Desert in a Minute: Fleetwood Mac’s “Hold Me” Music Video Filmed in the Coachella Valley

NBC Palm Springs resident historian Steve Sumrall continues his “Desert in a Minute” series with a look back at a surprising moment in rock-and-roll history that happened right here in the Coachella Valley.

What began as a simple desert outing for a group of local residents quickly turned into an unexpected brush with music legends. While exploring the sand dunes near Avenue 38, they came across several large trucks, a film crew, and some very recognizable faces — including Mick Fleetwood and Stevie Nicks.

The band Fleetwood Mac was in the middle of filming the music video for their hit single Hold Me.

The video featured a surreal desert landscape, with unusual visuals including partially buried pianos and scattered pieces of musical instruments spread across the sand. Broken guitars, bass guitars, and other instruments were deliberately placed throughout the dunes to create the dreamlike atmosphere of the video.

When the band and production crew eventually wrapped filming and left the location, many of those instrument pieces remained behind in the desert.

Over the decades that followed, fans and collectors have occasionally uncovered these buried fragments while exploring the area. For some music enthusiasts, the pieces are considered authentic rock-and-roll memorabilia tied directly to Fleetwood Mac’s iconic music video.

It’s another unexpected chapter in the Coachella Valley’s unique cultural history — where the desert landscape has served as the backdrop for everything from Hollywood productions to legendary moments in music.

For Desert in a Minute, this is NBC Palm Springs resident historian Steve Sumrall.

Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.