The legendary drummer formed the British-American band in the late 1960s and he has since become one of the most iconic figures to come from that era's rock and blues scene.
Despite an often-changing line-up and several infamous personnel struggles, Fleetwood's band produced some of rock's most beloved albums, including "Tusk and Rumours."
The Hall of Fame inductee has also taken on several side projects throughout his tenure in Fleetwood Mac, including various versions of The Mick Fleetwood Band, which has explored everything from African inspired beats to his blues roots
To celebrate his years of success in the business, WENN gathered 10 of the most fascinating facts about the man who pioneered a remarkable band. Happy Birthday Mick Fleetwood.
- He became fluent in Norwegian, thanks to the time he spent in Scandinavia with his father, a fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force.
- His father gave him his first drum kit at the age of 13, and he taught himself to play by listening to records by the Everly Brothers and Cliff Richard & The Shadows.
- At 15, he dropped out of school and moved to London to pursue his dream of becoming a professional drummer.
- Bandmate and close friend Stevie Nicks is the godmother of his 12-year-old twin daughters, Tessa and Ruby.
- Both Mick and his sister, actress Susan Fleetwood, have played the role of Ophelia in productions of Hamlet.
- A longtime Star Trek fan, Mick had a cameo role as an alien under heavy prosthetics in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
- His stint as BRIT Awards co-host in 1989 was marred by technical glitches and various mistakes. Because of the infamous hosting spot alongside model Samantha Fox, the BRIT Awards were pre-recorded for the next 18 years, until 2007.
- He launched his Mick Fleetwood Private Cellar signature wine label in 2006. His winemaking skills have won him various awards.
- The drummer’s ex-wife, Jenny Boyd, is the younger sister of Pattie Boyd, who was previously married to iconic musicians George Harrison and Eric Clapton.
- Living in the United States since the mid-1970s, Mick made his residence permanent in 2006 when he officially became a U.S. citizen. He currently lives in Hawaii.
