Florence + The Machine shocked pop fans across the country back in 2010 when they rocked up to Glastonbury Festival with an unexpectedly brilliant cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain.” The sensational performance has since gone internet-viral, amassing over 4.8 million views to date.
Florence amped up the hype on The Other Stage, leaving a breadcrumb trail of clues as to what their surprise song would be. She revealed, “[It’s] pretty much my favourite song of all time, and all my heroes are in this band,” putting pop fans on the edge of their seats when she added, “This is the only time we’re ever gonna play this song.”
Cue the immensely atmospheric intro riff to Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 hit, pinned down by smoky guitar licks and a throbbing bass drum soon topped by Florence Welch’s goddessly vocals.
Florence’s powerful and evocative voice was the ultimate match for this hit – her authentic tones not just carrying Stevie Nicks’ classic melodies but letting them blossom through her mind-blowing vocal range, each note filled with remarkable power and heart-stirring emotion.
This rendition almost sounds like it belongs as a Siouxie and the Banshees bonus-track; Florence’s bold and quirky voice radiating over her dark backdrop, before swelling in a sing-along chorus. And the Glasto audience is locked into her every rhythm – chanting along to every word, with one maraca-wielding fan sighted absolutely losing their mind.
Unlike most covers, Florence + The Machine stick close to Fleetwood Mac’s original grooves, refusing to tamper with the legendary riffs but instead paying vivid homage to the 70s pop standard.
As the drums pick up to a marching pace and that iconic bass line rings out, the crowd goes as feral as Florence, dancing erratically across the Other Stage as her guitarist wails a mind-blowing solo, backed by seamless gospel vocals that bleed into an all-out sing-along.
You don’t have to be a Florence fan to fall in love with this clip – the singer’s primal energy and striking love for her craft is enough to dazzle any Music Man reader and win over Fleetwood Mac fans at the drop of a hat.
This was Florence + The Machine’s second Glastonbury gig, following their small-scale 2009 Glasto debut on the Saturday night John Peel Stage. By 2015, Florence was to rocket her way to the top-tier of pop, headlining the festival and commanding the Pyramid Stage alongside fellow 2015 headliners Kanye West and The Who.
Glastonbury 2010 was treated to headline performances by Gorillaz, Muse and Stevie Wonder. Also joining the bill were Dizzee Rascal, Snoop Dogg, Shakira, Slash, Paloma Faith, La Roux, LCD Soundsystem, Kate Nash, Rolf Harris, Ray Davies and Pet Shop Boys, amongst many more.
Florence + The Machine’s unforgettable Glastonbury cover left fans in awe and confirmed their place as musical icons. This rare performance captured Florence’s admiration for Fleetwood Mac and left a lasting impression on audiences worldwide. Want to dive deeper into this jaw-dropping moment? Discover more below.