Lindsey Buckingham: Mac Split ‘Dishonors’ Band’s Legacy (Update)
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Fleetwood Mac in 2014, with Lindsey Buckingham at center
Lindsey Buckingham continues to use Twitter to offer new opinions on his 2018 split from Fleetwood Mac. In a Jan. 6 reply to a tweet, Buckingham didn’t pull any punches, writing “I don’t have much regard for the way the band is presenting itself now.” He added that the split “completely dishonors the beautiful… legacy we built together.”
On Jan. 10, he was asked if he had had any recent contact with Christine McVie, with whom he recorded a 2017 album, followed by an extensive tour that paired the two longtime bandmates.
Buckingham indicated that she was the only member of the band that he had heard from. “Christine said she missed me very much, that FM wasn’t complete without me and said she felt Stevie was very likely regretting having given the rest of the band the ultimatum that forced my departure.”
and said she felt that Stevie was very likely regretting having given the rest of the band the ultimatum that forced my departure. Perhaps wishful thinking on Christine’s part. In any case, it was great to hear from her, and I do hope we work together again down the line.
— Lindsey Buckingham (@LBuckingham) January 10, 2019
On Jan. 6, the Twitter account @Fryartuck asked the musician: “do you ever actually miss being in Fleetwood Mac?” Buckingham’s full two-part response: “I can’t say that I ‘miss’ being in Fleetwood Mac, as I’ve been concentrating on fulfilling my own plans that were already in the works before the split happened. So, in a sense, the situation is still too new to miss especially since I don’t have much regard for the way the band is presenting itself now. What I’m sad about is the split completely dishonors the beautiful 43 year legacy we built together, one that was always about rising above difficulties in order to pursue a higher truth.”
Buckingham’s tweets follow an interview that aired on Dec. 8, in which he revealed that he and Fleetwood Mac have settled the lawsuit that he filed earlier in 2018. The band’s longtime guitarist and songwriter had accused the Mac of breach of fiduciary duty and other charges. Buckingham had been abruptly dismissed from Fleetwood Mac in the spring. The lawsuit came to light in October.
Buckingham told CBS This Morning‘s Anthony Mason, in his first television interview since their split: “We’ve all signed off on something,” indicating that the agreement had been reached a few weeks’ ago. But he points the finger at Stevie Nicks.
Mason asked Buckingham if he was happy with it. “I’m happy enough with it,” was the reply. “I’m not out there trying to twist the knife at all. I’m trying to look at this with some level of compassion, some level of wisdom.”
When asked if he felt he “had been kicked out of the family,” the musician said: “I do.” In measured words, he added: “I don’t feel that it was something that was my doing. It hurt for a while.”
Buckingham points the finger at Nicks: “It appeared to me that she was looking for something to hang on me in order to instigate some kind of a coup. Either I had to go or she was going to go. None of it makes sense to me.”
He says that Christine McVie, who toured with Buckingham in 2017 as a duo after the pair released a studio album, wrote to him. It said, in part: “I had nothing to do with this. I miss you so much.”
Watch a portion of the CBS This Morning interview that aired on Dec. 8
The complaint filed by the axed musician, who has finished a solo tour and released the three-CD Solo Anthology—The Best Of Lindsey Buckingham, said, “This action is necessary to enforce Buckingham’s right to share in the economic opportunities he is entitled to as a member of the partnership created to operate the business of Fleetwood Mac.” It further stated, “By excluding Buckingham from participating in the 2018-2019 Fleetwood Mac tour in breach of their fiduciary duties of loyalty and good faith and fair dealing, the Defendants intentionally acted to interfere with Buckingham’s relationship with Live Nation and the prospective economic benefit he was to receive as a result of his participation in the tour.”
Buckingham did a solo tour towards the end of 2018, that coincided with the start of Fleetwood Mac’s own tour. On Jan. 9, he noted on his Facebook page: “Excited to go back out on the road and play some shows in 2019.”
Related: Our Oct. 13 concert review of Buckingham
Buckingham’s Jan. 7 tweets about the split
I can’t say that I “miss” being in Fleetwood Mac, as I’ve been concentrating on fulfilling my own plans that were already in the works before the split happened. So, in a sense, the situation is still too new to miss… https://t.co/2qP57lCol9
— Lindsey Buckingham (@LBuckingham) January 6, 2019
especially since I don’t have much regard for the way the band is presenting itself now. What I’m sad about is the split completely dishonors the beautiful 43 year legacy we built together, one that was always about rising above our difficulties in order to pursue a higher truth.
— Lindsey Buckingham (@LBuckingham) January 6, 2019
At the same time Buckingham was dismissed from the band—which he joined in 1975, along with Stevie Nicks—the remaining members (Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and Christine McVie) announced that they would tour with former Heartbreaker Mike Campbell and Crowded House leader Neil Finn replacing Buckingham. That tour is well underway.
Related: Our recap of opening night of the Mac tour
Said Fleetwood at the time, “Fleetwood Mac has always been about an amazing collection of songs that are performed with a unique blend of talents. We jammed with Mike and Neil and the chemistry really worked and let the band realize that this is the right combination to go forward with in Fleetwood Mac style. We know we have something new, yet it’s got the unmistakable Mac sound.”
Buckingham’s lawsuit alleged, “There has never been a written agreement among Christine McVie, John McVie, Buckingham, Fleetwood and Nicks,” and, “Absent a written partnership agreement, no partner in Fleetwood Mac may be terminated from the Partnership without cause.” Buckingham claimed that the decision to oust him was made as early as January of 2018.
Related: Our recap of opening night of Buckingham’s tour
A spokesman for Fleetwood Mac responded to the lawsuit by stating, “It’s impossible for the band to offer comment on a legal complaint they have not seen. It’s fairly standard legal procedure to service the complaint to the parties involved, something that neither Mr. Buckingham nor his legal counsel have done. Which makes one wonder what the true motivations are when servicing press first with a legal complaint before the parties in dispute.”
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15 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationThe Sum is Greater than the Parts
It’s a shame when one of my fav groups go thru all these issues just like The Eagles (my other fav) did…thats all i am going to say! Hope someday both these groups will reconnect with for old times sake and not over money or copyright..etc… But til then..Keep on Rockin on!!
We still have the records
I think it’s clear that Buckingham’s tour with Christine McVie and the album he recorded with her and members of Mac (without Stevie) are the cause of the issues. Stevie wasnt available at the time so Buckingham went ahead with the other guys and did it. I think Stevie then decided to stick the knife in afterwards. There’s also some strange footage of Buckingham and McVie performing live where it’s clear Buckingham is flirting with McVie.
I agree with you! Stevie is a “glory hog”, and it hurts me to feel that way cuz I’ve loved her since the 70’s. This band is NOT the same, and I refuse to pay the exorbitant prices to see substitutes for Lindsay, regardless of how good they MAY be!
I believe the following:
Nicks refused to record with the band and toured with the Pretenders instead, while Fleetwood Mac waited. So they went ahead and issued the excellent Buckingham McVie album.
When her tour was over Lindsey had begun his solo tour which would alternate with Fleetwood Mac dates. No real conflict.
I also believe that she called Fleetwood to Europe, said no more albums, touring only, and her ultimatum was issued. Him or me.
Mick made the decision to go with the most famous of his singers in the band, and of the two remaining singers besides Nicks, McVie acquiesced, and Buckingham was coldly shunted aside.
Now Nicks wants to make an album.
What’s weirdest is that they do a tribute to Tom Petty during their concerts, but make no reference at all to Lindsey whose songs are being sung by substitutes. (They always need two people to stand in for Lindsey because Lindsey is a vibrant, gifted performer). The Tom Petty was a great artist but not a band member.
Lindsey was instrumental in their success, and is recuperating from a severe heart attack but there is only silence from the band. That’s pretty cold.
Mike Campbell is a major upgrade at guitar.
No way. Linsay is much better….
Excuse me while I cry at yet another series of drama form these crybabies- Buckingham is a prime case…
Actually Stevie didn’t want to do a Fleetwood Mac album. The band wanted the Buckingham-McVie album to be a Mac album, but Stevie didn’t want to contribute anything, saying she didn’t see the point of studio recording anymore — a lot of effort (and stress) for not much payoff. If that album had come out as a Fleetwood Mac album I’m guessing it probably would have sold 5 times the amount it moved (or more), and I wouldn’t be surprised that Buckingham blamed Stevie for the album’s lackluster performance. I’ve also read that Stevie felt shunned by Buckingham (and the rest of the band?) at an event back in January, 2018. Fleetwood Mac is Mick’s and John’s band but Stevie is the tail that wags the dog.
The issue is Nicks can’t get past the fact that Buckingham is married and happily has been for 20 + years. Plus he is on a creative high whereas she has nothing new to offer and would prefer to play the same tired old songs. Every FM set list of late is essentially a small handful of deep cuts arranged around the same 10-12 songs from the 75-87 era. She was given an opportunity to participate on the album but chose to do solo work and keep them waiting.
I used to be a die hard fan but now I can’t stand SN. Instead of Bella Donna she has become a Prima Donna.
Booooo to you and your stupid comment lindsey us a big baby and hes left the band before. stevie reigns supreme lmao!!!!
You need not rely upon ‘he said, she said’ testimonials about Stevie -v- Lindsey – who’s the really mean one accounts. Just look at the You Tube documentary about the making of ‘Say You Will’. You will see quite plainly that Stevie had zero sense of humour, cannot take constructive criticism, compares herself with Bob Dylan. That is all you need to see to tell what kind of person she is. The other evidence you can see from her odd behaviour when someone dies. First it was her best friend. She married her husband? Who does that? Tom Petty dies and she’s been hitching her star to his ever-do-deceased wagon ever since. What they had in common I will never know. Not values, that’s for sure. Her morals are as far removed from Tom’s as they could be. He was loyal, she is not. If Tom was her friend, I suspect he was just being nice to her mostly and you can see he was rather patronizing toward her too. He was probably remembering the mantra – keep your friends close but your enemies closer.
It seems to me from what I’ve read in the comments section here, and elsewhere, that there are more than just a few people out there who aren’t living in the real world. Calling Lindsey a crybaby and Stevie a primadonna may be calling the kettle black, but it’s also called something else…it’s also called self preservation and it’s not a new concept. It’s an innate and not inherently bad thing, although I’m sure to have my detractors on this. It’s part of what keeps us keeping on, so to speak. Another thing is that people don’t really change all that much. Look back through this bands history. Watch the interviews, listen to the discussions between the members and don’t try to interpret what is said. Just listen. I’m sure you’ll find that, as talented as he is, Lindsey has always been a crybaby and that Stevie, not to discount nor negate all of her wonderfully beautiful and admirable qualities, has always had a somewhat aristocratic opinion of herself where her music is concerned. They’re human beings that we’ve turned into something more. We’ve put them on a pedistool, gave them God like qualities and then worshipped at their feet. But when you’re that high up there’s only one way you can go and that way is down. Its only in situations like these, where one or more of them do something that we dislike or displeases us that we start to turn the same qualities and attributes in them that we once loved into something dark, depraved or sinister. Well I’m pretty darn old and I’ve seen and experienced a lot in my lifetime and I’m here to tell you that PEOPLE DON’T CHANGE ALL THAT MUCH. So if you loved them before all this mess played out then you should love them now after it’s through. Because I’m telling you, deep down inside, in the places it counts the most, they’re still the same old people you once knew!
-and they’ll get together again someday-
-they always do-
Since FM first started firing Buckingham years ago, many things have come into light about how he mistreated Stevie since the 1970s. Bottom line is she’d rather not work with him anymore at this point in her career. It’s not her fault that Buckingham has almost no highly visible career without Fleetwood Mac.