Stevie Nicks Shares Note She Wrote at 25 About Ex Lindsey Buckingham

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Stevie Nicks could never break the chain between her and Lindsey Buckingham.

Stevie Nicks, the lead singer of Fleetwood Mac, recently shared a letter she wrote to her family in 1973. The letter was written while she and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham – her partner from 1972 to 1976 – were working on their only album together, *Buckingham Nicks*.

Stevie recently shared a letter on Instagram from September 22nd, mentioning that the rock song her dad and Chris both enjoyed – “Baby Baby, don’t treat me so bad” (also known as “Don’t Let Me Down Again”) – is nearly complete. She also sweetly predicted that Lindsey might be remembered as a truly exceptional guitarist.

She continued, “It really is quite amazing.”

In the rest of the note, Stevie explained how much time she and Lindsey-who became a member of Fleetwood Mac in 1974-spent working on the album. They recently remastered and re-released it on September 19th.

She admitted she was exhausted from listening to music for twelve hours a day, but then joked that it would all be worth it. She pictured herself relaxing in her small, but comfortable, Beverly Hills home, enjoying the privacy of her modest pool while sunbathing and working on her tan – even anticipating a future leg lift procedure – and knew the effort would pay off in the end.

Despite being optimistic about her music, Stevie-fresh off a difficult breakup with Lindsey around the time Fleetwood Mac’s *Rumours* came out-also playfully joked about turning 25 and becoming a quarter of a century old.

She suggested they shouldn’t treat this special occasion like an ordinary birthday, but instead have a big celebration. She asked the three of them to plan the event, and added that gifts would be welcome starting May 1st.

As I was wrapping up our conversation about the *Buckingham Nicks* album, Stevie shared a really heartfelt message. She simply said, ‘Sending so much love to everyone-and let’s all keep positive vibes going for this project.’ It felt like a genuine wish for good energy and support, and it really stuck with me.

Stevie and Lindsey appear to be getting along now, but here’s a look back at their long-running conflict.

Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham first met as high school classmates, long before their famous musical partnership and romance. Buckingham recalled that Nicks transferred to his school as a senior, and they briefly connected musically at a few social events. Nicks went on to attend San JosĂ© State University, and Buckingham followed after graduating high school. They soon joined forces in a band called Fritz, though Buckingham noted they weren’t romantically involved at the time, but there was definitely a connection. Nicks later told *Rolling Stone* that while other band members weren’t interested in dating her because of her ambition, they also didn’t want anyone else to have her. After Fritz disbanded in the early 1970s, Nicks and Buckingham formed the duo Buckingham Nicks, and their musical collaboration blossomed into a romantic relationship. Nicks explained that they began spending all their time together working on songs, and a relationship naturally developed.

You haven’t heard the full story until you know how Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks became part of Fleetwood Mac.

A 2009 BBC documentary, *Fleetwood Mac: Don’t Stop*, reveals that in 1974, drummer Mick Fleetwood visited Sound City Studios in L.A. to assess the recording quality. He was played a song by the duo Buckingham Nicks, and Fleetwood was immediately impressed by Buckingham’s guitar skills. Looking to replace Bob Welch, Fleetwood offered Buckingham a spot in the band, which already included John and Christine McVie.

Fleetwood confessed in the documentary that he initially focused on Buckingham’s talent, admitting, “I didn’t really consider Stevie at first.” Nicks jokingly hasn’t let him forget it, feeling he only wanted Buckingham. Fleetwood explained, “It was true
 and we quickly realized they were inseparable.”

Buckingham confirmed that he needed Nicks’ approval before joining. He told Fleetwood, “I need to talk to my girlfriend about this, but if I join, you have to take her too.”

It was definitely the right decision to continue as a band. Their 1975 album, simply titled *Fleetwood Mac*, reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart and included popular songs like “Landslide,” “Rhiannon,” “Over My Head,” and “Say You Love Me.”

The group then began working on *Rumours* in 1977, which would later win Album of the Year.

However, as their success grew, the personal relationships within the band were falling apart. Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, John and Christine McVie, and Mick Fleetwood and his wife Jenny Boyd were all experiencing difficulties.

In the documentary *Don’t Stop*, Nicks explained, “When we joined Fleetwood Mac, things were already rocky between Lindsey and me. I think we all silently agreed to try and fix our relationships, because we couldn’t afford to break up. It just wasn’t an option, or Fleetwood Mac wouldn’t exist.”

Despite their efforts, the relationships did end. The McVies divorced in 1976, and Nicks and Buckingham split up, followed later by Fleetwood and Boyd.

Fans who listen closely to the songs-like Christine McVie’s “Don’t Stop,” Stevie Nicks’ “Dreams,” and Lindsey Buckingham’s “Go Your Own Way”-can get a glimpse into the emotional turmoil the band members were experiencing.

Nicks added, “My songs were all about Lindsey, and Lindsey’s songs were all about me, but we had to put it aside and just play the music.”

Despite internal turmoil and breakups, Fleetwood Mac continued to release music, including albums like *Tusk* (1979) and *Mirage* (1982). Simultaneously, Stevie Nicks began her solo career, releasing *Bella Donna* in 1981, followed by *The Wild Heart* (1983) and *Rock a Little* (1985).

However, Nicks also struggled with addiction, seeking treatment for cocaine use in 1985. She later revealed in the documentary *Don’t Stop* that her battle with Klonopin addiction caused her to miss much of the recording of Fleetwood Mac’s 1987 album, *Tango in the Night*.

That same year, Lindsey Buckingham left the band just before a major tour. Nicks recounted a heated confrontation with Buckingham, saying she even tried to physically attack him before a fight erupted, ultimately leading to his departure.

Nicks continued to work on both solo projects and Fleetwood Mac albums, including 1990’s *Behind the Mask*, which featured new members Billy Burnette and Rick Vito after Buckingham’s exit. However, she left the band in 1991 following a disagreement over her song “Silver Springs.” Nicks wanted to include it on her solo album, but Fleetwood Mac wanted to use it for theirs. She famously threatened to leave if she didn’t get the tapes back, telling the band’s manager to deliver them by Monday or she would no longer be a member.

In 1997, the members of Fleetwood Mac – Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, John and Christine McVie, and Mick Fleetwood – came together for a concert televised on MTV, which they later released as a live album called *The Dance*. Despite a history of difficulties, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham seemed ready to move past their issues.

Stevie Nicks explained in a 1997 interview with the Arizona Republic that she and Lindsey Buckingham generally avoid deep conversations. They keep their interactions to a minimum when they’re not performing. Both are cautious about upsetting each other. However, when they’re onstage, the energy of the performance allows them to connect and express themselves, often leading to a lot of unspoken feelings coming to the surface.

Let’s talk Fleetwood Mac! After releasing their album *Say You Will* in 2003, the band – and particularly Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham – continued to balance solo work with touring as a group, with successful concert series in 2009 and 2013. However, things took a turn in 2018. Before another tour, Lindsey was let go. Mick Fleetwood explained it wasn’t a simple firing, but rather a difficult decision reached when the band hit a wall. It came down to what the majority felt was best for the band’s future. Lindsey later addressed the situation himself, explaining that he didn’t choose to leave and felt there were differing perspectives within the group that led to his departure. It was definitely a complicated time for everyone involved, but it’s a fascinating look at the dynamics of a long-lasting band.

Oh my goodness, you guys, they’re doing it! After *fifty-two years* since their first album, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks are giving ‘Buckingham Nicks’ a whole new life! I nearly fainted when I saw the announcement on YouTube on August 13th, 2025 – it’s getting remastered for CD and digital release on September 19th! And as if that wasn’t enough, they even re-released “Don’t Let Me Down Again” as a sneak peek! I’ve been waiting for this moment forever, seriously, *forever*!

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2025-09-24 04:17