FORMER Fleetwood Mac guitarist Rick Vito comes to Wirral next month for two shows as part of the International Guitar Festival.

The American musician is at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton on November 19 with tribute band Rumours of Fleetwood Mac, returning to the venue with his own band four days later, November 23.

It is the first time he will have played with Rumours.

Speaking to the Globe from Nashville, 65-year-old Rick said: "I don't really know what songs they'll be singing this time, but I'm sure the fans will like it.

Recalling the time he was invited to join Fleetwood Mac in 1988, he said: "I got a call one day from Mick Fleetwood.

"We'd played together a couple of times on a Billy Burnette session and at one of my gigs, and he liked the fact that I was a fan of Peter Green.

"Lindsey Buckingham had just been let go and Mick wanted Billy and I to learn some Mac tunes and come over to play with the band.

"I had been feeling lately that something was brewing with my career anyway, so when I hung up the phone I turned to my wife Aimee and said, "that's it, I'm going to join Fleetwood Mac!"

Vito's playing and singing is especially well represented in a faithful version of Peter Green's "I loved another woman".

In 1989 Fleetwood Mac began work on what would become "behind the mask", which featured four tunes written and performed by Rick. He left the band in 1991.

He is also frontman of Mick Fleetwood Blues Band and former member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers in addition to recording and touring with the likes of Bob Seger, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Dolly Parton, Roy Orbison and Stevie Nicks to name but a few.

He has also performed with some of the Blues Greats such as Muddy Waters and Albert Collins.

Reflecting on his career, Rick said: "I moved to California in 1971 to start my music career and have been playing for 43 years.

"I've worked with some incredible people in that time, but Looking back it's almost like it was not me."

"I've got a new album out in Europe, it's called Mojo On My Side, and is a lot of slide guitar and blues rock music. It pretty much sums up my style.

"I'm always looking at different ways to play."

Having performed 500 major concert shows to over a half a million fans around the world since they formed over a decade ago, Rumours of Fleetwood Mac's new show promises to showcase in meticulous note-for-note detail, all the classic hits from one of the most outstanding and enduring catalogues in the history of recorded music, and a legacy of blues, rock and pop classics that made Fleetwood Mac the icons of the music industry they are today.

The show will feature hits such as Black Magic Woman, Albatross, Go Your Own Way, Oh Diane and Little Lies.

Tickets for both shows are from 0151 666 0000 or www.bestguitarfest.com