Before they became legendary members of Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham were a struggling musical duo, pouring their passion into a project called Buckingham Nicks. Though the album initially went unnoticed commercially, it contained a song that would ultimately change the course of their lives — and the future of one of rock’s greatest bands.
The song, “Frozen Love,” was co-written by Nicks and Buckingham and served as the closing track on their 1973 Buckingham Nicks album. Deep, layered, and emotionally charged, it showcased the powerful dynamic between them: her ethereal lyrics and haunting voice blended with his intricate guitar work and production savvy. While most listeners missed the magic at first, one person did not — Mick Fleetwood.
According to stories from that time, Fleetwood was browsing music at Sound City Studios in Los Angeles, where Buckingham Nicks had been recorded. He happened to hear “Frozen Love” playing and was immediately struck by Buckingham’s guitar work. Fleetwood was in a bind — Fleetwood Mac’s guitarist at the time, Bob Welch, had just left the band, and they needed someone new. Impressed, Fleetwood asked who the guitarist was and got Buckingham’s name in return.
But Buckingham had a condition — he would only join Fleetwood Mac if his musical and romantic partner, Stevie Nicks, could come with him. The band was unsure at first, but they agreed to meet her.
The now-famous meeting took place not in a rehearsal studio or record label office, but in a Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles. It was an informal “audition,” more a conversation than a performance. The chemistry between the members was instant, particularly between Nicks and Christine McVie, who immediately saw potential in Nicks’ unique voice and songwriting perspective. Fleetwood, too, recognized that this duo could bring something special to Fleetwood Mac.
Within a few weeks, both Buckingham and Nicks were officially members of the band.
The inclusion of “Frozen Love” in this origin story is more than symbolic. It was the song that captured Fleetwood’s attention, the track that proved the strength of Buckingham’s musicianship and Nicks’ lyrical and emotional depth. Although Buckingham Nicks didn’t sell well at the time, “Frozen Love” was the door-opener — the piece that revealed their potential to the right ears at the right moment.
Once part of Fleetwood Mac, Nicks and Buckingham helped propel the band to superstardom. Their first album with the band, Fleetwood Mac (1975), and the legendary Rumours (1977) became two of the best-selling albums of all time. Still, “Frozen Love” remains a powerful piece of their shared history, a testament to the musical bond they shared before the fame, the heartbreak, and the turbulence that came with global success.
It all started with one song — a track so potent it turned a forgotten album into a secret key that unlocked rock history.
