The final chapter of rock’s most famously volatile relationship appears to have been written. Nearly five years after Lindsey Buckingham’s dramatic exit from Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks remains firm in her decision to cut professional ties with her former bandmate and ex-lover.
In a candid October 2024 Rolling Stone interview, Nicks made her position crystal clear: “I gave him more than 300 million chances.” This uncharacteristically direct statement from the typically mystical songwriter puts to rest any speculation about a potential reconciliation with Buckingham.
Their strained relationship stretches back nearly half a century. When their romantic partnership disintegrated in 1976, they continued creating music together in one of rock’s most productive but turbulent collaborations. The tension between them fueled masterpieces like “Rumours” but also created decades of behind-the-scenes drama.
For those hoping to understand this musical saga, look no further than the songs themselves. The emotional warfare between Nicks and Buckingham has been documented in classics like “Go Your Own Way,” “Dreams,” and “Silver Springs” – proof that sometimes the most painful personal dynamics can produce the most enduring art, joining these fifteen iconic rock ballads that reveal music’s unique power to transform pain into shared healing.
Trying to keep Lindsey Buckingham in Fleetwood Mac became an exercise in futility for Nicks, culminating after a 2018 MusiCares event when she delivered an ultimatum to the band – she could no longer work with him.
This decisive moment reshaped Fleetwood Mac’s future, with Mike Campbell and Neil Finn stepping in to fill Buckingham’s spot for their subsequent global tour. The split mirrors the kind of clean break Taylor Swift made with former manager Scooter Braun – professional ties severed despite years of creative collaboration.
Buckingham didn’t exit quietly. He filed a lawsuit against his former bandmates for breach of contract and fiduciary duty, seeking compensation for lost tour proceeds. The legal battle was settled out of court in December 2018, but the personal wounds clearly haven’t healed.
Caught in the bittersweet atmosphere of Christine McVie’s celebration of life in 2023, Nicks and Buckingham spoke briefly – an encounter that lasted “about three minutes” and only reinforced her feelings about their relationship. Despite the finality in her tone, Nicks has expressed that she wishes Buckingham well on his musical journey.
“I hope he lives a long life and continues to go into a studio and work with other people,” Nicks said. “He’s not stopped in his tracks. He can still make music and have fun.”
Mick Fleetwood, the band’s founding drummer and namesake, continues to hope for peace between his former bandmates. Between 2021 and 2025, Fleetwood has made multiple public statements expressing his desire for Nicks and Buckingham to reconcile personally, if not professionally.
The death of Christine McVie in 2022 further complicated the band’s future. Both Nicks and Fleetwood have indicated that Fleetwood Mac is unlikely to tour again without McVie’s presence, leaving fans to treasure the memories of this legendary group’s complicated but magnificent musical legacy.
