Stevie Nicks reveals why Lindsey Buckingham was kicked out of Fleetwood Mac
In addition to Stevie Nicks confirming that there would be no more Fleetwood Mac without longtime bandmate Christine McVie, she has also now gone into detail about why Lindsey Buckingham was kicked out of the group back in the 2010s.
The pair had both joined Fleetwood Mac for their self-titled 1975 album, which included hits such as ‘Rhiannon’ and ‘Landslide’. They were also infamous for writing songs revolving around their breakup, with Nicks writing ‘Dreams’ and Buckingham writing ‘Go Your Own Way’.
Looking back on their time together, Nicks said that Buckingham’s firing happened before a MusicCares benefit in 2018, telling Rolling Stone, “I think that all just happened the way it should have. It happened one night, not planned, at MusiCares. I didn’t even tell anybody it had happened in my head until the whole ceremony was over.”
Granted, this was not the first time that Buckingham had been asked to leave the group. Following a massive fight during a band meeting which turned physical, the guitarist left before the tour for the album Tango in the Night. Before the MusiCares benefit show, both Nicks and Buckingham had been working in Fleetwood Mac while juggling their solo careers, including their 2003 album, Say You Will.
Leading up to his expulsion, Nicks also said that Buckingham was not nice to anyone that they were working with, including being hostile towards Harry Styles. Nicks eventually cited her parents as one of the reasons behind her letting Buckingham go, saying, “I could hear my very pragmatic father — and by the way, my mom and dad liked Lindsey a lot — saying, ‘It’s time for you guys to get a divorce.'”
What has Lindsey Buckingham said about his dismissal?
Looking back on his time in the group, Buckingham has said that the decision to leave was based on a “singular” force and that they “did what they felt they had to do in that moment.” He was then replaced by Neil Finn of Crowded House and Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Despite not being in the fold for over half a decade, Buckingham said that he was open to the idea of joining Fleetwood Mac again somewhere down the line, saying that he would return “in a heartbeat” if it was for the right reasons. While that door is open in Buckingham’s mind for a reconciliation, Nicks has now told Rolling Stone that she has given him far too many opportunities to welcome him back, explaining, “I dealt with Lindsey for as long as I could. You could not say that I did not give him more than 300 million chances.”
Ever since, Nicks and Buckingham have barely been in contact. However, Nicks did say in the new interview that the guitarist went to the memorial services for Christine McVie following her death, the frontwoman said that they only spoke for “three minutes” before going their separate ways.
While they have yet to settle their differences, Mick Fleetwood has also said that he was open to a day where both of them join ‘The Mac’ again, saying in July to Mojo, “Stevie’s able to speak clearly about how she feels and doesn’t feel, as does Lindsey. But I’ll say, personally, I would love to see a healing between them.” However, Fleetwood says that that healing might not lead to another massive tour.
However, Buckingham has also been dealing with his own set of health issues after being hospitalised due to a heart attack in 2019. While Nicks has had no desire to reach out since, she says that she wishes him well for any of the projects that he has in the future, telling Rolling Stone, “I wish him the best. I hope he lives a long life and continues to go into a studio and work with other people.”
For all of the issues that they have gone through in the past, Nicks still considers her former bandmate to be an “icon” of the music industry and will no doubt make new music again. As of yet, Buckingham hasn’t released anything since his self-titled record in 2021.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.