Stevie Nicks’ Late Career Collab That Started With a Late 1970s Rejection

Good things come to those who wait, which is certainly true of Stevie Nicks’ late career collab that started with a late 1970s rejection. The musical partnership would come decades later in 2018 after the firing of guitarist Lindsey Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac. The guitarist who replaced him certainly has his own lengthy history with the rock ‘n’ roll industry. But his connection to Nicks runs deep, too.

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And while Nicks didn’t get everything she wanted (the tragic accidental death of Tom Petty in 2017 would prevent her actual dream from coming true), Fleetwood Mac’s lineup change proves how small and versatile the musical world can be.

Before The 2010s Collab, There Was The 1970s Rejection

The late 1970s were a fantastic time for Stevie Nicks, professionally speaking. The band she joined in January 1975, Fleetwood Mac, was at the peak of its popularity with classic albums like their eponymous album, which they released in July of that year, and the 1977 magnum opus Rumours. But as was typical in Fleetwood Mac, interpersonal tensions often caused Nicks’ eyes to wander to other, better musical endeavors. When she set her sights on Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, she had found what she was looking for.

“I just fell in love with his music and his band,” Nicks said via Biography. “I would laughingly say to anyone that if I ever got to know Tom Petty and could worm my way into his good graces, if he were ever to ask me to leave Fleetwood Mac and join Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, I’d probably do it. And that was before I even met him.” Petty, on the other hand, described Nicks as a “rocket just refusing to go away.” Moreover, when Nicks floated the idea of joining the Heartbreakers, he refused, saying that the Heartbreakers didn’t have any girls in their band.

So, Nicks did the next best thing, which was to work with the people Tom Petty worked with. That included his producer, Jimmy Iovine, and Petty’s backing band, the Heartbreakers. Eventually, Nicks and Petty would collaborate on “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” in spite of Petty’s initial reluctance. But the two rockers never performed together in an official ensemble capacity.

Stevie Nicks Wasn’t A Heartbreaker, But A Heartbreaker Joined Fleetwood Mac

Stevie Nicks might have spent the better part of the late 1970s and 1980s vying for a spot in the Heartbreakers. But in the end, it would be a Heartbreaker that eventually became a Fleetwood Mac member, not the other way around. After the band behind hits like “Gold Dust Woman” and “Dreams” fired guitarist Lindsey Buckingham in 2018, drummer Mick Fleetwood called Mike Campbell. The guitarist was grieving his long-time friend and bandmate, Tom Petty, who had died the previous year.

“It was on my birthday,” Campbell recalled to Rolling Stone. “I was sitting in my backyard, and I was deep in grief. I knew I was going to keep working on music. But I wasn’t ready yet. I didn’t know how that was going to shape out. The phone rang, and it was Mick, and he offered me the [“An Evening with Fleetwood Mac” tour]. It took 24 hours to think it over, and I saw it as a challenge to learn those songs. We had a beautiful tour. My wife, Marcie, and I went. It was like a five-star, paid vacation. I’m very grateful.”

But even more important than the international luxury travel was what Fleetwood Mac offered Tom Petty’s former guitarist emotionally. “It really pulled me out of my grief,” he said. “Helped me to focus and process what I was going through. I owe them a debt of gratitude for that.” Campbell described Nicks as “an angel and spiritual sister. She’s been so kind to me, and I have nothing but great respect and love for her.”

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