Fleetwood MAX was formed in 2006 by Todd Hidden (as Lindsay Buckingham) and Annie Heller (ersatz Christine McVie). Hidden, who later left the group, is a full-time musician who has also played with Dave Humphries, StreetHeart, and the Cool Rays. Former Fleetwood MAX singer and shawl-bearer Kim Enering [later Kim Knox] worked as an inland North County real-estate agent.
“Everyone seems to love Fleetwood Mac,” says Heller. “Visually, we try to emulate the look of The Dance years, which is mostly black and white.” As for musicality, “We try to get close to note-for-note recreations of the studio or the live versions of the songs. We only have five members playing four instruments, however, and we don’t use any sequencers or karaoke tracks.”
Over the years, the band's membership roster changed, leaving Heller the sole founding player. Latterday members include Jesus Guillermoprierto (as Lindsay Buckingham), Barbara Valente (Stevie Nicks), Gordon Costa (John McVie), Ric Root (Mick Fleetwood), and auxiliary lead guitarist Greg Jones.
“My two daughters think it’s cool that their mom is in a band,” says Heller. “When my youngest came to see us at the San Diego Fair this year, she was very impressed…she wondered how I was able to get up in front of people and sing and play without being nervous.”
(Photo by Derek Plank, courtesy Fleetwood MAX)