Fleetwood Mac explain why Lindsey Buckingham was fired
Fleetwood Mac have given their first full interview since Lindsey Buckingham exited the band.
To coincide with the announcement of their sprawling 52-date North American tour, the group spoke to Rolling Stone where they confirmed that Lindsey was fired over a tour dispute.
“We were supposed to go into rehearsal in June and he wanted to put it off until November (2019),” explained Stevie Nicks.
“That’s a long time. I just did 70 shows (on a solo tour). As soon as I finish one thing, I dive back into another. Why would we stop? We don’t want to stop playing music. We don’t have anything else to do. This is what we do.”
Earlier this month, Fleetwood Mac unveiled Lindsey’s two replacements who they were “inviting into the Mac family” for the tour - Crowded House’s Neil Finn and Mike Campbell, former lead guitarist of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.
Enthusing about her new band mates, Christine McVie said that at rehearsals “I immediately felt like I’d known them for years even though we’d only just met.”
Despite confirming that Lindsey was ousted, the band refuse to use the word ‘fired’, with Mick Fleetwood confirming: “Words like ‘fired’ are ugly references as far as I’m concerned.
“Not to hedge around, but we arrived at the impasse of hitting a brick wall. This was not a happy situation for us in terms of the logistics of a functioning band. To that purpose, we made a decision that we could not go on with him. Majority rules in terms of what we need to do as a band and go forward.”
Describing Lindsey’s departure as bittersweet, Stevie Nicks adds: “Our relationship has always been volatile.
“We were never married, but we might as well have been. Some couples get divorced after 40 years. They break their kids' hearts and destroy everyone around them because it’s just hard.
“This is sad for me, but I want the next 10 years of my life to be really fun and happy. I want to get up every day and dance around my apartment and smile and say, ‘Thank God for this amazing life.’”
Christine McVie, who released the ‘Lindsey Buckingham Christine McVie’ album with Lindsey last year (also featuring Mick Fleetwood and John McVie) and has been touring with her ex-band mate, said: “I had a great time with him on the road and making that record.
““I was surprised to hear the news (of Lindsey’s firing) because it happened after I went back to London that the decision was made. But life moves on and I wanted to carry on with these guys.”
Fleetwood Mac’s North American opens in Tulsa, Oklahoma on 3rd October and wraps up in Philadelphia on 5th April 2019. The band are yet to confirm any UK shows.