The Persistence of Dysfunction
While 1977’s Rumours is often cited as the pinnacle of Fleetwood Mac’s creative output born from personal conflict, the band’s 1987 follow-up, Tango In The Night, revealed that the underlying turmoil had not dissipated. Despite a decade passing, the group remained trapped in a cycle of substance abuse and interpersonal friction that threatened to undermine their artistic integrity.
Mick Fleetwood, in reflecting on the era, provided a sobering assessment of the recording environment. Contrary to the belief that the band had matured or moved past the chaotic dynamics of the late 70s, Fleetwood admitted that the environment during the sessions for Tango In The Night was even more volatile. “Actually, it was way worse on ‘Tango In The Night,’ for sure,” he stated, noting that cocaine consumption within the group had reached levels that surpassed even the notorious recording sessions of Rumours.
Stevie Nicks’ Detachment
Stevie Nicks, a central figure in the band’s creative engine, became increasingly isolated during this period. Having successfully launched a solo career with 1981’s Bella Donna—which proved she could produce “mythical rock masterpieces” like “Edge of Seventeen” without the band’s internal drama—Nicks viewed the Fleetwood Mac machine with growing apprehension. By the time of Tango In The Night, her participation was minimal. She contributed only three songs to the album, and her physical presence in the studio was sporadic. Fleetwood acknowledged this distance, noting, “She was not hugely present. I don’t remember why. And I don’t think we would remember – Stevie and me were nuts!”
A Legacy of Struggle
The 1982 album Mirage had already tested the band’s limits, with Nicks famously noting that the group “barely survived” the experience. The recurring cycle of recording under the influence of narcotics and navigating the “intricate web of relationships” made the creative process a grueling ordeal. Critics and long-time observers have often questioned whether the band members would have been better served by pursuing independent paths following the massive success of the 70s. However, the commercial demand and the peculiar, toxic synergy that fueled their songwriting kept the group tethered together. Tango In The Night stands not just as a musical milestone, but as a testament to the high price of maintaining a legendary band in the face of persistent personal and chemical instability.