At 75, Lindsey Buckingham Breaks Silence on Stevie Nicks and Their Tumultuous Fleetwood Mac Romance
After decades of silence, tension, and cryptic lyrics, Lindsey Buckingham, now 75, has finally opened up more candidly than ever about his past relationship with Stevie Nicks — and the emotional chaos that nearly tore Fleetwood Mac apart from within.
In a recent interview promoting a new solo project, Buckingham surprised fans by directly addressing the long-rumored love affair between him and Nicks — a story that has captivated rock fans for nearly 50 years.
“People have always been fascinated with Stevie and me,” Buckingham said. “And for good reason. We were young, passionate, creative… and, quite frankly, a mess.”
The pair famously joined Fleetwood Mac in 1975 and quickly became the driving creative force behind some of the band’s biggest hits. But behind the scenes, their romance was falling apart even as their fame skyrocketed. Songs like Go Your Own Way and Dreams became anthems of heartbreak — written about each other, performed side by side on stage, night after night.
For years, both Buckingham and Nicks danced around the specifics of their relationship, preferring to let the music speak for itself. But in this rare moment of openness, Lindsey offered a surprisingly reflective tone:
“We were toxic at times, but there was also something magical — not just romantically, but musically. We brought out the best and the worst in each other.”
When asked if he regretted how things ended, Buckingham paused before replying:
“Regret? Maybe in how things were handled. But without that pain, we wouldn’t have had Rumours. We wouldn’t have had the songs people still sing today.”
Fleetwood Mac’s drama has always been as legendary as its music. Affairs, breakups, and internal feuds often spilled into the recording studio. The Nicks-Buckingham saga became the heart of that turbulence. Even after their romantic relationship ended, they continued to tour and create music together for years — a dynamic many called “emotionally exhausting” but creatively unmatched.
Stevie Nicks has also spoken in recent years about their past, calling it “beautiful, tragic, and impossible.” The two have had on-and-off tensions, especially after Buckingham’s departure from the band in 2018, which was reportedly fueled by friction between him and Nicks.
But now, Buckingham seems to be turning a page.
“I don’t hold bitterness anymore,” he said. “We were kids thrown into an extraordinary situation. We survived it. And I still have a deep respect for Stevie — always have.”
As fans speculate whether a full reconciliation could ever happen — musically or personally — one thing is clear: Lindsey Buckingham’s willingness to speak so openly at 75 is a moment of rare vulnerability, and a reminder that even behind the biggest rock legends are very human hearts, bruised but still beating.
