Lindsey Buckingham Finds Comfort in New Relationship Away from Stevie Nicks’ Intensity

Fleetwood Mac’s story isn’t just about hits and harmonies—it’s also packed with complicated relationships and emotional fireworks. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks arrived in the band as a couple, but their romance was short-lived. What followed was a rollercoaster of tension, especially once Lindsey’s new girlfriend, Carol Ann Harris, entered the picture.

Carol Ann Harris’s First Impression of Stevie Nicks

At the time, Carol Ann Harris was working as a studio manager and happened to meet Fleetwood Mac through her job. She and Lindsey shared a flirty connection, and he told her he had just broken up with Stevie Nicks. The very next day, Carol met Stevie—and it left a strong impression.

In her memoir Storms: My Life With Lindsey Buckingham and Fleetwood Mac, Harris describes that day:

“The day after Lindsey told me about his split from Stevie, this tiny, vibrant woman breezed past me, trailing a mix of patchouli and ylang-ylang. She was like a small explosion of energy—bright, bold, impossible to ignore.”

As Stevie shared vivid stories from a recent trip, everyone in the room was drawn to her. Harris found herself completely captivated by this fiery little woman.

“She was unlike anyone I’d ever encountered—five feet of pure passion and magnetism.”

Buckingham’s Tension with Nicks and His Move Toward Harris

It didn’t take long for Buckingham and Nicks to lock horns again. Harris witnessed the sparks flying firsthand.

“There was a beat of silence, then Lindsey snapped at Stevie, and she shot back just as fast,” Harris wrote. “It was obvious they had a long history full of love, rivalry, and jealousy that wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.”

After their sharp exchange, Lindsey leaned over to Carol and whispered, “See what I have to deal with?” Carol joked about trading stories on complicated relationships, which quickly turned into Lindsey asking her out.

The Battle Over Black: Nicks’s Turf Wars

Though Carol didn’t immediately accept Lindsey’s invitation, they eventually began dating. Stevie, however, wasn’t exactly welcoming. Biographer Stephen Davis reveals that Stevie once quietly told Carol not to wear black around the band.

“Stevie made it clear that black was her signature color within the Fleetwood Mac circle,” Davis wrote in Gold Dust Woman. “She suggested Carol pick other colors to avoid stepping on her turf.”

Despite the icy vibes, Stevie admitted she actually appreciated Lindsey having other girlfriends, since it eased some of the tension for her.