Fleetwood Mac star Lindsey Buckingham attacked by suspected stalker

Rock artist Lindsey Buckingham, best known for his long career as the co-vocalist and lead guitarist for the British and American rock band, Fleetwood Mac, was attacked while arriving for an appointment in Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 1. According to reports by multiple law enforcement officials, a woman hurled an unidentified substance at the 76-year-old rock legend while he entered a building in Santa Monica.

According to reports, the woman is suspected of stalking Buckingham, and the guitarist had been aware of her due to other incidents.

Luckily, Buckingham was not injured in the attack. An arrest is expected soon, as the suspect has been identified and both the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the Santa Monica Police Department are involved in the case.

Previous stalking incidents: Disturbing photographs, calls and harassment of Buckingham’s loved ones

Buckingham had previously been granted a permanent restraining order against a 53-year-old stalker named Michelle, but there has been no public confirmation from authorities that Michelle was the woman who attacked Buckingham on Wednesday.

In 2021, Michelle had allegedly gotten hold of the business phone number of Buckingham’s wife, Kristen, 56, and began calling her. According to Buckingham, Michelle left “long drawn-out messages” claiming that she was his child and involving threats to kill Buckingham and his family.

Michelle also blamed Buckingham for facial deformities she had suffered as a child and demanded money from him.

According to Buckingham, in 2022, Michelle was told by police to cease contacting the family. However, Michelle returned in 2024, leaving a perturbing collage of her face combined with pictures of Buckingham’s face outside his home.

At a hearing in December 2024, Michelle had also previously been found to have taken photos of Buckingham’s home. During the hearing, Buckingham insisted that he was not Michelle’s father and that he did not personally know her on any level.

The judge granted Buckingham five years of protection from Michelle, stipulating that she must remain at least 100 yards away from Buckingham, his wife Kristen, and their son William, and that she refrain from threatening, harassing, and contacting the guitarist at all.

Buckingham and Fleetwood Mac: An on-again, off-again love story

Buckingham joined Fleetwood Mac in 1975, replacing former guitarist Bob Welch. He also convinced the members to allow his musical and former romantic partner, Stevie Nicks, to join as well. Though the rock band saw smashing success, especially with its 1977 multi-platinum studio album Rumours, which sold over 40 million copies worldwide, Buckingham left Fleetwood Mac in 1987 in order to focus on his solo career. Buckingham and Nicks also broke off their romance during the recording of Rumours, reportedly due to pressures of fame and working together.

However, the pair continued to work together for around four decades, and Buckingham rejoined the uber-famous rock group for their 1997 reunion. However, in April 2018, just as the group was preparing for a new tour, Buckingham was fired from Fleetwood Mac due to intense tensions between the pair of ex-lovers.

Possible reunion for Fleetwood Mac stars

In 2025, Buckingham and Nicks re-issued their 1973 album Buckingham Nicks, marking the first time the record was available since its original release. The two artists, upon releasing the album, hinted at a reunion and Nicks revealed the pair were back on speaking terms, despite having one of the most tumultuous relationships in rock history.