By Sarah Rodman
BOSTON GLOBE STAFF
JUNE 20, 2013

Vampire Weekend. Lady Antebellum. Judas Priest. The Lumineers. Best Coast. The Cranberries. MGMT. Dixie Chicks. Smashing Pumpkins. Elton John.

What do all of these artists have in common? Surprisingly enough, the answer is Fleetwood Mac.

And that list is just the tip of the iceberg of musicians who have either covered a Mac tune or professed their admiration for some aspect of the sound of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group that has gone through several incarnations since its inception as a blues band in 1967.

Drummer Mick Fleetwood, bassist John McVie, singer-songwriter-twirler Stevie Nicks, and singer-songwriter-guitarist Lindsey Buckingham — the steady Mac lineup since the 1998 departure of singer-songwriter-keyboardist Christine McVie, who grew weary of touring — come to the Comcast Center on Friday to play endlessly rotated hits like “Dreams,” “Go Your Own Way,” and “Don’t Stop,” as well as a few new songs from their newly released four song EP.

In recent years, the Mac fever seems to have spread especially wide in the worlds of indie rock and contemporary country, with tribute albums like “Just Tell Me That You Want Me” sprouting up and groups like Little Big Town and Lady Antebellum performing Mac songs either on awards shows or on the CMT cross-genre series “Crossroads” with Buckingham and Nicks, respectively.

Mac guitarist Buckingham isn’t exactly sure why the band’s songs — both those written during his tenure and before his time — have weathered the years and continue to appeal to new generations, but he’s certainly glad they have. Continue reading The return of Fleetwood Mac →