Fact Finder - Music

Fleetwood Mac's 'Go Your Own Way' was the first single from the legendary 'Rumours' album. Written by Lindsey Buckingham, the song was a direct response to his breakup with bandmate Stevie Nicks. The lyrics 'Packing up, shacking up is all you want to do' were particularly painful for Nicks, who famously asked him to remove them, but he refused. The song's distinctive 'clunky' drum beat was inspired by the Rolling Stones' 'Street Fighting Man,' though drummer Mick Fleetwood struggled to replicate it exactly, leading to the song’s unique rhythmic feel. It reached number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and helped 'Rumours' become one of the best-selling albums in history. Despite the intense personal friction behind the track, the band continued to perform it together for decades, making it one of the most famous examples of 'art imitating life' in rock history.