It’s been a minute since we’ve revisited Fleetwood Mac’s split with Lindsey Buckingham. Thankfully, Mick Fleetwood and Christine McVie discussed the topic in a new interview. It turns out the future of the band was at stake if Buckingham didn’t leave.
When talking about Buckingham’s exit to Mojo (as transcribed by NME), Fleetwood says Buckingham wasn’t fired, but “…a parting of company took place, and and it had to take place, and it was supported by the remaining band members around something that for sure was a major problem to two people.”
McVie added, “It was the only route we could take, because there was too much animosity between certain members of the band at that point, there was just no way it could’ve gone on as a five-piece, a group with Lindsey in the band. So it was either just completely break up the band or make the best of it.”
And “make the best of it” the Mac has. The band have pressed on with Crowded House singer Neil Finn and Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell on their “An Evening with Fleetwood Mac” tour, whose North America leg wraps on April 15 in Calgary, AB, Canada.
The tour does have a small break in dates at the end of March when Stevie Nicks is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for her solo work. No word yet if Fleetwood Mac will also be in attendance in support of Nicks.
As for Buckingham, he underwent emergency open heart surgery in February that resulted in vocal cord damage. At the time, it wasn’t known if the damage was permanent. There hasn’t been any update since the initial news of the surgery.
Erica Banas is rock/classic rock news blogger that loves the smell of old vinyl in the morning.