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Wed 5 August 2026 19:22, UK
As a double Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, the concept of harbouring regrets you’d assume is foreign to Stevie Nicks, who doesn’t appear to be someone who lies awake at night thinking about what could have been.
From a professional perspective, Nicks has achieved more than she ever dreamed would be possible. After being a struggling artist for the first few years of her career, Nicks didn’t allow herself to take anything for granted once the good days started to roll upon joining Fleetwood Mac and conquering the world.
Most musicians would happily lose a limb to have the impact that Nicks has had in her solo career alone, without even taking her contributions to Fleetwood Mac into account.
While there have been ups and downs, Nicks’ script has been close to faultless. She’s also an artist who has crossed generations, being part of the exclusive club of one to have collaborated with BB King, Tom Petty, and Lana Del Rey.
Nevertheless, despite her angelic voice and otherworldly presence, Nicks has never been immune to the flaws and missteps that come with being human. She, too, has made her share of mistakes along the way.
Nicks’ struggles with cocaine were widely publicised, as were her numerous relationships, particularly with members of Fleetwood Mac. Her greatest regret is more wholesome, however, and relates to another member of Fleetwood Mac, who Nicks wishes she had got to know.
Nicks’ confession came in the wake of the passing of Peter Green, Fleetwood Mac’s founding member and a true guitar virtuoso. While Fleetwood Mac became synonymous with the golden, sun-soaked rock of the ’70s, the band initially thrived on a steady diet of R&B, with Green at the helm like an axe-wielding warlord. Few artists could have crafted such a distinctive sound, and even fewer would have willingly shunned the spotlight, content in the knowledge that their musical legacy was secure and their influence would far outweigh their material wealth.
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Sadly, their tenures in Fleetwood Mac never crossed over, and instead, it was left to the imagination of fans to imagine the magic they would have made together, which devastates Nicks.
Following Green’s tragic passing, Nicks wrote: “I am sorry to hear about the passing of Peter Green. My biggest regret is that I never got to share the stage with him. I always hoped in my heart of hearts that that would happen. When I first listened to all the Fleetwood Mac records, I was very taken with his guitar playing. It was one of the reasons I was excited to join the band”.
“His legacy will live on forever in the history books of Rock n Roll. It was in the beginning, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac and I thank you, Peter Green, for that. You changed our lives.”
Even if it was only for a one-off special event, seeing Stevie Nicks standing next to Peter Green on the stage would have been a sight for the ages, bringing two eras of Fleetwood Mac together under one roof.
One man who shared the stage with both was Mick Fleetwood, who, following Green’s passing, said of his lasting importance, “No one has ever stepped into the ranks of Fleetwood Mac without a reverence for Peter Green and his talent, and to the fact that music should shine bright and always be delivered with uncompromising passion.”
While Green was no longer part of Fleetwood Mac once Nicks waltzed through the doors with Lindsey Buckingham, Mick ensured that his legacy would never be erased. Everyone who ever came into the fold could only do so if they held Green in the highest regard, a principle that kept them in strong sted.
Beyond the band, Green’s legacy is one of profound influence on the world of guitar music. His ability to convey deep emotion through his instrument, his pioneering role in the British blues movement, and his contributions to Fleetwood Mac have ensured that his work will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come.
Despite the personal struggles that cut his career short, Green’s music continues to inspire, and Nicks is far from the only talent who would have walked over hot coals just to share a stage with him.
