Fleetwood Mac Will Never Go Away (Probably)

In October 2020, a video of a man drinking cranberry juice while coolly skateboarding went viral. Kind of an odd pick, but that’s the Internet for you. In a story as old as time, the kids and their trends confuse the elders.

If you’re in the latter group, there might be something familiar: the skateboarder was cruising along to “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac.

That’s not the only example of this band making waves among Gen Z: fifty years after its debut, “Landslide” debuted (again) on the Billboard 100 in January 2026.

It’s undeniable the impact they had during the 70’s and 80’s: acclaimed albums, a constant stream of hits, and successful solo careers for Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. By almost any measure, they’re one of the greatest acts of their generation.

But it seems kind of odd how they’re now being discovered by younger audiences. To be fair, we’ll probably still hear The Beatles 50 or 100 years from now. As great as Fleetwood Mac was, is that likely? Who knows.

But in this moment, what’s changed to suddenly make their body of work a “thing” again?

THE MAGIC OF STREAMING

Services like Spotify have changed the game: there was a time when a music library took time to build, and finding old physical records required some effort.

Now? Streaming and subscription services have you covered. Access to older works and older bands has never been so easy for the youngsters.

It’s not always a given, but it’s a strong reason why some songs might go viral. Sometimes it’s a classic, sometimes an underrated gem, sometimes a song that wasn’t a hit in the first place.

And sometimes, it’s an entire band.

THE POWER OF SHORT ANSWERS

At the dawn of the Millennium, as services like Apple Music (and predecessors of questionable legality like Napster and Audiogalaxy) appeared, it seemed to signify a new era in how we consume music. Some even rushed to declare the death of the album.

It might have sounded harsh at the time, but with these new options, fans could just buy and download the songs they were interested in and cut the rest.

Then, Spotify came around and reinvigorated the entire concept of albums. With the arrival of modern “stan” culture, it worked perfectly not only for the hottest, newest artists, but for classics, too.

For Fleetwood Mac, this might have worked too well.

If you ask a Beatles fan what their best album is, you’ll hear different answers: Sgt. Pepper’s, Revolver, Abbey Road. They’re all great, and the debates still go on. But if you ask a Fleetwood Mac fan that same question, Rumours will be the most likely option. It’s a short, easy answer.

Some might appreciate their earlier stuff a little more, but this album makes things easier for newcomers. It marks a clear starting point, even if it was released deep into a career that had started a decade before.

 

RUMOURS HAS AGED LIKE FINE WINE

There are lots of great albums. What’s so special about this one? What are kids looking for here?

It’s not only the record itself, but its themes and subjects. These still appeal to modern ears, maybe even more so.

In a recent interview about his book, Don’t Stop: Why We (Still) Love Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours’, music journalist Alan Light told People magazine, “There are lessons to learn (…). The fact that the band kept working together, the fact that they continued to create and to deal with each other.”

For a generation facing unpleasant circumstances that they don’t really have control over, this sentiment resonates deeply. Knowing the history of this band, you couldn’t get a better example of doing your best despite awkward moments and difficult things you can’t ignore. Fleetwood Mac shows them the way.

Make of that what you want, and you can go your own way.

-Anthony Arrieta

Photo: Fleetwood Mac in a trade ad for Rumours (public domain)