Stevie Nicks has never shied away from discussing the darker side of her rock stardom, and her recent reflection is particularly blunt: “All of us were drug addicts, but I was the worst,” she reveals. The band’s success in the late ’70s and early ’80s was tainted by rampant drug use, leading to dizzying highs and devastating lows that nearly tore Fleetwood Mac apart.
By the end of the Tusk tour in 1980, Fleetwood Mac was on the verge of collapse. The pressures of following up Rumours with the experimental and less commercially successful Tusk only deepened the band’s internal rifts. Their departure from the familiar So-Cal sound, combined with personal chaos, left the band’s future in doubt.
The aftermath was brutal. Mick Fleetwood faced bankruptcy and homelessness, while the other members scattered to escape the wreckage. Nicks’ admission of being the worst among the addicts is a stark reminder of the personal toll of fame and excess, as she reflects on those years with a mix of regret and hard-won insight.
The Solo Paths That Redefined Fleetwood Mac’s Future
Mick had faced hard times before, especially after Peter Green left the band, but nothing compared to the depths he reached in 1985. As the co-founder and driving force of Fleetwood Mac for nearly 20 years, he struggled to imagine how he would recover from what he described as “extended hotel hell.”
The band’s post-Tusk era saw Lindsey and Stevie turning their attention to solo careers, leaving Fleetwood Mac in a precarious position. Buckingham, feeling he’d sacrificed enough for the band’s success, decided it was time to pursue his own artistic vision, free from the constraints of hit singles and deadlines. This led to his solo success with Trouble, although he acknowledged some bitterness from Mick Fleetwood over his departure.
Meanwhile, Stevie Nicks, at 32 and already a massive star, was eager for a new chapter. With Irving Azoff, the powerful manager of the Eagles, guiding her, Nicks knew it was the right time to strike out on her own. This decision marked the beginning of her solo journey, driven by the ambition to explore new opportunities outside the band.
Balancing Solo Success and Fleetwood Mac’s Revival
In 1982, Stevie talked about the balance between her wild side and the need for discipline. As she grew older, she realized that to truly connect with her audience, she had to maintain some control. Fortunately, her solo debut Bella Donna was a huge success, hitting No.1 and selling nearly five million copies, led by the hit single “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”.
When Fleetwood Mac regrouped in 1982 for Mirage, Nicks was already deep into other projects. She contributed three songs to the album, including the hit “Gypsy”. While Mirage reached No.1, it didn’t match the success of Rumours, but it marked the band’s return to the spotlight.
Nicks quickly moved on to her second solo album, The Wild Heart (1983), drawing on her emotions and collaborating with Prince for a fresh sound. While Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie also pursued solo projects, Nicks was the only one to achieve significant success, with hits like “Stand Back” and her follow-up album Rock A Little (1985) continuing her solo momentum.
Stevie’s Health Decline and Missed Opportunities
By the mid-1980s, Nicks’ health and decision-making were in steep decline. She turned down the song “These Dreams”, which was written for her by Bernie Taupin and Martin Page, only to watch Heart take it to No.1. Her voice had also deteriorated, largely due to years of cocaine abuse, heavy drinking, and relentless smoking.
Nicks later admitted she was “the worst drug addict” during that time. After her 1986 solo tour, she checked into the Betty Ford clinic but ended up addicted to the tranquilizer Klonopin, prescribed by a doctor she disdainfully called “Doctor Fuckhead.” She also needed rhinoplasty to repair damage from her drug use and suffered chronic fatigue after removing silicone breast implants that had made her ill.
Meanwhile, Mick was also struggling. His solo albums, The Visitor and I’m Not Here, failed to make an impact. His $3 million mansion, The Blue Whale, became a notorious party spot filled with dealers and groupies. Despite his efforts, Fleetwood found himself lost and without direction as his chaotic lifestyle took its toll.
Fleetwood Mac’s Fragile Revival
By 1986, Mick Fleetwood was $8 million in debt and desperate to get Fleetwood Mac back on track. He reconnected with Lindsey Buckingham, who was starting work on a solo album. Although Buckingham was suspicious of Fleetwood’s intentions, he allowed the sessions to turn into a new Fleetwood Mac project, recognizing that it could benefit him as well.
Christine and John McVie were eager to revive the band, but Stevie Nicks was mostly absent during the recording of Tango in the Night. When she did show up, she was often too ill or uninterested to contribute much. Nicks later admitted that the process was a drag, and her health issues, combined with addiction and recovery, kept her from fully participating.
Nicks’ limited involvement showed in the three tracks she wrote for the album, especially “Welcome to the Room Sara”, inspired by her stay at the Betty Ford Clinic. During the first playback, Nicks was shocked to hear how little she was featured, prompting Christine McVie to bluntly remind her that she simply wasn’t there to record.
Fleetwood Mac’s Comeback and Abrupt Departure
In his 1990 memoir, Mick recalled how Stevie eventually gave in and allowed her vocals to be added to Tango in the Night. Despite her resistance, Fleetwood and Christine McVie had been right about the album’s potential.
Lindsey Buckingham, however, had removed several of Nicks’s vocal tracks because she was intoxicated during recording. He used a Fairlight synth to piece together her performances, admitting he had to create parts that “sounded like her but weren’t her.”
Despite these challenges, Tango in the Night included some of Fleetwood Mac’s best work since Rumours. Buckingham’s “Family Man” and “Big Love”, along with McVie’s hits “Little Lies” and “Everywhere”, made the album a success. But as the band prepared for a world tour, Buckingham abruptly quit, leading to tensions and accusations, with Fleetwood noting the split was inevitable.
The Band’s Unsteady Journey Through the 1990s
Ever the resilient leader, Mick faced the band’s challenges head-on. Despite Buckingham’s departure, Fleetwood insisted on keeping the momentum going, declaring they couldn’t let their successful record go to waste. He rallied the band, determined to push forward with new members and continue touring.
The 1990s proved challenging for Fleetwood Mac. Fleetwood brought in Rick Vito and Billy Burnette, but the band’s chemistry was off, and their 1990 album Behind The Mask was a commercial disappointment. As more members left, Fleetwood recruited Dave Mason and Bekka Bramlett, but their 1995 album Time fared even worse. The once-iconic band was reduced to nostalgia tours, far from their former glory.
Meanwhile, Stevie Nicks retreated to her Hollywood home, surrounded by friends and memories of the past. Despite her quiet life, she still held onto her love for Buckingham and Fleetwood. When asked if she’d ever return to Fleetwood Mac, she left the door open, hinting at a possible reunion with a smile that suggested she knew the band’s story wasn’t over yet.