The San Jose Connection: Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham’s Early Years

Before they helped create one of the best-selling albums of all time with Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours,” before they became rock icons, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham’s musical journey took root in the San Francisco Peninsula, eventually leading them to San José State University.

Peninsula Beginnings

Their story begins at Menlo-Atherton High School, which serves students from both Menlo Park and Atherton – two affluent communities nestled in the heart of what would become Silicon Valley. It was here, in the mid-1960s, that Stevie Nicks first encountered Lindsey Buckingham at a high school gathering. Buckingham, already an accomplished young guitarist who had abandoned swimming championships to pursue music, was playing “California Dreamin'” when he caught Nicks’s attention. The school, situated between the intellectual hub of Stanford University and the emerging tech corridor of the Peninsula, provided a unique backdrop for their initial meeting.

A Guitar Virtuoso in the Making

Even in his early years, Buckingham displayed the innovative guitar techniques that would later become his trademark. Self-taught and influenced by the finger-picking style of Kingston Trio’s banjo players, he developed his distinctive playing method without ever taking formal lessons. His unique approach to the guitar – combining finger-picking with percussive elements and complex arrangements – was already turning heads in the local music scene.

Romance and Music Intertwine

By 1968, while Nicks was attending San José State University pursuing a degree in Speech Communication, she and Buckingham’s friendship had evolved into a romantic relationship. Their personal chemistry translated seamlessly into their musical collaboration, with Buckingham’s innovative guitar work providing the perfect foundation for Nicks’s distinctive vocal style and poetic lyrics.

The Peninsula to South Bay Connection

While their roots were in the Peninsula communities of Menlo Park and Atherton, their musical journey would soon extend throughout the Bay Area. The late 1960s San Francisco Bay Area was a hotbed of musical innovation, from the psychedelic rock scene in San Francisco to the thriving folk music movements in both downtown San Jose and Berkeley. While San Francisco’s psychedelic scene often dominates historical accounts, both San Jose’s downtown and Berkeley’s Telegraph Avenue were crucial hubs for the folk music movement, each developing their own distinct character while hosting influential artists and helping shape the sound of the era. This rich musical environment, combined with the technological innovations happening in the South Bay, created a unique creative atmosphere.

The Bay Area Folk Scene and Beyond

The parallel folk scenes in downtown San Jose and Berkeley provided important backdrops for developing musicians like Nicks and Buckingham. While Berkeley’s folk scene flourished around Telegraph Avenue and the University of California campus, San Jose’s downtown venues and coffeehouses fostered their own intimate performance environment. These twin centers of folk music activity created a robust circuit for performers, with each city developing its own unique take on the folk tradition.

The San Jose State Years

By 1968, Nicks had enrolled at San José State University, placing her within easy reach of both San Jose’s downtown folk scene and, via simple transit connections, Berkeley’s folk community. During her time at SJSU, she continued to nurture her musical aspirations, writing songs between classes and performing at local venues. The university’s location – just blocks away from downtown’s folk music hub – provided easy access to both performance opportunities and musical inspiration.

Fritz: Breaking Into the Bay Area Scene

From 1968 to 1971, Buckingham and Nicks were key members of Fritz, a local psychedelic rock band that became increasingly prominent in the Bay Area music scene. The band played venues across multiple cities:

• San Jose’s folk venues and rock clubs
• San Francisco’s psychedelic clubs
• Berkeley’s counter-cultural venues
• Peninsula venues that connected their hometown crowd
• Palo Alto’s college scene near Stanford University

Their geographic position in the South Bay allowed them to blend influences from San Jose’s strong folk tradition with San Francisco’s psychedelic movement. Fritz became known for opening for major acts like Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and Grace Slick with Jefferson Airplane.

The Buckingham Nicks Era

After Fritz disbanded in 1971, the couple made the bold decision to form a duo and relocate to Los Angeles. Buckingham’s production skills came to the forefront during the recording of their 1973 album “Buckingham Nicks.” While the album wasn’t a commercial success, it showcased Buckingham’s emerging talents as an arranger and producer, featuring his sophisticated guitar work and innovative recording techniques. The album’s sophisticated sound would later catch Mick Fleetwood’s attention.

Joining Fleetwood Mac

When Mick Fleetwood invited them to join Fleetwood Mac in 1974, he was particularly impressed by Buckingham’s guitar playing. However, Buckingham famously insisted that he and Nicks were “a package deal,” leading to both of them joining the band. This decision would transform Fleetwood Mac into one of rock’s most successful acts.

Musical Legacy

Buckingham’s contributions to music extend far beyond his virtuosic guitar playing. As a producer and arranger, he was instrumental in crafting Fleetwood Mac’s signature sound, particularly on their masterpiece “Rumours” and the experimental “Tusk.” His innovative recording techniques and arrangements helped bridge the gap between commercial rock and artistic experimentation.

While Nicks would go on to make history as the first woman inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (with Fleetwood Mac in 1998 and as a solo artist in 2019), Buckingham’s own legacy includes being ranked among Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” His unique guitar style and production techniques have influenced generations of musicians.

Silicon Valley’s Musical Heritage

The story of Nicks and Buckingham’s early years reflects the Bay Area’s interconnected musical landscape, where San Jose and Berkeley’s parallel folk scenes created a rich environment for artistic development. While Silicon Valley is often celebrated for its technological innovations – from San Jose’s first radio station in 1909 to the birth of the technology industry – the region’s contribution to the folk music movement and broader musical culture deserves recognition.

Today, driving down El Camino Real from Menlo Park to San Jose, you’re tracing the early steps of two musicians who would help define the sound of a generation. Their journey from the local music scene to international stardom helps cement San Jose’s place not just in the history of technology, but in the annals of rock and roll. The creative foundation they built during their Bay Area years – both musically and personally – would prove instrumental in their future success, although their romantic relationship would eventually end during their time with Fleetwood Mac. Nevertheless, the musical chemistry they discovered in the heart of Silicon Valley would help create some of rock’s most enduring classics.

2018: Revamped Fleetwood Mac highlights its history in hit-studded San Jose concert

The San Jose concert was particularly special for singer Stevie Nicks, who turned 70 this year but hasn’t ditched her shawls or heels. It was a homecoming of sorts for Nicks, who took several moments to give the city a proper shout-out. Born in Phoenix, she attended San Jose State University and made some of her first recordings in the Bay Area.

“It’s pretty darn good to be back in my own specific and very special hood,” she said. “This is where it all started, and I had to take a minute to let you know that.”

 

Wow! Stevie Nicks kinda lost it here… Said it's her nerves playing in San Jose #FleetwoodMac #Landslide pic.twitter.com/54YIBwSyEE

— Mariecar Mendoza (@SFMarMendoza) November 22, 2018

Stevie Nicks — from Bay Area gigs to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Nicks graduated from Menlo-Atherton High School, where during her senior year she met her future musical and romantic partner, Lindsey Buckingham. As a duo, they made their first demo recordings in Daly City while they attended San Jose State University.

Greg Kihn, 98.5 KFOX Interview with Lindsey Buckingham 2008