Buckingham Nicks: Fantasy, Fandom, & a Resurgence of Community

Art by Christian Branch

By Fiona Fahey

Fleetwood Mac is widely considered to be one of the most successful bands of the 20th century. Their music is timeless; the infamous 1977 album Rumours still sits on album charts around the globe. The history of the band, more specifically that of its two most well-known members, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, also continues to captivate fans of young and old. Social media posts giving brief glimpses into their seemingly Wuthering Heights-esque romance run rampant across social platforms and garner millions of interactions. This endless saga, a kind that Buckingham himself commonly relates to that of a soap opera, draws people into the world of Fleetwood Mac. When looking past the fog of a complicated relationship and the fantasies it creates, one must ask themselves: Is anyone still here for the music?

Social media is an unassuming but hyperactive being. A three dimensional electronic device is a living machine collecting data and knowledge about every aspect of our lives. Websites and social applications track our interactions and push content that they believe we want to see. Because of this personable process, it’s possible that a person may be introduced to a diverse array of media and therefore develop new tastes. Someone who considers themselves an immovable fan of country music may come across a video of Nicks and Buckingham practically growling at each other from opposing ends of a stage and feel themselves being drawn to Fleetwood Mac's Spotify page.

This is precisely how Angelina, a 20 year-old college student from Northern Florida, found herself tangled up in the web of “Buckingham Nicks.” A fan of UK popstar Harry Styles, she had heard the notorious duo’s names before in YouTube interviews as Styles himself is a fan. Because of his love for their music, she began to browse their respective discographies periodically. “I was more of a casual fan until early 2024,” she recalls. “When my mental health was not doing the best, Stevie’s writing spoke to me on a level I’d never experienced with any other artist.” Nicks’ poignant lyrics immediately drew her in and opened a door to a whole new kind of sound and genre. This music, which Angelina says “has a huge positive impact on [her] life,” led her down the rabbit hole and into this Wonderland of musical fantasy, fable, and even friendship. 

For all of social media’s obvious faults, it’s also an integral player in building and sustaining community with the modern age. Artists of both past and present are able to expand their audiences, and listeners can find ways to connect with fellow fans. When exploring the vast neighborhood of Buckingham Nicks fans on X, one can immediately notice how close they all are and how passionate they seem to be about the two subjects of their fascination. They dissect their favorite lyrics, predict upcoming social media movement, and bond over a cemented taste in sound. 

Angelina, an active member of the Buckingham Nicks fandom on X, believes that giving younger audiences a place to appreciate older artists is a vital part of music preservation. “It’s important,” she says, “to have spaces for newer fans to appreciate older art because there is such a rich world of art from years ago that is no less relevant today.” 

With the recent release of Nicks and Buckingham’s 1973 record, simply entitled Buckingham Nicks, the duo has become the subject of much media conversation. The album, which is home to songs about the couple’s early years, has left the internet in a frenzy. People from all over have been debating over whether or not the former couple is back on good terms. This has brought up, once again, conversations about their history, whether factual or fictional, and has reinstated the belief that many fans are tuning in for the drama and not for the music itself.

“Unfortunately, a lot of what gets into mainstream discourse is either twisted in some way or taken out of context to fit a particular narrative,” Angelina explains. “The relationship between Stevie and Lindsey is way more complicated and insane than the general public knows.”

Despite the roots of this curiosity, it is no secret that the release of Buckingham Nicks and the lure of the duo’s mythical relationship has captured the attention of a vast audience. This resurgence in popularity only supports the claim that fans and artists alike benefit from online spaces where consumption, appreciation, and community thrive. Without a dedicated audience, who will be left to listen?

Buckingham Nicks is now streaming on all platforms.

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Fiona is a soon-to-be junior and native New Yorker who is majoring in Communications and Media Studies. Her dream is to work in a busy newsroom in the heart of Manhattan. She spends her spare time filling her ears with Irish music, showing her family members terrible films, and hanging around the five boroughs with her friends.