The Witch, the Goddess & the Song: The Story Behind Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac
Vinyl Groove Gear – Blog
Every now and then, a song comes along that feels like it was pulled straight from the other side of the veil — mysterious, celestial, and timeless.
For me, one of the greatest examples of that magic is Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac.
This is a story about a name… a myth… an old Welsh witch…
and one of the most iconic songs ever pressed onto vinyl.
How It Began — A Paperback, a Piano & a Spark
Before Fleetwood Mac took over the world, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham were hustling to make their mark with their 1973 album Buckingham Nicks. One afternoon, Stevie found herself browsing a used bookstore when a small gothic paperback caught her eye — Triad by Mary Leader.
Inside the story was a character named Rhiannon, a woman seemingly possessed by another spirit — powerful, haunted, and shrouded in mystery.
Stevie didn’t know who Rhiannon truly was…
but the name felt electric.
She went home, sat at her piano, and wrote Rhiannon in less than 15 minutes.
Yes.
One of rock’s most mystical masterpieces came through her that fast.
A Goddess in Disguise
At the time, Stevie had no clue that Rhiannon was also the name of a Welsh goddess — a divine figure associated with, the moon, horses, rebirth, feminine power and the supernatural.
For someone as intuitive and symbolic as Stevie, the discovery hit her like fate.
This wasn’t just a song — it was a calling.
Enter Fleetwood Mac
Around this time, Mick Fleetwood invited Lindsey Buckingham to join Fleetwood Mac. Lindsey agreed — but only if Stevie came with him.
Stevie brought her song.
And that changed everything.
When she first played Rhiannon for the band, it was slow, eerie, and haunting — just Stevie and a piano. But once Christine McVie, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood added their magic, the track transformed.
- Christine’s delicate electric piano line added that mystical glow
- Her harmonies with Stevie and Lindsey created the iconic Fleetwood Mac vocal blend
- John and Mick’s rhythm section grounded the whole thing
- And Lindsey layered in the guitar textures that made the song soar
It became the version we know today — hypnotic, powerful, unforgettable.
The Performance That Became Legend
Onstage, Rhiannon became a ritual.
Stevie didn’t just sing it — she summoned it.
Black shawls, swirling movement, hair blowing like she was caught in a storm of her own making…
That intense stare.
This performance is what cemented her “witchy” reputation — though really, it was simply Stevie being Stevie. Ethereal. Vintage-loving. Ghost-laced and poetic. She always looked like she stepped out of another era, and fans adored her for it.
A Hit That Helped Define a Band
Rhiannon appeared on Fleetwood Mac’s 1975 self-titled album — the first with the classic lineup — and was released as a single in 1976.
It reached #11 on the Billboard charts
and became the band’s biggest American hit at the time.
And decades later, it’s still one of the most beloved songs ever recorded.
Why I’m Sharing This Story…
Because it’s Stevie Season, friends.
And because here at Vinyl Groove Gear, music isn’t just something you listen to — it’s something you feel in your bones.
Stay tuned — and stay spinning.