Welcome to The Record, where we will explore the backstory of famous bands and albums. On the docket for today are Fleetwood Mac and their “Rumors” album.
The heart of “Rumors” is the fractured relationships between key band members, particularly the romantic and emotional turmoil between Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, and John and Christine McVie.
The central dynamic of Fleetwood Mac during the recording of “Rumors” was the breakup of Buckingham and Nicks, who had been with each other for several years before breaking up in 1976. Their relationship was deeply intertwined with their music, and their breakup infused the album with emotional intensity.
Songs like “Go Your Own Way,” written by Buckingham, and “Dreams,” written by Nicks, reflect the pain and bitterness of their split. Notably, during live performances, Nicks would look directly at Buckingham with bitterness while delivering the titular lines to “Go Your Own Way.”
Meanwhile, bassist John McVie and keyboardist Christine McVie were also going through a rocky period in their marriage. They had been together for several years, but their marriage was cracking during the making of the album.
This personal struggle translated into Christine’s writing, with songs like “You Make Loving Fun,” which was a reflection of her new romance outside the band, though it was later learned that the song was written about a relationship she had with one of the band’s truck drivers during the album’s recording.
Despite the heavy emotional weight and personal struggles, the recording of “Rumors” was a creative and musical success. The band rented a house in Sausalito, California, and set up camp in the studio for months, often recording late into the night.
The conditions were far from ideal, with constant infighting, drugs, and alcohol disrupting the process. Yet, these tensions led to some of the band’s most iconic and deeply emotional songs.
Buckingham played a crucial role in shaping the sound of the album. His perfectionism and insistence on taking every song to its maximum potential, however, often led to conflict, especially with the rest of the band. Buckingham’s driving vision for the record sometimes clashed with the more traditional approach of the McVies, who were more focused on melody and harmony than experimentation.
Still, the chemistry of the band, despite all the turmoil, was undeniable. “Rumors” emerged as a powerful and cohesive piece of work.
The story of “Rumors” is a classic example of how adversity can fuel artistic expression. The personal conflicts that plagued Fleetwood Mac only made their music more compelling.
While the band’s journey through the recording process was fraught with heartache, addiction, and betrayal, it ultimately produced an album that stands as a monument to their resilience and creative genius.
