Lindsey Buckingham
Lindsey Adams Buckingham (born October 3, 1949) is an American musician, record producer, and the lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the rock band Fleetwood Mac from 1975 to 1987 and 1997 to 2018. In addition to his tenure with Fleetwood Mac, Buckingham has released seven solo studio albums and three live albums. As a member of Fleetwood Mac, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Buckingham was ranked 100th in Rolling Stone's 2011 list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".[1] Buckingham is known for his fingerpicking guitar style.
For the eponymous album, see Lindsey Buckingham (album).
Lindsey Buckingham
Lindsey Adams Buckingham
October 3, 1949
Palo Alto, California, U.S.
- Guitarist
- singer
- songwriter
- record producer
- Guitar
- vocals
1966–present
Kristen Messner (m. 2000)
Buckingham joined Fleetwood Mac in 1975, replacing guitarist Bob Welch, and convinced the group to recruit his musical (and, at the time, romantic) partner Stevie Nicks as well. Buckingham and Nicks became the face of Fleetwood Mac during its most commercially successful period, highlighted by the multi-platinum studio album Rumours (1977), which sold over 40 million copies worldwide. Though highly successful, the group experienced almost constant creative and personal conflict, and Buckingham left the band in 1987 to focus on his solo career. Hit songs Buckingham wrote and sang with Fleetwood Mac include "Go Your Own Way", "Never Going Back Again", "Tusk", and "Big Love".
A one-off reunion at the 1993 inauguration ball for President Bill Clinton initiated some rapprochement between the former band members, with Buckingham performing some vocals on one track of their 1995 studio album Time, and rejoining the band full-time in 1997 for the live tour and album The Dance. In 2018, Buckingham was fired from Fleetwood Mac and replaced by Mike Campbell and Neil Finn.[2]
Early life[edit]
Lindsey Adams Buckingham was born on October 3, 1949, in Palo Alto, California, to Rutheda (née Elliott) and Morris Buckingham.[3][4][5][6] He had two older brothers, Jeffrey and Gregory. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area community of Atherton, he attended Menlo-Atherton High School where Buckingham and his brothers were encouraged to swim competitively. Though Buckingham dropped out of athletics to pursue music, his brother Gregory went on to win a silver medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Though he did not graduate, Lindsey attended San José State University, like his brother Greg and father Morris.[7]
Buckingham's first forays into guitar playing took place on a toy Mickey Mouse guitar, playing along to his brother Jeff's extensive collection of 45s. Noticing his talent, Buckingham's parents bought their son a $35 Harmony guitar.[8]
Buckingham never took guitar lessons and does not read music.[9] By age 13, he became interested in folk music and, influenced by banjo methods, practiced the energetic style of the Kingston Trio.
Personal life[edit]
Buckingham was in the same high school as Stevie Nicks but a year behind her. He started a relationship with Nicks after the breakup of their band Fritz. He then suffered from a bout of mononucleosis, which delayed their move to Los Angeles in 1971.[58] They recorded a studio album together before joining Fleetwood Mac in 1975, while their relationship had broken down by 1977. The breakup was chronicled in a number of songs written by the two, such as "Silver Springs"[59] and "Dreams" by Nicks and "Go Your Own Way" and "Second Hand News" by Buckingham.[60][61]
Buckingham had his first child, William Gregory, with Kristen Messner on July 8, 1998.[62] Buckingham then married Messner in 2000, and they had two daughters, Leelee in 2000 and Stella in 2004.[63][64] Buckingham and Messner, who is a photographer and interior designer, have developed homes in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California.[65]
Buckingham underwent emergency open heart surgery in February 2019. His wife Kristen said that "the life-saving procedure caused vocal cord damage, the permanency of which is unclear. Lindsey slowly recovered at home with the support of his wife and children."[66]
Kristen Messner filed for divorce from Buckingham in Los Angeles on June 2, 2021.[67] It was reported later in September that the couple were working on their marriage.[68]