Mega-platinum albums, high school drama, irresponsible living, plus cross-dressing: a quick history of the Mac in RS
The True Life Confessions of Fleetwood Mac
RS 235 March 24, 1977
In 1977, Fleetwood Mac’s breakout album, Rumours, was dominating the charts. But the band was in chaos — Christine and John McVie had split up, Mick Fleetwood was divorcing his wife, and Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham’s relationship was on the rocks. For their first Rolling Stone cover story, they took Cameron Crowe inside that isolation and heartache. “Try being with your secretary at work all day, in a raucous office, and then come home with her at night,” Nicks said.
Winning Big
RS 256 January 12, 1978
When the Mac swept the 1977 Rolling Stone readers’ poll, Fleetwood donned a cheerleader costume for a cover shoot, and the band talked about celebrating its differences. “There’s no continuity in the five people,” said Nicks (right, on tour), “Except the spirit.”
Like a White Winged Dove
RS 351 September 3, 1981
Nicks was enjoying the platinum success of her 1981 solo debut, Bella Donna, which included her duet with Tom Petty, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.” Stevie talked about slowing down — “You get to a certain age where you want to be quieter,” she told RS — but she knew she would be back with the Mac: “[With] Fleetwood Mac, you can never really have any other plans for your life.”
Say You Love Me
RS 643 November 12, 1992
Fleetwood Mac and Rolling Stone were both marking their 25th anniversaries in 1992. To celebrate, John McVie and Fleetwood posed for the magazine’s portrait issue. Says photographer Mark Seliger, “I told Mick, ‘I thought it would be really interesting to have you and John as a wedding portrait.’ And Mick goes silent for a minute and then says, ‘I like the idea. Just one favor: I want to be the bride.'”
Rolling Stone / December 4, 2014
