The Dirty Mac
Temporary supergroup formed by John Lennon for a 1968 TV special.
In December 1968, John Lennon put together a short-lived supergroup called the Dirty Mac. The lineup included Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Mitch Mitchell, and Lennon himself, who went by the stage name Winston Leg-Thigh. The band played just once, as part of the Rolling Stones’ TV special *The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus*. For that performance, they played Lennon’s Beatles song “Yer Blues” and then “Whole Lotta Yoko,” a long blues improvisation. On that second track, they were joined by Lennon’s girlfriend Yoko Ono and violinist Ivry Gitlis. The special also featured the Rolling Stones, the Who, and Jethro Tull, but it didn’t air as planned and wasn’t officially released until October 1996. Lennon and Clapton later worked together again on the first Plastic Ono Band album, *Live Peace in Toronto 1969*, which includes another version of “Yer Blues.”
- formed
- December 1968
- field
- Rock music
- known_for
- One-off performance on The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus
- members
- John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Mitch Mitchell
Lore & Background
The Dirty Mac was assembled for a single performance on The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus, a television special that also featured the Rolling Stones, the Who, and Jethro Tull. The band played Lennon's Beatles composition 'Yer Blues' and an extended blues improvisation titled 'Whole Lotta Yoko', joined by Yoko Ono and violinist Ivry Gitlis. The special did not air as originally planned and was not released until October 1996.
Reader's Guide
The Dirty Mac is significant as the first time since the formation of the Beatles that John Lennon performed in public without them, aside from the 1967 'All You Need Is Love' broadcast. The band's name, thought of by Lennon, was a play on Fleetwood Mac. Their performance of 'Yer Blues' later appeared on the first Plastic Ono Band album, Live Peace in Toronto 1969. The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus was eventually released in 1996, with a DVD edition in 2004 and a remastered box set in 2019. The group's brief existence highlights Lennon's transitional period between the Beatles and his solo work.
Did You Know?
- John Lennon introduced himself as 'Winston Leg-Thigh' for the Dirty Mac performance.
- The band's name was a play on Fleetwood Mac, thought of by Lennon.
- The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus was not officially released until October 1996.
- Lennon and Clapton later appeared together on the first Plastic Ono Band album, Live Peace in Toronto 1969.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Dirty Mac?
The Dirty Mac was a temporary rock supergroup that John Lennon assembled in December 1968. The band existed for exactly one television performance and never recorded or played again.
Who were the members of The Dirty Mac?
The lineup featured John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and Mitch Mitchell. Lennon performed under the humorous stage name Winston Leg-Thigh during their set.
What did The Dirty Mac actually perform?
Their one show consisted of Lennon's Beatles composition "Yer Blues" followed by an extended blues jam titled "Whole Lotta Yoko." During that second track, Yoko Ono and violinist Ivry Gitlis joined the group onstage.
Where did The Dirty Mac make their only appearance?
The band played a single set on The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus, a 1968 television special. They were assembled by Lennon specifically for that broadcast and were never reunited afterward.
Why do fans consider The Dirty Mac significant?
The group united four of Britain's most acclaimed rock musicians—Lennon, Clapton, Richards, and Mitchell—in one lineup, an unlikely combination that never happened again. Their brief existence is often cited as a high-water mark of cross-band collaboration in British rock.
More in British rock music supergroups 1-24
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