Stevie Nicks shares birthday tribute to Lindsey Buckingham… after getting him kicked out of Fleetwood Mac

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Despite allegedly being instrumental in Lindsey Buckingham’s dismissal from Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks extended birthday wishes to her former bandmate and past romantic partner.

As a huge fan, I was so touched to see that the singer-songwriter shared a really sweet message on her Instagram Story for Buckingham’s 76th birthday on Friday, October 3. It was lovely to see her acknowledge him on that day!

I was so thrilled to see Stevie Nicks share such a sweet birthday message! She posted, ‘Wishing you the best Birthday ever @lindseybuckingham! Love’s ya!’ It was just a simple, heartfelt message over a really beautiful, deep purple background. It warmed my heart to see them acknowledge each other like that. Such a lovely gesture!

She also mentioned earlier that day they had re-released their very first album, which originally came out last month.

Buckingham Nicks was originally released in 1973, the year before the duo joined Fleetwood Mac.

‘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,’ Nicks, 77, wrote alongside their original album cover.

Last month, on September 19th, Stevie Nicks posted a handwritten letter she wrote to her family while she was working on the album Buckingham Nicks with her old bandmate.

In a previously unseen letter, she explained that she was ‘growing weary of hearing more than 12 hours of music daily.’

She also wrote that she felt sure it would ‘pay off in the end.’ 

The letter was penned on letterhead from Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California, and within it, Nicks complimented the talent of her significant other at the time.

Just so you know – Dad and Chris – that rock song you both enjoyed, “Baby Baby, don’t treat me so bad,” the one with the impressive guitar playing, is nearly complete.

She also mentioned that Buckingham could be remembered as one of the best guitarists of all time. She described his skill as ‘really quite amazing.’

Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks began their time with Fleetwood Mac as a couple, but their relationship ended shortly after they finished recording the band’s famous 1977 album, Rumours.

Let me tell you, when they first got together back in 1972, it wasn’t exactly smooth sailing! Honestly, their relationship was a bit of a rollercoaster – it had its ups and downs throughout all four years they were together, and even after the breakup, things remained complicated. It was a tough situation for everyone involved, that’s for sure.

Even after going their separate ways, they still collaborated on music and performed with their bandmates, including Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, and the late Christine McVie.

Buckingham recently told Rolling Stone that his relationship with Nicks was always unpredictable. ‘We were never married, but it felt like we were,’ he explained.

In 2018, Lindsey Buckingham was let go from Fleetwood Mac. His replacements were Mike Campbell, the guitarist from Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, and Neil Finn of Crowded House.

The first report said the band had a ‘disagreement about their next tour.’ But it turned out the real reason the band split was the difficult relationship between Nicks and Buckingham.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen many professional relationships dissolve, and it’s always interesting to hear the turning points. Last year, Nicks shared the specific moment she realized she just couldn’t continue working with Buckingham after all those years together. It really highlighted how even the longest partnerships can reach a breaking point, and it’s fascinating to hear her perspective on it. It’s a reminder that sometimes, moving on is the healthiest choice.

She remembered the last time they met face-to-face-it was at Christine McVie’s funeral in 2023.

‘Christine really let loose and argued intensely at Nobu-that’s where the disagreement happened,’ Nicks told Rolling Stone in October 2024.

It was a near disaster, I swear. We completely destroyed the deck – it was all decorated for something, so it was pretty wild. We all had a strong feeling she was present, because the experience was incredibly intense.

I only spoke with Lindsey once, for around three minutes. I tried to work with him for as long as possible. You couldn’t say I didn’t give him plenty of opportunities – over 300 million, in fact.

Oh my gosh, when she finally talked about everything falling apart with him, it was… well, it made *so* much sense! She said, and I quote, ‘I think that all just happened the way it should have. It happened one night, not planned, at a MusiCares [benefit concert.]‘ Seriously, hearing her say that… it just *confirmed* everything I always suspected! It was fate, you guys, *fate*!

She confessed that she hadn’t shared what happened internally with anyone until after the ceremony concluded. That evening, she brought a song she’d previously recorded with LeAnn Rimes, titled Borrowed, intending to perform it for him, believing they could deliver a beautiful rendition together. She explained: ‘I didn’t even tell anybody it had happened in my head until the whole ceremony was over. I took with me that night a song that I had done with LeAnn Rimes called Borrowed. I took it with me to play for him because I thought we could do this song beautifully.’

The real issue, though, came later, when Buckingham’s actions at the charity event upset her. As she explained, ‘That’s when he wasn’t very nice to anybody; he wasn’t very nice to Harry Styles.’

I remember my mom questioning, “Are you seriously planning to spend the next 15 years with him?” And I also heard my very practical father – and, honestly, both my parents did like Lindsey – suggesting, “It’s time for you two to get a divorce.” Hearing both of them, I just thought to myself, “I’m done.”

She said she was sure of her decision and still wishes him well despite their messy band breakup. 

During the same interview, she explained that Fleetwood Mac wouldn’t be getting back together, stating that ‘there is no more Fleetwood Mac now’ following Christine’s death.

She described her as my musical other half and closest friend. The two of us worked tirelessly to keep the band going, always prioritizing harmony, no matter the challenges. We were the heart of Fleetwood Mac, and that’s why losing her is irreplaceable,” she explained.

We substituted Lindsey on a couple of occasions, and it went smoothly. It was all good vibes and fun. However, Christine was a different situation.

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2025-10-04 16:37