song: \u201cLindsey walked in with a demo, in his wonderfully ordered fashion from the days when he\u2019d just joined Fleetwood Mac until he realised that John and I played in a certain way,\u201d he recalled, \u201cWhich was compliant to the structures and aspirations of a songwriter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Further reading: From The Vault<\/p>\n

Among the standout tracks chosen for Rumours, \u2018Go Your Own Way\u2019 is a poignant, emotionally charged piece featuring a compelling instrumental section that exudes tension and raw emotion. The track culminates in a remarkable guitar solo, delivering a complete catharsis and dispelling any doubt surrounding the commercial perception linked to this album.<\/p>\n

When looking back at the band\u2019s catalogue, Fleetwood also admired \u2018Walk A Thin Line\u2019, considering it a song of such quality that he wishes he had written it himself<\/a>. Fleetwood\u2019s admiration for Buckingham\u2019s songwriting highlights the creative risks taken on Tusk. Rather than simply recreating the polished formula of Rumours, the band deliberately pursued stranger and more fragmented musical territory.<\/p>\n

This Lindsey Buckingham track, featured in 1979\u2019s Tusk, expanded upon the drumming style reminiscent of Charlie Watts\u2019 beats on \u2018Sway\u2019. Buckingham took charge of the intricate drum rolls himself, distinct from Fleetwood\u2019s usual style.<\/p>\n

Even so, Fleetwood\u2019s willingness to allow other members space to experiment became crucial to the band\u2019s survival. His role was often less about dominating songs himself and more about holding together a group full of vastly different creative personalities.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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