Lindsey Buckingham: Stevie Nicks Relationship, Firing & Health

Few bands have turned personal turmoil into platinum records quite like Fleetwood Mac. The tangled creative and romantic history between Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks fueled some of rock’s most enduring songs—and also set the stage for one of the music industry’s messiest breakups. This article unpacks the timeline of their relationship, the reasons behind Buckingham’s 2018 firing, and the medical scare that temporarily stole his voice.

Born: October 3, 1949, Palo Alto, California · Joined Fleetwood Mac: 1975 · Key Albums: Rumours (1977), Tusk (1979) · Years with Stevie Nicks: 1972–1976 (romantic), continued professionally · Departure from Fleetwood Mac: Fired in 2018 · Net Worth (2025 est.): $120 million

Seven biographical facts, one pattern: a career defined by creative tension that never fully resolved.

Why was Lindsey Buckingham kicked out of Fleetwood Mac?

The 2018 firing

• Fleetwood Mac announced in April 2018 that Lindsey Buckingham was no longer part of the band (Billboard)
• His departure was tied to a dispute over scheduling and touring commitments (Billboard)
• Buckingham later said he was “blindsided” by the decision (Billboard)
• Mike Campbell and Neil Finn were brought in to replace him on tour (Rolling Stone)

Legal dispute and aftermath

• Buckingham sued Fleetwood Mac over his removal; the case was settled confidentially (Los Angeles Times)
• In court filings, Buckingham claimed Stevie Nicks was behind the firing (Los Angeles Times)
• Mick Fleetwood later described the creative tension between Buckingham and Nicks as “volcanic” (Billboard)

The implication: The public narrative — a “mutual parting” — was contradicted by legal filings, making the 2018 split the band’s most contentious exit since the Peter Green era.

How long did Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham date?

Early years: college meeting to pre-Fleetwood Mac

• Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham met in 1972 at San Jose State University (Billboard)
• They formed a duo, Buckingham Nicks, and released an album in 1973 (Rolling Stone)
• The pair joined Fleetwood Mac in 1975 as both romantic partners and musicians (Billboard)

Relationship during Rumours era

• Buckingham and Nicks broke up romantically in 1976, before the recording of Rumours (Los Angeles Times)
• Their breakup infused the album with raw emotion; songs like “Go Your Own Way” and “Dreams” captured both sides
• They continued to work together as bandmates for decades, but the personal rift never healed fully

The pattern: The end of their romance didn’t end their creative partnership — it intensified it, turning Fleetwood Mac into a stage for unresolved personal drama.

Are Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham friends now?

Post‑breakup professional relationship

• After the romantic split, the two maintained a turbulent professional relationship for over four decades (Los Angeles Times)
• Nicks has described them as “blood brothers” but acknowledged ongoing tension (Billboard)

Recent interactions and public statements

• As of 2024, they are not close friends; Nicks has said they rarely communicate (Los Angeles Times)
• Buckingham’s 2018 firing seems to have cemented the distance between them

What illness does Lindsey Buckingham have?

Emergency heart surgery in 2019

• Buckingham underwent emergency open-heart surgery in early February 2019 (CBC News)
• The surgery was life-saving, not elective (CBC News)
• His wife confirmed a breathing tube was inserted during the procedure (Billboard)

Impact on performances and recovery

• The surgery damaged his vocal cords (CBC News)
• A spokesperson confirmed vocal-cord damage following the operation (CBC News)
• Buckingham later regained near‑full singing ability and performed publicly again in 2020 (iHeart)

The catch: The vocal cord injury is often misattributed to the 2018 firing; in reality, it was a complication from a heart operation that had nothing to do with Fleetwood Mac.

Why did Stevie Nicks dump Lindsey Buckingham?

Creative and personal conflicts

• Their relationship ended in 1976 due to intense creative friction and different life priorities (Los Angeles Times)
• Nicks has said Buckingham’s controlling behavior in the studio contributed to the split (Billboard)
• They remained bandmates and continued to write songs about each other for years

The decision to end the romance

• By 1976, both were pursuing separate romantic interests; the decision was mutual in practice
• Buckingham later admitted the breakup was painful but necessary for their art

The trade-off: Ending the romance may have saved the band—had they stayed together, the emotional edge that made Rumours a masterpiece would likely have dulled.