Stevie Nicks has offered a rare glimpse into her early relationship with Lindsey Buckingham by sharing a personal letter she wrote to her family in 1973. The letter, posted on her Instagram account, contains a remarkable prediction about her then-partner's future, stating he might become one of the greatest guitarists in history.
Key Takeaways
- Stevie Nicks shared a letter from 1973, written while working on the 'Buckingham Nicks' album.
- In the letter, she praised Lindsey Buckingham's guitar skills, calling his work "fancy" and predicting his future greatness.
- The note provides insight into their early creative process and the long hours they dedicated to their music.
- The letter coincided with the recent remastering and re-release of their 1973 duo album, 'Buckingham Nicks'.
- Their complex personal and professional relationship spans over five decades, including their time in Fleetwood Mac.
A Newly Discovered Letter from 1973
Stevie Nicks recently shared a letter she wrote to her family just before her 25th birthday. The correspondence dates back to 1973, a pivotal year when she and Lindsey Buckingham were creating their first and only album as a duo, Buckingham Nicks.
The letter reveals the duo's intense dedication to their craft. "I am getting very tired of sitting around listening to 12 hours of music per day," Nicks wrote, highlighting the demanding schedule they maintained. Despite the fatigue, she expressed optimism about their future success.
Praise for Buckingham's Guitar Work
One of the most notable parts of the letter is Nicks' early recognition of Buckingham's exceptional talent. She referenced a specific track they were finalizing, which she identified as “Baby Baby, don’t treat me so bad.” This song would later be known as "Don't Let Me Down Again."
"By the way—Dad and Chris—that rock and roll tune that you both liked… with the fancy guitar work is almost finished," Nicks wrote. She then added a significant compliment: "and Lindsey may go down in history as one of ‘greats’ in guitar playing."
This early prediction showcases the deep professional respect that existed between them, even before they achieved global fame with Fleetwood Mac.
The 'Buckingham Nicks' Album
Released in 1973, Buckingham Nicks was the duo's only studio album. While not a commercial success at the time, it became a cult classic and was instrumental in their invitation to join Fleetwood Mac. The recent sharing of the letter coincided with a remastered re-release of the album, bringing renewed attention to their foundational work.
The Origins of a Musical Partnership
The relationship between Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham began long before Fleetwood Mac. They first met as high school students in Northern California. Buckingham was a junior when Nicks, a senior, transferred to his school.
Their initial interactions were musical. "She did play guitar, and she and I interacted slightly on a musical level at a couple of social events," Buckingham once told an interviewer. Their connection deepened when they both attended San José State University.
From Fritz to a Duo
Buckingham was part of a band called Fritz, which Nicks eventually joined as a vocalist. While a romantic spark existed, their relationship remained platonic during this period. "I think there was always something between me and Lindsey," Nicks told Rolling Stone in 1977.
After Fritz disbanded in the early 1970s, the two decided to form a musical duo. This professional collaboration soon evolved into a romantic one. "We started spending a lot of time together working out songs," Nicks explained. "Pretty soon we started spending all our time together and...it just happened." This led to the creation of their album, Buckingham Nicks.
Joining Fleetwood Mac
The duo's path to Fleetwood Mac was almost accidental. In 1974, drummer Mick Fleetwood was visiting Sound City Studios in Los Angeles. To demonstrate the studio's acoustics, an engineer played him a track from the Buckingham Nicks album.
Fleetwood was immediately impressed by the guitar playing and sought to recruit Buckingham to replace the band's departing guitarist, Bob Welch. At the time, Fleetwood did not know Nicks was part of the act.
A Package Deal
According to a BBC documentary, Mick Fleetwood initially only wanted to hire Lindsey Buckingham. Buckingham's response was firm: "I said, 'Well, I’ll have to talk to my girlfriend about that, but if we do, you’re going to have to take my girlfriend, too.'" This non-negotiable condition led to both Nicks and Buckingham joining the band together.
The addition of the American duo transformed Fleetwood Mac. Their first album with the new lineup, 1975's Fleetwood Mac, reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. It featured iconic songs like "Rhiannon" and "Landslide."
Success, Turmoil, and 'Rumours'
While their professional careers soared, the personal relationships within the band began to fall apart. By the time they started recording their 1977 masterpiece, Rumours, the romantic relationships that formed the band's core were dissolving.
Nicks and Buckingham's relationship ended in 1976. Simultaneously, bassist John McVie and keyboardist Christine McVie were divorcing, and Mick Fleetwood was also separating from his wife. This emotional turmoil became the direct inspiration for the album's legendary songs.
- "Go Your Own Way": Written by Buckingham about his breakup with Nicks.
- "Dreams": Written by Nicks as her response to the split.
- "Don't Stop": Written by Christine McVie about her divorce from John.
"My songs were all about Lindsey, and Lindsey's songs were all about me," Nicks said in the documentary Don't Stop. "And you just had to blow it off and play the song." Despite the personal pain, Rumours went on to win the Grammy for Album of the Year and remains one of the best-selling albums of all time.
Departures and Reunions
The band continued through the late 1970s and 1980s, but internal tensions remained. Nicks launched a highly successful solo career in 1981 with her album Bella Donna. In 1987, just before a major tour, Lindsey Buckingham abruptly left Fleetwood Mac.
Nicks herself left the group in 1991 after a dispute with Mick Fleetwood over the rights to her song "Silver Springs." However, the classic lineup reunited in 1997 for a massively successful live album and tour, The Dance.
More recently, in 2018, Buckingham was fired from the band ahead of another tour. Fleetwood described the situation as hitting a "brick wall," while Buckingham stated the decision was not his choice. Despite this long and often contentious history, the sharing of the 1973 letter suggests a mutual respect for their shared musical origins.