Landslide (Live 1997)

Zoo Freaks, get ready to vibe with some deep cuts about Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide (Live 1997)" from The Dance album, spinning on THE ZOO with your hippie DJs, the Zoo Crew! This iconic track, written by Stevie Nicks, carries a heavy emotional weight. Nicks penned "Landslide" in 1973 at age 27, while in Aspen, Colorado, staring out at the Rocky Mountains. She was at a crossroads, contemplating whether to return to school or keep chasing music with her then-boyfriend, Lindsey Buckingham. Their duo album, Buckingham Nicks, had just flopped, and Nicks was supporting them both as a waitress and cleaning lady. Feeling her life was crumbling like an avalanche, she wrote the song in one sitting, capturing her fears of change and uncertainty. As Nicks told The New York Times, she already felt "old in a lot of ways" from the grind. That raw honesty hit home during the 1997 The Dance performance, where Nicks and Buckingham, ex-lovers by then, often got teary-eyed onstage, their lingering chemistry palpable. Fans ate up those moments, ranging from subtle hand-holding to intense soul-gazing, as Nicks later confirmed to Rolling Stone: "While you're on the stage, it's real."

The song's universal pull has made it a canvas for countless covers, with artists like The Smashing Pumpkins and The Chicks putting their spin on it. Nicks was especially moved by The Smashing Pumpkins' 1994 acoustic version, telling SonicNet in 1998 that it led to a friendship with Billy Corgan, calling it "incredible" that her poetry connected across generations. The Chicks' 2002 country rendition hit number one on the Country chart, and Nicks praised a Glee cover in 2011 as a "beautiful mix" of her original and The Chicks' version. On X, fans still rave about the The Dance performance, with posts like those from @Nickslive in 2020 and 2021 celebrating the album's release on August 19, 1997, noting how it reunited the classic Rumours lineup. The live single of "Landslide" climbed to number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 10 on Adult Contemporary, proving its staying power. Nicks has also dedicated the song to her father, Jess, who thought it was about him, though she clarified on the Live in Boston DVD that it was really about Buckingham.

Now, let’s rewind to how Fleetwood Mac came to be, a band that’s sold over 120 million records worldwide. Formed in London in 1967 by guitarist Peter Green, the band took its name from drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie. Early on, they were a blues-rock outfit, scoring a UK number-one with "Albatross" in 1968. Green’s departure in 1970 and a string of lineup changes left the band struggling until 1975, when Fleetwood, John McVie, and Christine McVie (John’s then-wife, who joined in 1970) recruited Nicks and Buckingham. The duo’s addition, fresh off their failed Buckingham Nicks album, transformed the band into a pop-rock juggernaut. Their 1975 self-titled album, featuring "Landslide" and "Rhiannon," hit number one in the US, selling over 7 million copies. The follow-up, Rumours (1977), born amid personal turmoil—divorces, breakups, and Nicks’ affair with Fleetwood—became one of the best-selling albums ever, certified 20× platinum in the US. Nicks also launched a solo career in 1981 with Bella Donna, cementing her as the "Reigning Queen of Rock and Roll," as dubbed by Rolling Stone. The band’s resilience through drama and lineup shifts, including Buckingham’s 2018 exit and Christine McVie’s passing in 2022, has made them legends, honored with a 1998 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.

Want to keep up with Fleetwood Mac? Check their official website at fleetwoodmac.com. You can follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates, though recent posts hint at no tours without Christine McVie, as Nicks told Mojo in 2024. For solo vibes, Stevie Nicks’ official site and her Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts keep fans in the loop—she’s got arena tours planned for 2025! Lindsey Buckingham is active too, with his Facebook, Instagram, and X pages, though fans on Reddit gripe about his social media team’s sloppy posts. For community love, join fan hubs like the Fleetwood Mac Fan Club on Facebook or dive into discussions on the r/FleetwoodMac subreddit. Zoo Freaks, keep those dials locked on THE ZOO for more Fleetwood Mac magic!