Former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham has shared his admiration for Sam Fender, admitting that one of the North Shields singer-songwriter’s recent performances reminded him of his own guitar style.
The musician made the comments in a new YouTube video while watching footage of Fender performing People Watching at London Stadium. During the clip, Buckingham’s son, Will, suggested that elements of the song sounded strikingly similar to the guitar work that helped define Fleetwood Mac’s classic era.
Rather than dismissing the comparison, Buckingham acknowledged that he could hear the similarities himself.
“It’s hard to be objective about that, you know? I mean it did occur to me that maybe the guitar part was very much something I would do.”
For many listeners, the comparison is not entirely surprising. Fender’s music has often drawn on classic rock influences while combining them with sharply observed storytelling and modern themes.
Lindsey Buckingham hears echoes of Fleetwood Mac in People Watching
Buckingham went on to explain that it wasn’t just the guitar playing that caught his attention.
According to the guitarist, the structure and emotional consistency of the song reminded him of the approach he often took while writing and arranging music with Fleetwood Mac.
“The general kind of limits that the song puts on itself is very much like what we would do.”
He continued:
“It kind of holds a certain emotive space and never varies from there, you know, and he knows what that is and wants to hold on to it.”
The comments are likely to resonate with fans who have long pointed to similarities between Fender’s expansive guitar sound and the melodic, emotionally driven songwriting associated with Fleetwood Mac’s most successful records.
Lindsey Buckingham says Seventeen Going Under is his favourite Sam Fender song
While Buckingham was impressed by People Watching, he revealed that his favourite Sam Fender track remains the breakthrough hit Seventeen Going Under.
The song, which became one of the defining British releases of the early 2020s, has been widely praised for its raw lyricism and emotional honesty.
Buckingham singled out Fender’s ability to create and sustain a distinct emotional atmosphere throughout his songs.
“I’m just looking forward to what he’s going to do because he seems to be evolving.”
He added:
“I love the emotional tone he finds and holds. I love his voice. This is my favourite song.”
The endorsement from one of rock music’s most influential guitarists is another significant moment for Fender, whose rise from North Shields pubs to stadium headliner has seen him earn widespread respect from musicians across multiple generations.
Sam Fender’s growing influence
Fender has become one of the UK’s most successful rock artists in recent years, earning critical acclaim for albums including Seventeen Going Under and People Watching.
His ability to blend arena-sized guitar music with deeply personal storytelling has often prompted comparisons to artists such as Bruce Springsteen, while his songwriting has also attracted admiration from veteran musicians across the rock world.
Buckingham’s comments suggest Fender’s work is now reaching another level of recognition, with one of Fleetwood Mac’s key creative forces seeing elements of his own musical approach reflected in the younger artist’s songs.
Lindsey Buckingham recently targeted in California incident
The comments arrive shortly after Buckingham made headlines following an incident in California.
The 76-year-old musician was reportedly struck by an unidentified substance while arriving for an appointment on April 1.
According to reports, a 54-year-old woman was later charged with multiple offences, including making criminal threats, felony vandalism and assault with a deadly weapon involving a motor vehicle.
Buckingham was not injured during the incident.
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