Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac made headlines in 2021 by selling the rights to his entire library to Merck Mercuriadis’ Hipgnosis Songs, following in the footsteps of David Crosby and Bob Dylan. Although the payoff has not been made public, we assume it was sufficient for Buckingham to “go his own way.”

If you recognize this, it’s because he’s not the only member of Fleetwood Mac making money. A month prior, Stevie Nicks reportedly sold Primary Wave a majority share in her library for more than $100 million.

It’s hardly surprising that famous musicians are landing big publishing deals given that streaming services like Spotify and TikTok are bringing classic classics to new audiences. But let’s face it, a licensing agreement hardly registers in comparison to Fleetwood Mac’s crazy past and most incredible tales.

Rumours Was Fueled by Drama—And a Whole Lot of Drugs

One of the most tumultuous recording sessions in rock history was the creation of Rumours. As the band suffered from excess and personal disputes, tensions were high. Some of Fleetwood Mac’s most famous songs, including Christine McVie’s upbeat “Don’t Stop” and Buckingham’s scathing “Go Your Own Way,” were influenced by the emotional aftermath of broken relationships.

Despite being based on an unreleased Christine McVie composition, “The Chain” stood out among the turmoil as the only song that was credited to all five members.

Christine McVie Didn’t See the Magic in “Dreams” at First

When Christine McVie first heard “Dreams,” she wasn’t convinced, but it ended up becoming Fleetwood Mac’s biggest success. She wasn’t impressed by the straightforward structure. She remembered that there were only three chords and a single note in the left hand. “This is really boring,” I thought.

Time, of course, disproved her. McVie subsequently acknowledged that she had misjudged the song’s genius, and it went on to define an age. In retrospect, she could only use the word “genius” to characterize it.

Jeremy Spencer Vanished into a Cult Before a Show in L.A.

Fleetwood Mac was prepared to perform at Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles in 1971, but a crucial member failed to show up. Before the show, guitarist Jeremy Spencer vanished and was later found to have joined The Family, a contentious religious cult known for its violent methods.

Spencer never left, in contrast to some who were able to escape, such as Rose McGowan and the Phoenix siblings. He is still a loyal member decades later, making his departure from Fleetwood Mac one of the most peculiar in music history.

Stevie Nicks’ Cocaine Habit Took a Dangerous Toll

It was well known that Fleetwood Mac had an extravagant lifestyle, and Stevie Nicks was no exception. By 1980, the effects of her chronic cocaine use had become so severe that it had burned a hole in her nasal cavity. She went to rehab after realizing the harm and eventually beat her addiction.

In her 2014 autobiography, Stevie Nicks: Visions, Dreams, and Rumours, Nicks revealed her hardships and provided an honest glimpse into the highs and lows of her illustrious career.

A Rolling Stone Cover Led to Even More Drama

It was no secret that Fleetwood Mac had complicated relationships, and their notorious Rolling Stone cover from 1977 only served to exacerbate the situation. In a lighthearted homage to their reputation for behind-the-scenes romances, the band posed together in bed.

The group’s already dramatic dynamic was further complicated when Stevie Nicks and Mick Fleetwood initiated an affair just months after the shoot, turning what had started as a satire into a reality. This was simply another chapter in the band’s legendary history, which is characterized by their impassioned music and even more intense personal lives.

Lindsey Buckingham’s Obsession with Perfection

One of the best guitarists in rock history, Lindsey Buckingham is renowned for his painstaking approach to music. While recording “Never Going Back Again,” he was extremely meticulous, restringing his guitar every 20 minutes to get the clearest sound possible.

This unrelenting attention to detail contributed to the development of Fleetwood Mac’s distinctive sound, demonstrating that a musician concerned with perfection was behind every seemingly simple melody.

Fleetwood Mac’s Shift on New York

Due to its harsh lyrics that described the city as “a prison without walls,” Fleetwood Mac’s 1973 song “The City” did not sit well with New Yorkers. The harsh depiction quickly sparked a backlash from many who took offense.

With Empire State (1982), a far more loving homage with lyrics like “New York, make me a part of you, straight, straight through the heart of you,” the band appeared to alter course nearly ten years later. Many interpreted it as an unstated apology, substituting appreciation for previous criticism.

Sheryl Crow’s Almost-Fleetwood Mac Moment

Sheryl Crow was a potential replacement for Christine McVie in Fleetwood Mac when she left the band in the early 2000s. But the concept never came to pass.

In an interview with Howard Stern, Crow reflected on her reluctance to join, saying, “Well, I felt like if there was gonna be bad blood when I joined, that perhaps maybe I shouldn’t,” she said. “I didn’t want to upset something that was already so