Rock Feuds: Stevie Nicks vs. Lindsey Buckingham

The personal and professional relationship between Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham has been a source of drama for decades. The duo was romantically involved when they joined Fleetwood Mac in 1974, and their addition helped spawn instant commercial success.

Unfortunately, rock stardom doesn’t often foster a healthy relationship. They broke up during sessions for 1977's 'Rumours,' but both sides agreed they would remain in the band – at least initially.

In the latest edition of Rock Feuds, we take a deep dive into the complicated relationship of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham.

0:00 Introduction
0:20 This is a unique Rock Feud
0:31 How Lindsey and Stevie first met
0:40 The early days of their collaboration
1:10 Their first record deal and the Buckingham Nicks album
1:20 The cracks start to develop
1:46 Buckingham and Nicks join Fleetwood Mac
2:04 Things come to a head
3:00 Working with your ex is a challenge
3:40 They found a way to make it work. Sort of.
4:11 The difficulties of completing Tango in the Night
4:46 Fleetwood Mac find their way past previous complications
4:59 Yet there was still friction
5:43 The dynamic between Stevie and Lindsey
6:29 The tension boils over again
6:47 Lindsey departs from Fleetwood Mac, again
7:31 What's the problem?
8:10 Lindsey says there was no chance for closure
8:30 Their fragmented relationship
9:01 Conclusion



#StevieNicks #LindseyBuckingham #RockFeuds #ClassicRock #RockHistory

[ClassicTVManX]

Had it not been for all these break-ups: Stevie leaving Lindsey, Christine leaving John, and even Mick Fleetwood's own wife leaving him, I do not believe their 1977 album Rumours would have been nearly as successful, 'cause these divorces were what made the album.

[suzannestavely]

Lindsey, even here in this video, says so many hurtful things about Stevie. Talking at the end of this video and hinting of Stevie's jealousy that he had married and had children and she didn't was one of the cruelest things he has said yet. I'm understanding Stevie more with every video of Lindsey I watch.

[zibbi]

So much Drama for this band and they still managed to rock it. They are impressive and beautiful and they’re human. ❤

[esteban]

Lindsey Buckingham is a MONSTER guitar player!

[woodedape]

I think that Stevie and Lindsey are fuel to each others fires. Not everyone can let go of the past, Unfortunately for all they spend their time playing the blame and shame game. Think of all the beautiful music these two extraordinarily gifted people could have created together over the years. It takes two to tango in the dark.

[donna]

How ironical that Stevie, who was the plus one when she joined the band with Lindsey, ended up being the indispensable one when Mick finally had to make the choice.

[jollyjokerpansy]

Stevie Nicks was pure heart, a little crazy and amazingly talented. We enjoyed every visit she made to Arcadia and I could listen to her sing acapella under Camelback skies forever. Leave her be, she’s given out enough goodness to our world.

[dianevelez]

I love both Lindsey and Stevie equally. Their music was and is a huge part of my life and brings me joy. I choose to believe they are truly in love with each other. He's an ass at times and she's intolerable. So aren't we all. If they are faking their love then they should win an award for best actors.

[georgeprice]

Well, as of now, with Christine McVie’s passing, it’s not gonna matter who left or got fired: Fleetwood Mac is put to bed, according to Mick Fleetwood himself.

[kristindevaney]

His wife and his children ALL know how Stevie and Lindsey feel about each other

[starz]

Bittersweet relationship. Maybe too many regrets, too much love, too many people interfering, too many hurtful words. Who knows...only those 2 I guess. I love the music and that's what I cherish.

[modchannel]

Stevie Nicks is a rare kind of artistic genius and I adore her. But I hate to say it, it seems like she overreacted and singled out Lindsey for that onstage incident.

Also, not a great look for Lindsey to publicly speculate that Stevie was mad at him because he had kids and she didn’t.

[bettyalvey]

Their love and pain put in each song was so real, raw, and toxic.

[BotanicChernin]

God bless both of them, and their fans will always be grateful

[MsClaudiaDuran]

Dang, Lindsey. Shots fired towards the end there, calling Stevie an old maid.

[thatlisagirl]

She said it over and over….she picked the band because it gave her notoriety as a start, that had to be maintained and then grow. Emotion wrote those songs, and without their web, there would have not been much of a Fleetwood Mac. I’m kinda thinking that when Lindsey got married and started a family, that might have made Stevie feel a certain kind of way because she can’t have him in the only way that she could have him any more, and it grew to her rage. I don’t think they will ever get over each other. Kinda sad, really.

[elvisfan]

Why people are posting that Stevie being inducted into the Hall of Fame twice makes her better than Lindsey doesn't make sense to me. There are so many great artists not in the R&R Hall of Fame - it doesn't mean anything. I still love those artists who are my favorites that aren't in the Hall of Fame. Some artists in the Hall of Fame I don't feel should be there at all. I fell in love with Fleetwood Mac when Rumours came out. I learned who all the members were and like many fans, Stevie Nicks was my favorite. I liked Lindsey too, and Christine, but Stevie was the #1 reason I loved Fleetwood Mac. Saw them in concert a few times as well as Stevie, Lindsey, and Christine solo, and Lindsey and Christine together. After years of putting up with their childish behavior as they got older, I think they're all obnoxious and annoying to some degree. My opinion is that Stevie got Lindsey kicked out of the band going from what I believe after hearing everyone who's spoken about it. When that happened, I was so disappointed in/mad at Stevie Nicks and have not gotten back to being the fan I was when I first bought Rumours. For some reason, Lindsey thinks fans eat up the "let's pretend like we like each other when we walk out on stage hand in hand for the encore" routine. I personally do not. The music is the reason I paid money to see you in concert or bought your albums. That soap opera drama never made a FM concert better for me. When Christine died, so did Fleetwood Mac in my opinion. I don't care who they go on stage with and call themselves Fleetwood Mac. My Fleetwood Mac is Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood. Rest in peace, Fleetwood Mac.

[SPAZZOID]

Lindsay IS the SOUND of post 1974 Mac, hands-down. He was the Producer, Arranger, & Aesthetic—regardless of who wrote the song.

Listen to 1991’s “Out of the Cradle” and this all will become instantly clear.

[do]

For over 40 years, I have remained very close to a man I was married to for 10 years in the 1980s. I love his wife and kids. But we don't have egos the size of planets, and we realize the difference between the love of friends and the love of lovers.

[raydragerns]

My first love and i went back and forth for 25 years and i cant stand seeing her for the five minutes she comes by to get more of her stuff, no idea how they kept working together tbh