Unique Fleetwood Mac memorabilia amassed by the band’s former manager decades ago has sold for tens of thousands at auction.
Competition was fierce to own the ‘ultimate archive’ of Fleetwood Mac memorabilia documenting the band’s rise to fame. It included more than 300 contracts relating to tours, venues, radio and TV work, gold and platinum discs and a letter from group’s legendary founder Peter Green (1946-2020).
All belonged to 81-year-old Clifford Adams (known as Clifford Davis in the music industry), Fleetwood Mac’s manager, agent and co-songwriter from 1967 to 1974. Due to his age, he decided the time had come to part with the memorabilia.
London-born Clifford, who also worked with Beatles manager Brian Epstein, said: “My archive is unique. There has never been anything like this available to buy in the band’s history. It includes a postcard I received from guitarist John McVie in 1974 and a letter Peter Green sent me from Hawaii which I’ve kept for 50 years.”
The archive went under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers’ saleroom in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, on November 21 – and Fleetwood Mac fans came out in force to buy a piece of history. Estimates were smashed with some items achieving up to seven times their guide price.
The Peter Green letter, one of 14 lots, achieved £2,000 from a £400-£600 guide. In addition the musician’s driving licence, given to Clifford on a whim, was snapped up for £460 (est £80-£120).
In particular demand was paperwork relating to concerts and TV appearances. The top lot was a set of Fleetwood Mac booking sheets which raced to £4,400 (est £400-£600). In addition, performance contracts hammered at £4,000 (est £1,500-£2,000) and TV and radio appearance contracts sold for £2,500 (est £500-£800).
Two gold discs with modest guide prices of £100-£150 also rocketed to success. A gold award for Albatross in recognition of sales exceeding 1,000,000 sold for £1,700 (est £100-150). Hot on its heels was a gold disc marking sales exceeding 1,000,000 for single Oh Well which made £1,300.
Robin Fletcher, manager of Hansons Auctioneers’ Kent saleroom, said: “Fleetwood Mac fans flocked to buy this incredible historical archive documenting the rise to fame of one of the greatest band’s of all time. It sparked a major bidding war and deservedly so.
“Fans had an opportunity to buy items offering an insight into what life was like for the band in the early days and why Peter Green chose to walk away. His letter detailing his decision to shun wealth and live a simple life in Hawaii is deeply touching. I hoped it would make £2,000 and it did. Together, the collection hammered at just over £20,000.
“Clifford wanted his memorabilia to find new homes with Fleetwood Mac fans who would appreciate the music and the memories. This sale achieved that. I am delighted for him and also for the successful bidders who secured a piece of Fleetwood Mac history.”
Clifford said: “It was the ultimate archive to own for Fleetwood Mac fans or anyone considering writing a book about them. It’s important in terms of the group’s history. The early contracts specify ‘Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac’, the original name of the band which Peter founded in 1967. He later dropped his name because he wanted Fleetwood Mac to become a brand, and they did. Over the years there have been more than 40 different members of the band.
“You sometimes see fan forums asking for information about a particular gig that took place decades ago. It was all here – contracts from the band’s first gig through to 1973. You can see how much they earned, where they played, what TV shows they appeared on – everything.
“I became their manager because Peter asked me to. He was the superstar of Fleetwood Mac. Fans call him the Green God. He’s regarded as the number one blues guitarist of all time, admired by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and BB King.
“In 1967 I went to see Fleetwood Mac, fell in love with them and became their agent. A couple of weeks later Peter asked me to be their manager. I said, ‘I’m not a manager, I’m an agent’. Peter said, ‘You are now’. He trusted me. We became really good friends.
“Pete and I chose all the singles to be released including Albatross which is the only Fleetwood Mac single to reach number one in the UK charts. It sold over a million copies in 1968/69. It was re-released in 1973 and sold over a million copies again. From 1963-68 The Beatles were the top-selling-single artists. In 1969 Fleetwood Mac took that crown.”
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