Fleetwood Mac-Part III of Fritz Series

Dirty Laundry

"Fans of both Fleetwood Mac and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers both emitted a collective squeal of joy when they discovered that the Reigning Queen of Rock and the Eternal California Stoner had plans to team up for Mrs. Nicks' debut album. Bella Donna and the resulting singles have broken records all over the world and have earned Stevie greater accolades than her shared spotlight with her two competing bandmates husband Lindsey, and British Song Bird Christine ever could. Though in this writer's humble opinion, she's always stuck out from the crowd.

In Tom Petty we see the softer and more carefree side of the rock scene, no gritty haunting melodies like Hotel California from the Eagles, drug fueled anarchy like Give Me Shelter from The Rolling Stones, an definitely miles away from the raw sexual energy that Steven Tyler and Aerosmith pump out album after album. Petty's safe, the sweet smiling boy next door we all remember from our days in college. The boy who sat beneath the leaning elm strumming his guitar and never seeming to attend classes, but was present at all the best parties.

Stevie Nicks is the personification of the modern day fairytale she wrote so eloquently about in her first major hit, and still show stopper Rhiannon. The white Witch, Nicks owns her stage when performing as a solo artist, no one can deny how she casts a spell on both her critics and audiences and she has the record sales and awards to prove it. That said she's always had to give credit to her spindly and geekishly handsome husband and frequent writing partner Lindsey Buckingham. He crafts her music into masterpieces and his love for her is front and center each time she dedicates Landslide, and each time he expertly picks out the soothing sweet melody to accompany her hauntingly beautiful voice.

Nicks and Buckingham live in a sprawling California estate, designed by Lindsey and decorated by Stevie with the proceeds from their successful turn as a folk duo in the early 70's. Three adorable and precocious children and a fluffy white dog complete this picture of rock and roll domesticity, as poignant and wholesome as a Norman Rockwell original. During my visit to their Los Angeles mansion I was in awe both of their sweet and warm family life and the care with which both of them planned and detailed even the tiniest of decorative flares. They finish each other's sentences, playfully argue with each other then make up with a quick kiss seconds later. It's a beautiful marriage. A beautiful life.

But unfortunately it's also a beautiful façade.

Having spoken to a source close to Nicks and Petty, Stevie's unhappy with Lindsey in the bedroom and is not afraid of branching out to try some forbidden fruit. This picture captures just one of the allegedly steamy interactions Nicks and Petty indulged in while poor Lindsey was left at home to play mom to his three kids. During the making of her freshman album Nicks and Petty were thrust into close contact on a daily basis, and if the rumors about the mega-crush old Tom had on Stevie are true than it was like a fantasy come to like for the youthful guitarist.

Our source says that Nicks would stay well into the night to work with Petty, often times the two would fall asleep in each other's arms. Petty showered Nicks with affection and even jokingly called her the unofficial front woman for his band the Heartbreakers. Some months ago, prior to embarking on her brief album tour Nicks cut it off with Petty. It's unclear if Lindsey was ever aware of his wife's infidelity or is to this day, however judging by his previous jealous behavior things won't be pretty once he discovers the truth.

The bigger question in my mind isn't so much the what, but the why. For a woman who seemingly has a charmed and perfect life Stevie appears to be dead set on ruining it. Or maybe sleeping with her collaborators helps with her creative process. There have always been unconfirmed reports that Don Henley was banished to the east coast over Lindsey's jealousy and the closeness between himself and Stevie. One needs only to listen to the lustful crooning Henley provides on the track "Leather and Lace" to hear just how electric the chemistry between them is to this day.