For Mick Fleetwood to enthusiastically tout his new blues band as a “return to [his] roots” may seem like a bit of a stretch, until you factor in that the original Fleetwood Mac, an all-male band, included the work of one Peter Green, a blues guitarist extraordinaire.
Hence local listeners will revisit the truly formative moments of what became one of the most enduring pop rock bands of all time Saturday at Golden State Theatre. Singer/guitarist Rick Vito, a member of Fleetwood Mac from 1987-1991, fronts the blues band now, with a style that pays homage to the earlier blues stylings of Green.
“A lot of guys can play the licks,” says Fleetwood, who co-founded Mac in 1967, “but Rick has the tone and that’s so important in real blues.”
When Fleetwood takes the stage at Golden State, the setting will be ripe for a visit to his roots.
“Over my career I’ve been called a pop star and a rock star, yet in my inner heart, I will always be part bluesman,” Fleetwood says. “On my journey from the blues to a life of rock ‘n’ roll, I’ve always remembered where I started.”
Joining Vito and Fleetwood in this power quartet are bassist Lenny Castellanos. “Any bassist who plays with me has big shoes to fill,” observes Fleetwood, whose powerhouse drumming style is legendary in both blues and rock. Keyboardist Mark Johnstone also joins them.
These same four musicians crafted a live album some years ago called Blue Again!, which underscored the quartet’s power as a live act. The record made it to the Billboard Top 5 Blues Albums Chart and secured a Grammy nomination in the Best Traditional Blues Album category.
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