Life in Fleetwood Mac was anything but harmonious. Behind the music and the fame, tensions simmered between its members, creating a whirlwind of drama that often overshadowed their success. Stevie Nicks, in particular, bore the brunt of this turmoil.
During a 2020 interview, Nicks reflected on a pivotal moment in the band’s history. Lindsey Buckingham’s 2018 firing made headlines, but the story behind it revealed deeper fractures within the group. The fallout wasn’t just professional—it was deeply personal.
Buckingham claimed Nicks pushed for his removal after feeling mocked during a live performance. He suggested she gave the band a stark choice: him or her. This ultimatum exposed just how strained their relationship had become.
The Breaking Point
For Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham’s departure wasn’t a sudden decision but the culmination of years of tension. She described it as “the straw that broke the camel’s back,” revealing that despite the conflicts, she always approached reunions with optimism. “I always walked in with hope in my heart,” Nicks shared, but the ongoing struggles left her feeling drained and disheartened.
The split, as Nicks put it, had been “a long time coming.” While she held on to the hope that things might improve, the reality was far from ideal. She often felt unsupported and disappointed, which took a toll on her emotionally and creatively.
Ultimately, Nicks found solace outside the band. She described her solo career as a “good, creative happy world,” a stark contrast to the challenges she faced within Fleetwood Mac. It was a space where she could thrive without the weight of past conflicts.
A Lonely Struggle
“I just felt like a dying flower all the time,” Stevie Nicks revealed, reflecting on her years in Fleetwood Mac. From 1968 until that fateful night, she stayed by Lindsey Buckingham’s side, despite the growing strain. She recalled hearing her parents’ voices in her mind—her mother urging her to move on and her father, who liked Buckingham, suggesting a “divorce” was inevitable.
Her sadness ran deep, tied to years of tension that went beyond their personal relationship. Nicks admitted it was her destiny to join Fleetwood Mac, but fulfilling that destiny came at a cost. Her creative contributions often felt undervalued, leaving her disillusioned.
The band’s dynamic only added to her struggles. While her time with Fleetwood Mac brought fame, it also brought frustration. The weight of constant dismissal and personal conflict left Nicks yearning for something more fulfilling.
The Battle of “Silver Springs”
Stevie Nicks shared that one of her most painful moments in Fleetwood Mac centered around the song “Silver Springs.” Originally slated for the Rumours album, it was replaced with “I Don’t Want to Know” without her consent. “They didn’t even ask me,” she recalled. “I was told in the parking lot after it had already been done.” The decision was justified by the song’s length, but for Nicks, it felt like a dismissal of her artistic vision.
Despite such setbacks, Nicks remained committed to the band over the years, largely for the fans. She acknowledged the overwhelming support they received, saying, “Fleetwood Mac tickets sold out in three weeks for 80 shows.” This connection with the audience became a driving force for her to continue performing with the group.
Still, Nicks often grappled with the balancing act of preserving harmony within the band. “I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings,” she admitted. For her, ensuring both the band and its fans were happy took precedence, even in the face of personal disappointments.