Stevie Nicks' Birthday Blessing for Lindsey Buckingham: Behind Fleetwood Mac's Tumultuous History
FLEETWOOD MAC'S MOST VOLATILE RELATIONSHIP: STEVIE NICKS WISHES EX-BOYFRIEND LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM A HAPPY 76TH BIRTHDAY, DESPITE PLAYING A KEY ROLE IN HIS FIRING FROM THE BAND
In a shocking display of drama and nostalgia, Stevie Nicks took to her Instagram Story to wish her former bandmate and ex-lover Lindsey Buckingham a happy birthday on October 3. The sweet gesture comes despite the tumultuous relationship between the two musicians, which played a pivotal role in Buckingham's firing from Fleetwood Mac in 2018.
The singer-songwriter posted a heartfelt message to Buckingham, writing: "Wishing you the best Birthday ever @lindseybuckingham! Love's ya! Stevie" over a deep purple background. The post was a rare display of affection from Nicks towards her former partner, who has been open about their volatile relationship in recent interviews.
But what's even more surprising is that Nicks and Buckingham have a long history together. They first started dating in 1972, when they were part of the duo Buckingham Nicks, which released their self-titled album in 1973. The album was later reissued last month, with Nicks sharing a handwritten letter she wrote to her family while recording it. In the letter, she praises Buckingham's talent and jokingly mentions that he "may go down in history as one of the 'greats' in guitar playing."
Their relationship was marked by ups and downs, with Buckingham even admitting in an interview that their romance was "never married, but we might as well have been." The two musicians were together for four years before breaking up, but they continued to make music and perform together alongside their bandmates Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, and the late Christine McVie.
In fact, it's been reported that Nicks played a significant role in Buckingham's firing from Fleetwood Mac. The initial reason cited was a "disagreement over the band's upcoming tour," but later reports revealed that the tension between Nicks and Buckingham had reached boiling point. The two musicians had been at odds for years, with Buckingham even admitting to Rolling Stone recently: "Our relationship has always been volatile."
But what sparked the final straw? According to Nicks, it was a charity event where Buckingham allegedly offended her and Harry Styles. She revealed that she was inspired by her parents' words of wisdom during the breakup, which helped her make the decision to end their long-term partnership.
"I could hear my mom saying, 'Are you really going to spend the next 15 years of your life with this man?'" Nicks shared in the same interview. "I could hear my very pragmatic father – and by the way, my mom and dad liked Lindsey a lot – saying, 'It's time for you guys to get a divorce.' Between those two, I said, 'I'm done.'"
Despite their messy breakup, Nicks has maintained that she wishes Buckingham well. In fact, she even went as far as releasing the reissue of Buckingham Nicks with him last month, writing: "Sharing Buckingham Nicks with all of you again has been so fun for both me and Lindsey. Thank you for joining us again on this journey."
As for whether Fleetwood Mac will ever reunite without Christine McVie, Nicks has made it clear that it's not possible. In a poignant tribute to her late bandmate, she revealed: "This was my music soulmate, my best girlfriend. We kept that band afloat, the two of us, by keeping the peace, no matter what."
With Buckingham's 76th birthday marking another milestone in their complicated history, it's clear that Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham will always be linked – for better or worse.
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