Chaotic Affairs Within Fleetwood Mac That Nearly Broke up the Band

Fleetwood Mac is one of the biggest bands in pop and rock history. They’ve been at the top of the U.S. charts many times over the years, and have been one of the best-selling bands out there for decades. From humble beginnings in the early 1970s to being on top of the music world in the years to come, Fleetwood Mac has done it all.

▬Contents of this video▬
00:00 - Intro
01:30 - John and Christine McVie
02:37 - Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks
03:39 - Bob Weston and Mick Fleetwood’s wife, Jenny
04:41 - Christine McVie and Martin Birch
05:31 - Christine McVie and Curry Grant
06:36 - Stevie Nicks and Mick Fleetwood
07:08 - Outro

And like all bands, they have their share of personality clashes, arguments, and musical disagreements. That’s pretty much par for the course when you put talented and creative people together for long periods of time. Especially in a single tour bus! But unlike many of the most famous bands of history, Fleetwood Mac’s troubles came of the romantic variety as well. Members of the band were in relationships, some were married, and some had affairs with each other. Before joining the band, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham were a couple who had released an album on their own. But the pressures of being a couple while also performing together proved too much for them. Stevie also got involved with band founder Mick Fleetwood, but that relationship also soured. Then there was the crazy up and down marriage of John and Christine McVie.

That situation spurred several affairs that led to band firings and a divorce. Of course, a lot of the issues started because of drugs and alcohol, which were both rampant during that time and in the band. In this video, we explore the chaotic affairs within Fleetwood mac that nearly broke up the band. It’s a wild tale of cheating, drugs, booze, and music. And despite it all, the band still managed to produce some of the greatest songs in modern music history!

Chaotic Affairs Within Fleetwood Mac That Nearly Broke up the Band

[AshT]

I think all the romantic drama within the band definitely helped inspire their beautiful music.

[babesawolf]

who else is here after finishing daisy jones and the six

[kevintate]

I have a friend in the industry that has played with some pretty big names and one thing he told me was some of the best songs are written when someone is in pain. They were out of control with the drugs and alcohol and god only knows the pain that they all were in while they put down some of the best tracks ever. It amazes me to this day at how they managed to stay together as a band with all of that drama.

[orangehoof]

Somebody was clearly pissed to have written "Go Your Own Way".

[rhondawaller]

The whole Fleetwood Mac starting in the 60’s with Peter Green is fascinating! Love this band and the story behind them

[christineobrien]

What's amazing is that through all the drama& emotional turmoil, they made one of the best Rock albums ever!

[jshound]

Nearly broke them up and created one of the best selling rock albums of all time...Rumours

[l.salisbury]

4:41 - I DO know the name Martin Birtch. He later produced some classic album by Deep Purple, Black Sabbath (Dio era) and Iron Maiden...

[temporaryfluke]

This guy didn't mention Christine McVie in the beginning... She was the glue that held that band together

[roymah]

As always your documetary videos are some of the best out there.
Thank you Sir.

[annemerritt]

I think the band members were so vulnerable to there feelings that the music benefited from the affairs Rumours n conflicts

[josephjohnson]

Fleetwood Mac was a Great Rock Band, indeed! The song Dreams is my favorite.

[onazram]

Their Cocaine use during the Rumors album was legendary....

[elaineanderson]

Some people do their best work while under pressure or stressed.

[brianrussell]

Tim, Good ending question on creativity. Did the romantic chaos help or hinder their creative process and product? I grew up in the 70’s and never went wrong with Fleetwood Mac tapes in my car stereo during date nights.

[airforcemax]

*Lindsey Buckingham got fired from Fleetwood Mac that is not being mentioned* - 5:29 pm Pacific DayLight Savings Time on Thursday, 7 July 2022

[SlackHoffman]

Lindsay the dilophosaurus hair scared 😱the shit out of Stevie 😅

[donna]

Mick Fleetwood’s wife Jenny Boyd is the sister of Patti Boyd.

[Rlynnlynn]

I'm so confused. I need to write all the peoples names down along with the photos and make sure I've got everything lined up. That's a lot going on!

[snarkmark]

It actually did break the band up, several times, including their current firing of Lindsay.