Clifford Davis (musician)
Encyclopedia
Clifford Davis is a British musician and music manager, chiefly known for his time as manager of successful blues rock band Fleetwood Mac
, from 1967 to 1974.
He also used the pseudonyms Clifford Adams and C.G. Adams, particularly in songwriting credits, such as those he shared with band founder Peter Green
for legal or copyright reasons on the 1968 album Mr Wonderful
.
During 1969, Davis embarked on a recording career of his own on the Blue Horizon
label, with the help of Green and Fleetwood Mac. His first single, "Before The Beginning" / "Man of the World", was a coupling of two reworked Fleetwood Mac songs written by Green. His second and final recording, "Come On Down And Follow Me" / "Homework", followed in 1970; neither single was commercially successful.
Having also managed Curved Air
, his tenure as Fleetwood Mac's band manager came to an end during 1974 when he started promoting a different band under the name of Fleetwood Mac, after the original band had been forced to cancel or disrupt a number of tours. Peter Green
left in 1970 after a bout with drug use and mental illness. In February 1971, Jeremy Spencer
quit the group without prior notice causing concerts to be cancelled; Danny Kirwan
was sacked in the middle of a tour in August 1972, and Bob Weston
was fired during a tour the following year after conducting an affair with Mick Fleetwood
's wife, after which the tour was abandoned. Davis recruited several new musicians including ex-members of Curved Air to masquerade as Fleetwood Mac and complete the tour, claiming that he owned the group's name. The remaining members of the real Fleetwood Mac brought legal proceedings against Davis, and the subsequent court case lasted several months. Davis eventually lost the case, which caused considerable ill-feeling between him and the band, and they proceeded with their career under new management.
Davis later managed the career of ex-Mac guitarist Danny Kirwan
, making use of some of the musicians who formed the fake Fleetwood Mac. He also continued to act as manager for Peter Green during the early part of his solo career.
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
, from 1967 to 1974.
He also used the pseudonyms Clifford Adams and C.G. Adams, particularly in songwriting credits, such as those he shared with band founder Peter Green
Peter Green (musician)
Peter Green is a British blues-rock guitarist and the founder of the band Fleetwood Mac...
for legal or copyright reasons on the 1968 album Mr Wonderful
Mr. Wonderful (album)
Mr. Wonderful is the second album by the blues-rock band, Fleetwood Mac, released in 1968. An expanded version of this album was included in the box set, The Complete Blue Horizon Sessions....
.
During 1969, Davis embarked on a recording career of his own on the Blue Horizon
Blue Horizon
Blue Horizon was a British blues record label founded by Mike Vernon in the mid 1960s.Its roots lay in Vernon's mail order label Purdah Records, which released just four 7" singles; including "Flapjacks" by Stone's Masonry ; and another by John Mayall and Eric Clapton "Bernard Jenkins", and...
label, with the help of Green and Fleetwood Mac. His first single, "Before The Beginning" / "Man of the World", was a coupling of two reworked Fleetwood Mac songs written by Green. His second and final recording, "Come On Down And Follow Me" / "Homework", followed in 1970; neither single was commercially successful.
Having also managed Curved Air
Curved Air
Curved Air are a pioneering British progressive rock group formed in 1970 by musicians from mixed artistic backgrounds, including classic, folk, and electronic sound. The resulting sound of the band was a mixture of progressive rock, folk rock, and fusion with classical elements...
, his tenure as Fleetwood Mac's band manager came to an end during 1974 when he started promoting a different band under the name of Fleetwood Mac, after the original band had been forced to cancel or disrupt a number of tours. Peter Green
Peter Green (musician)
Peter Green is a British blues-rock guitarist and the founder of the band Fleetwood Mac...
left in 1970 after a bout with drug use and mental illness. In February 1971, Jeremy Spencer
Jeremy Spencer
Jeremy Cedric Spencer , is a British musician, best known as one of the first guitarists in Fleetwood Mac.Spencer was born in Hartlepool, County Durham. He grew up in South London and was educated at Strand School, where he became known for hilarious impressions of the headmaster and several of his...
quit the group without prior notice causing concerts to be cancelled; Danny Kirwan
Danny Kirwan
Daniel David "Danny" Kirwan is a British musician best known for his role as guitarist, singer and songwriter with the blues-rock band Fleetwood Mac between 1968 and 1972.-Early career:...
was sacked in the middle of a tour in August 1972, and Bob Weston
Bob Weston (guitarist)
See Bob Weston for the American bassist and recording engineer.Robert Joseph 'Bob' Weston is a British musician best known for his brief role as guitarist and songwriter with the rock band Fleetwood Mac....
was fired during a tour the following year after conducting an affair with Mick Fleetwood
Mick Fleetwood
Michael John Kells "Mick" Fleetwood is a British musician and actor best known for his role as the drummer and namesake of the blues/rock and roll band Fleetwood Mac. His surname, combined with that of John McVie, was the inspiration for the name of the originally Peter Green-led Fleetwood Mac...
's wife, after which the tour was abandoned. Davis recruited several new musicians including ex-members of Curved Air to masquerade as Fleetwood Mac and complete the tour, claiming that he owned the group's name. The remaining members of the real Fleetwood Mac brought legal proceedings against Davis, and the subsequent court case lasted several months. Davis eventually lost the case, which caused considerable ill-feeling between him and the band, and they proceeded with their career under new management.
Davis later managed the career of ex-Mac guitarist Danny Kirwan
Danny Kirwan
Daniel David "Danny" Kirwan is a British musician best known for his role as guitarist, singer and songwriter with the blues-rock band Fleetwood Mac between 1968 and 1972.-Early career:...
, making use of some of the musicians who formed the fake Fleetwood Mac. He also continued to act as manager for Peter Green during the early part of his solo career.