The stormy relationship between Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, two members of Fleetwood Mac, not only shaped their personal lives but also influenced the band’s dynamic and music. Even after their romance ended, the two still worked together in Fleetwood Mac, using their emotions to create famous songs.
This situation caused tension in the band, impacting the other members and leading to a period of both chaos and creative success. As Nicks herself noted in a 2013 chat with Elle, their songs became vessels for their ongoing dialogue, filled with references and retorts. Despite the strain, they remained linked, bound by music if not by romance. The singer also thinks their relationship differed after joining Fleetwood Mac, as she said, referring to their pre-Mac period:
“I ironed his jeans and sewed moons and stars on them and made the house beautiful. I was the cleaning lady. Then we joined Fleetwood Mac and moved to LA, and he became very jealous. I was trustworthy, but he didn’t trust me, so he tortured me every day until I ended up having an affair.”
From Partners To Musicians
Lindsey and Stevie had been dating since high school and were already a couple when they joined Fleetwood Mac in 1974. By that time, their relationship was starting to fall apart. However they stayed together to avoid affecting the band’s success during their early years with the group. During their time together in the band, the pair expressed their feelings for each other through songs.
Expressing Emotions In Songs
Speaking of their breakup, and the lyrics of Buckingham’s ‘Go Your Own Way’ and her lines in ‘Dreams’ in a 2022 conversation with People, Nicks said the following:
“I always laugh because Lindsey’s ‘Go Your Own Way’ and my ‘Dreams’ are like, counter songs to each other. I’m like, ‘When the rain washes you clean, you’ll know,’ and he’s like, ‘Packing up, shacking up’s all you want to do.’ Both songs kind of mean the same thing — it’s really about our breakup. He’s looking at it from a very unpleasant, angry way, and I’m saying, in my more airy-fairy way, we’re gonna be all right. We’ll get through this.”
Nicks also once told Rolling Stone that she was very upset with Buckingham for the lyrics he wrote about her in ‘Go Your Own Way.’ She felt angry because the song suggested she was interested in other men, which she said wasn’t true. Singing this song on stage was difficult for her. She believed that Lindsey was deliberately trying to upset her to get back at her for their breakup.
