Fleetwood Mac enthusiasts might have raised an eyebrow at the thought of Harry Styles daring to cover “The Chain.” Yet, they might be surprised to discover that Fleetwood Mac’s own Stevie Nicks has hailed Styles as “the son I never had.”
The rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” by Harry Styles was captured during his performance in BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge back in September 2017. Prior to this, on May 19, while on tour promoting his debut solo album, Styles graciously welcomed Stevie Nicks to share the stage with him at LA’s Troubadour. Together, they mesmerized the audience with renditions of Styles’ “Two Ghosts,” Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide,” and Nicks’ “Leather and Lace.”
Harry Styles’ journey in the spotlight began with his appearance on the X Factor at the age of sixteen in 2010. This catapulted him into the limelight as a member of the immensely popular boy band One Direction, curated by Simon Cowell. Styles departed from the band in February 2016, shortly before landing a role in the acclaimed movie “Dunkirk” (2017). His self-titled debut solo album followed later in 2017, soaring to the top of charts in the UK, US, and Australia and becoming one of the year’s best-selling albums.
Since then, Styles has continued to impress, transitioning from pop to a more folk-rock sound while maintaining remarkable success. He has garnered accolades including an American Music Award, two Brit Awards, a Grammy, and an Ivor Novello Award. Simultaneously, his acting career has flourished, and he made headlines as the first man to appear solo on the cover of Vogue, clad in a striking blue Gucci dress. Additionally, he has served as the muse for fan-fiction novels, solidifying his status as a cultural phenomenon backed by undeniable talent.
Ironically, for many Harry Styles fans, their introduction to Fleetwood Mac came through a viral TikTok featuring Nathan Apodaca skateboarding while singing along to “Dreams.” Nevertheless, Styles has a longstanding connection with the band.
Styles’ first encounter with Mick Fleetwood occurred backstage after a One Direction concert, where Fleetwood met his daughter. In 2015, after attending a Fleetwood Mac concert in London, Styles personally delivered a carrot-cake birthday cake to Stevie Nicks, despite never having met her before. Their bond grew to the extent that Styles had the honor of inducting Stevie Nicks into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in March 2019. During the ceremony, Styles joined Nicks on stage for a rendition of “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” a duet Nicks originally sang with Tom Petty.
It’s worth noting that Harry Styles counts Van Morrison’s “Astral Weeks” as his favorite album, showcasing his diverse musical tastes and influences.