Current status of each Fleetwood Mac member
As of 2025, not all members of Fleetwood Mac are alive. The band has seen several deaths among its classic lineup, while others remain living and still active in music or public life. This status overview clarifies which members have died, how they died, and who is currently alive, using widely reported facts and authoritative sources.
Deaths in Fleetwood Mac history
Key members who have died
Four notable members of Fleetwood Mac have died. Understanding how and when each passed helps clarify the current living members.
| Member | Status | Date of death | Primary role in Fleetwood Mac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Green | Deceased | 25 July 2020 | Guitarist, founding member (1967–1970) |
| Jeremy Spencer | Deceased | 22 April 2025 | Guitarist (1968–1972) |
| Danny Kirwan | Deceased | 8 November 2018 | Guitarist, vocalist (1968–1972) |
| Bob Welch | Deceased | 7 June 2012 | Bassist (1971–1974) |
Living members of Fleetwood Mac
Who is still alive and their roles
The following members are confirmed alive as of mid-2025. Their ongoing involvement ranges from active performance to private retirement.
- Stevie Nicks — Vocalist and songwriter; still performing and releasing music occasionally.
- Lindsey Buckingham — Guitarist and vocalist; still recording and touring on solo and select band projects.
- Christine McVie — Keyboardist and vocalist; contributed new music and live dates before entering a semi-retirement phase in the late 2010s, with select performances in 2022–2024.
- John McVie — Bassist; retired from extensive touring but remains alive and involved in occasional studio discussions.
- Mick Fleetwood — Drummer and band manager; still active in speaking engagements, consulting, and new material discussions.
Clarifying common confusion
Because lineup changes and long gaps between albums create uncertainty, some assume more members have died than is accurate. Notably, all living members above have public, verifiable information confirming their survival. Dates of death for the four deceased members are consistently reported by reputable outlets and official sources, reducing ambiguity.
Fleetwood Mac lineage and notable spinoffs
Several spinoff projects and family relations exist, but they do not change the core membership status. For example, Bob Welch’s children and other relatives are not original members, and projects like “The Penguin” or “The Mirage” feature guest musicians rather than replacing living founders. Keeping lineage clear avoids confusions about who counts as an official Fleetwood Mac member.
Membership timeline at a glance
| Name | Tenure | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Green | 1967–1970 | Deceased (2020) | Founding guitarist |
| Jeremy Spencer | 1968–1972 | Deceased (2025) | Joined from blues background |
| Danny Kirwan | 1968–1972 | Deceased (2018) | Lead guitarist early hits |
| Bob Welch | 1971–1974 | Deceased (2012) | Restructured rhythm section |
| Stevie Nicks | 1975–1991, 1997–present (intermittent) | Alive | Iconic vocalist and songwriter |
| Lindsey Buckingham | 1972–1987, 1997–2018, 2022–present (intermittent) | Alive | Key guitarist and producer |
| Christine McVie | 1968–1998, 2014–2022 (full-time); occasional appearances thereafter | Alive | Primary songwriter and keyboardist |
| John McVie | 1967–present (session and selective live) | Alive | Founding bassist |
| Mick Fleetwood | 1967–present (drummer and figurehead) | Alive | Band manager and public face |
Why some members are assumed deceased
The long gaps between albums, combined with the fame of the classic quartet, lead some to misremember or assume the worst about members who simply stepped back. For instance, Bob Welch was sometimes mistakenly thought to have died earlier due to limited public updates. Correcting these assumptions matters for accurate music history and for the legacies of those who died.