The renowned Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood has acknowledged that two years of his life have been totally gone from his recollection due to years of excessive cocaine addiction. Fleetwood discussed his past drug use in an open interview, focusing on how things went south long after the band’s 1977 hit song, Rumours.
“I remember not working for two years. I can’t even remember what I did,” Fleetwood admitted. He described himself as “the party animal in the band” and noted that Stevie Nicks wasn’t far behind. However, he emphasized that despite the band’s well-known drug use, they weren’t a group of musicians “crawling along the floor with green froth coming out of their mouths.” Instead, they were still fully committed to making music and touring, even as their personal lives unraveled.
Fleetwood Mac’s Success and Struggles
In 1967, Fleetwood Mac was founded in London and went on to become one of the most popular rock bands in history. Although the band’s roster has changed frequently, Fleetwood has always been there. The 1977 album Rumours became a landmark, with singles including “Go Your Own Way,” “Don’t Stop,” and “Dreams,” and spending 31 non-consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard 200.
But celebrity also brought excess. The band was notorious for its internal drama, with members exhibiting antics driven by drugs and tumultuous relationships. Specifically, Fleetwood developed a heroin addiction that got so bad that it interfered with his functioning. Even though Rumours was a huge hit, things were falling apart behind the scenes.
The Unexpected TikTok Resurgence
Decades after Rumours first dominated the charts, Fleetwood Mac experienced a surprising resurgence in 2020, all thanks to a viral TikTok video. Skateboarder Nathan Apodaca, known on TikTok as 420doggface208, filmed himself cruising down a highway, sipping Ocean Spray Cran-Raspberry juice, and lip-syncing to “Dreams.” The video instantly went viral, reigniting interest in Fleetwood Mac’s music.
As a result, Rumours shot back up to No. 9 on the Billboard 200—its highest position in over 40 years. “Dreams” also climbed back up the charts, even reaching the iTunes Top 10 and ranking among the 50 most-streamed songs on Spotify. Seeing the momentum, both Mick Fleetwood and Stevie Nicks joined in on the trend, recreating Apodaca’s viral video in their own unique ways.
A Rock and Roll Legacy
Despite his past struggles, Mick Fleetwood continues to be a vital force in music. While he acknowledges the wild years and the personal cost of his lifestyle, he remains proud of Fleetwood Mac’s enduring influence. The band’s music continues to find new generations of fans, proving that even after decades of ups and downs, Fleetwood Mac’s legacy is still as strong as ever.