The Lore Behind Fleetwood Mac’s Live Performance of “The Chain”

Fleetwood Mac’s journey has been nothing short of a melodramatic story, filled with intricate relationships and intense emotions embedded in skillful lyricism and powerful live performances. In their iconic 1979 performance of “The Chain” featured in the Tusk Documentary, showcasing Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, John McVie, Stevie Nicks, and Lindsey Buckingham, viewers get a glimpse into what was transpiring behind the scenes of the band. Along with many other Fleetwood Mac performances during this time, this live rendition presents chaotically intimate dynamics between the band members. It illuminates their interconnected lives and the heartbreaks that, I presume, fueled their songwriting.

What Does “The Chain” Mean?

“The Chain” speaks to the entwined backstories of Fleetwood Mac’s members, particularly Nicks and Buckingham. As the opening chords of the song echo, the lyrics unfold like a chronicle of Nicks and Buckingham’s thunderous romance, along with the subsequent fractures in the band’s unity becoming glaringly obvious.

“Chain keep us together,” they sing, but unspoken questions arise: Can love withstand the pressures of fame and the difficulties of combining professional and personal lives? Was it love at all? Is “the chain” a metaphor for music being the sole force that kept Nicks and Buckingham together for five years (1971 to 1976)?

Nicks and Buckingham’s “Love Story”

Nicks and Buckingham were rumored to have begun dating in the late 1960s, prior to joining Fleetwood Mac, while they were still part of the duo Buckingham Nicks. The foundation of their romance was rooted in stress and anger. Nicks often felt neglected by Buckingham, who was constantly resentful about their financial hardship. However, these pressures somehow brought an even more dynamic energy to their creative partnership.

This energy took hold in 1974 when Mick Fleetwood, the drummer for Fleetwood Mac, invited Buckingham to join the band. Buckingham accepted the offer on one condition: Nicks also become a member. Thus marked the beginning of a new era for Fleetwood Mac. The release of their critically acclaimed album, “Fleetwood Mac,” followed a year later in 1975.

Unfortunately, even with more financial stability, the romantic relationship between Nicks and Buckingham was still toxic, unhealthy, and distressing. Buckingham was rumored to have been possessive, controlling, and even emotionally and physically aggressive toward Nicks. 

On the other hand, Nicks, in alleged retaliation to her partner’s aggression, was rumored to have cheated on Buckingham during their relationship.

Nearing the End of the “Love Story”: Not in Front of the Kids, Stevie!

As the band’s popularity soared, the strains on their personal relationship began to show. The two were constantly fighting, only putting arguments on pause when they were writing a song together. Nevertheless, during their live performances, it is widely acknowledged that their disagreements unfolded on stage before a live audience as they sang, often angrily to each other.

The End of Nicks and Buckingham’s “Love Story”

The couple’s romantic involvement eventually came to an end during the making of the album “Rumours” (1977), which explored themes of heartbreak, betrayal, and strained relationships—shocker! Iconic songs like “Go Your Own Way,” “Dreams,” and, of course, “The Chain” from this album are believed to reflect the dissolution of Nicks and Buckingham’s romance-from-hell.

Despite the end of their romantic relationship, Nicks and Buckingham continued to work together within Fleetwood Mac. This arguably unwise decision to remain as work partners resulted in mental health struggles for Nicks. However, it also fostered beloved musical chemistry and emotional intensity in their live performances. The 1979 version of “The Chain” remains proof of this enticing energy. 

“The electricity coming from the crowd can even be felt through a 40-odd year old video recording,” @melodeev5487, YouTube commenter, said. 

Nicks and Buckingham Tell All on Stage

With that being said, the tension can truly be cut with a knife in the Tusk Documentary rendition of “The Chain.” The glances sideways from Nicks to Buckingham as they trade verses tell all, their story of pain and passion resulting in their broken relationship. As Nicks sings her haunting vocals, it’s almost like Buckingham retaliates in intense guitar solos, as if they are, well, arguing through music on stage. Every lyric and note is burdened with the weight of a shared and dreadful history. “You can hear it in Lindsey’s voice and see it on Stevie’s face....pain,” YouTube commenter, @B69Maddox, said.

The Tusk Documentary captures not only the sounds but also the visuals that underscore the emotional intensity of “The Chain.” Facial expressions tell a story of pain, longing, and nostalgia. Nicks gazes into Buckingham’s eyes, a mix of regret and unspoken words; Buckingham’s fingers dance on the guitar, an expression of the emotions that words fail to convey. Each member is truly a character in this visual symphony, contributing to the narrative through their every move and expression.

The McVies’ Silent Struggle

Amidst the Nicks-Buckingham drama, the silent turmoil stemming from Christine and John McVie’s marriage adds another layer to the performance. Although the couple also decided to continue to work together, they (metaphorically) parted ways due to alleged affairs and John’s worsening alcohol addiction. 

Therefore, this 1979 performance of “The Chain” clearly  became a collective rock-and-roll purge of the band’s emotional baggage. Christine’s soulful vocals become the voice of quiet desperation. Her lyrics, like whispers of a stained relationship, float over the stage and into the audience. 

Mick Fleetwood: Not Innocent Either 

Meanwhile, drummer Mick Fleetwood seems to be the band’s stoic anchor. However, he was not free of drama either. In fact, Fleetwood Mac was home to one of rock history’s most infamous love triangles, with Nicks romantically involved with both Buckingham and Fleetwood during the 1970s.

Nicks allegedly did not cheat on either band member with each other. However, there’s an undeniable undercurrent of jealousy, heard through thunderous drumming, in the mix of emotions, particularly evident in Fleetwood as he observes Nicks and Buckingham passionately clash on stage. Not to mention Fleetwood’s marriage to Jenny Boyd that crashed and burned due to his affair with Nicks, which is illuminated through how he “feels the music in every fiber of his being” as YouTube commenter, @AussieMark909, said.

Wrap Up: A Timeless Performance of Love and Loss

The intricate dynamics and tumultuous history between the explosive couples—Nicks and Buckingham, the McVies, and Nicks and Fleetwood—are arguably the most compelling aspects of the narrative surrounding Fleetwood Mac. The drama, blatantly obvious during their live renditions, contributes to the band’s mystique and addicting musical appeal.

Fleetwood Mac’s performance of “The Chain” in the Tusk Documentary transcends mere musical production; it serves as visual and auditory proof of the band’s intricate dynamics, regretted decisions, and intense emotions. Although love and intimacy can’t always withstand the pressures of fame and the challenges of merging professional and personal lives, “The Chain” metaphorically represents music as the driving force in Nicks and Buckingham’s relationship. 

“Talent, energy, simple greatness. A song and band (that) will live forever in the minds of music lovers,” as YouTube commenter, @skyarndt7884, aptly puts it.