The Chain

"The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac from their iconic 1977 album Rumours is a song steeped in both musical innovation and emotional rawness, making it a perfect spin for the Zoo Crew’s Zoo Freaks. This track stands out as the only song on Rumours credited to all five band members—Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood—reflecting its unique creation process. According to Mick Fleetwood in an interview with Lucky 98 FM, “The Chain” emerged from a jam session, with John McVie’s now-iconic bassline, later used as theme music for BBC’s Formula One coverage, serving as a major contribution. The song was pieced together from various musical fragments, including parts of Christine McVie’s unfinished track “Butter Cookie (Keep Me There)” and a guitar figure from Buckingham’s earlier work with Nicks. Stevie Nicks contributed lyrics, notably the evocative “if you don’t love me now, you will never love me again,” which she wrote about her deteriorating relationship with Buckingham. The song’s construction involved physically splicing tape with razor blades at the Record Plant in Sausalito, as engineers Ken Caillat and Richard Dashut worked to blend disparate takes into a cohesive masterpiece.

The emotional weight of “The Chain” mirrors the turmoil within Fleetwood Mac during the recording of Rumours. As noted in posts on X, the song captures the band’s internal fractures, with Buckingham and Nicks’ breakup and the McVies’ divorce unfolding amidst heavy drug use. Stevie Nicks later reflected in interviews that she felt a strong sense of ownership over the song, claiming the melody and much of the lyrics as hers, even though it was a collective effort. Lindsey Buckingham described the process to Rolling Stone, explaining how he reworked the song by adding a Dobro, rewriting the chorus, and using Fleetwood’s kick drum as a metronome to tie it all together. The result was a track that became a live staple, often opening their concerts, and earned critical acclaim, with Paste ranking it as the top Fleetwood Mac song and The Guardian placing it tenth on their list of the band’s best.

Fleetwood Mac began in 1967 as a British blues band, founded by guitarist Peter Green, drummer Mick Fleetwood, bassist John McVie, and slide guitarist Jeremy Spencer. Emerging from the vibrant London blues scene, the band drew inspiration from their time in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, with their name combining Fleetwood and McVie’s surnames. Their debut album, Fleetwood Mac (1968), and the hit single “Albatross” brought early success during the British blues boom. However, the band faced multiple personnel changes, with Green’s departure in 1970 marking a significant shift. The addition of Christine McVie (then Christine Perfect) in 1970, followed by Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham in 1974 after the band relocated to the United States, transformed them into the pop-rock juggernaut known for Rumours. This lineup’s chemistry, fueled by Nicks and Buckingham’s songwriting and the band’s tight rhythm section, led to the 1975 album Fleetwood Mac, which set the stage for Rumours’ monumental success, selling over 40 million copies worldwide.

Fans can connect with Fleetwood Mac through their official website and social media on Facebook, Instagram, and X. For those craving deeper engagement, fan communities thrive online. The Fleetwood Mac News website offers updates and insights, while Rumours of Fleetwood Mac, a tribute act endorsed by Mick Fleetwood, brings the band’s music to life for over two million fans globally. On Facebook, groups like the Fleetwood Mac Fan Group provide spaces for Zoo Freaks to share their love for the band’s timeless sound, swapping stories and celebrating songs like “The Chain” that continue to resonate across generations.