The tumultuous relationship between Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham has fueled rock ‘n’ roll legend for nearly half a century.
From their early days as a romantic couple to their bitter breakup and subsequent years of creative tension, the duo’s infamous “beef” has fascinated fans and inspired some of the band’s most iconic music.
Now, drummer Mick Fleetwood has expressed his hope for a long-awaited reconciliation between the estranged bandmates in a recent interview with MOJO published Jul. 9.
“It’s no secret, it’s no tittle-tattle that there is a brick wall there emotionally,” Fleetwood shared. “Stevie’s able to speak clearly about how she feels and doesn’t feel, as does Lindsey. But I’ll say, personally, I would love to see a healing between them – and that doesn’t have to take the shape of a tour, necessarily.”
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Nicks and Buckingham joined Fleetwood Mac on New Year’s Eve 1974, after performing as a duo under the name Buckingham Nicks.
Their romantic relationship ended in 1976, just before the band recorded their iconic album Rumours, yet they continued to perform together professionally for many years. They were pivotal in creating the band’s signature sound and were mainstays until 1987, when Buckingham left the group, followed by Nicks in 1990.
Both returned in 1997, only for Buckingham to be fired in 2018.
Following Buckingham’s departure in 2018, he claimed it was “all Stevie’s doing,” alleging that she gave the band an ultimatum that led to his firing.
Nicks refuted his claims: “I did not demand he be fired. Frankly, I fired myself. I proactively removed myself from the band and a situation I considered to be toxic to my well-being. I was done. If the band went on without me, so be it.”
Meanwhile, Fleetwood Mac’s future has been uncertain following the death of longtime member Christine McVie in November 2022.
Both Fleetwood and Nicks have indicated that the band is unlikely to reunite without her. Nicks told MOJO last month, “Without Christine, no can do. There is no chance of putting Fleetwood Mac back together in any way. Without her, it just couldn’t work.”
“Even if I thought I could work with Lindsey again, he’s had some health problems,” says Nick, referring to Buckingham’s heart surgery in 2019.
“It’s not for me to say, but I’m not sure if Lindsey could do the kind of touring that Fleetwood Mac does, where you go out for a year and half. It’s so demanding.”
Fleetwood echoed that McVie’s death signalled the end of a Fleetwood Mac revival, saying in February last year that he had drawn “a line in the sand” regarding playing with the band again but would be happy if the members continued making music in other projects.
Reflecting on the past year, he said, “It’s been a strange time for me. Losing sweet Christine was catastrophic. And then, in my world, sort of losing the band too. And I [split] with my partner as well. I just found myself sort of licking my wounds.”
Despite the uncertainties, Buckingham expressed in February that he’d rejoin the band “in a heartbeat” if given the opportunity.
Meanwhile, Nicks has been busy with her solo career and is set to headline BST Hyde Park in London on July 12, supported by artists like Baby Queen and Nina Nesbitt. This comes after the music legend was forced to postpone a slew of recent shows “due to illness“.
