Fleetwood Mac Fires Lindsey Buckingham

Rolling Stone ^ | April 9th, 2018 | Unattributed

[Mariner]

Fleetwood Mac has fired Lindsey Buckingham after a disagreement over the band's upcoming tour, Rolling Stone has confirmed. The band announced Monday that Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and Neil Finn of Crowded House will replace him.

News of Buckingham's departure initially broke when former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Billy Burnette shared an April 4th tweet that has since been deleted, saying: "Breaking news: Lindsey Buckingham is out but I'm not in." Rolling Stone has confirmed Buckingham's departure, though no specific tour dates have been announced.

Fleetwood Mac issued a collective statement about the news, saying: "We are thrilled to welcome the musical talents of the caliber of Mike Campbell and Neil Finn into the Mac family. With Mike and Neil, we’ll be performing all the hits that the fans love, plus we’ll be surprising our audiences with some tracks from our historic catalogue of songs. Fleetwood Mac has always been a creative evolution. We look forward to honoring that spirit on this upcoming tour."

Mick Fleetwood added, "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 joined Fleetwood Mac in 1974 along with Stevie Nicks. He wrote and sang many of their most memorable songs, including "Go Your Own Way," "Tusk" and "Second Hand News." He left in 1987 shortly before the Tango On The Night tour (where he was replaced by Billy Burnette) and rejoined in 1996 for The Dance reunion tour.

[Mariner]

“but, who exactly fired him?”

Mick Fleetwood and John McVie have always maintained contractual control over the name and composition of the band.

They also have co-ownership of all songs.

[Wolfie]

They took Nicks to get Buckingham. Mick Fleetwood was visiting Sunset Sound studios when he heard the guitar on the Buckingham-Nicks album and asked for an introduction.

[DAC21]

“Their 1973 ‘Mystery To Me’ album is my Fleetwood Mac favorite”

It up there on my list as well. I played my clean vinyl copy just a few days ago.

[Mariner]

“the band outsold the Stones and the Beatles combined”

Maybe for a month.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Thanks for info. I never thought about how these groups have a legal structure, a corporate structure, and operate as business entities.

[Blue Collar Christian]

I like Lindsey Buckingham, but Fleetwood Mac was well established before and after his appearances with the band. They don’t need him, especially not the way he needs them.
Fleetwood and McVey are a solid foundation for great talents. Lindsey was but one of those.
Go forward
Move ahead

[SoFloFreeper]

I think of FM as Buckingham and Nicks with a backup band. Sorry. Jmho.

Like when Styx fired Dennis DeYoung. It wasn’t Styx.

[gswilder]

Too bad. Getting Christi McVie back, I was hoping to see them all together one more time.

[Fiji Hill]

Tusk and Go Your Own Way performed by Lindsey Graham, with his guitar, accompanied by the USC Trojan Marching Band.

[DoodleBob]

I just saw Judas Priest on tour...while it is only 2/5 of the original band (with a special appearance by Glenn Tipton), they rocked. The Green Manalisi was right up there with Metal Gods as a highlight.

As for Mr Buckingham, this was his peak:

[lee martell]

That I don’t know.
Lindsey was in trouble a few times years back for what we would now call ‘spousal abuse’. Verbally and physically abusing Stevie Nicks. Some thought, out of professional jealousy.
Christine McVie stuck up for her friend, and told Lindsey to stop trying to sabotage Stevie during performances. It was like a ‘Star is Born’ scenario, where Lindsey was the big deal at first, then Stevie found a stage persona that worked for her, and quickly overshadowed anything Lindsey could claim credit for.

[Celerity]

So this is THE day Bob Welch was waiting for.

[ChildOfThe60s]

I meant for the year of course. Unfortunately I have never again found where I read that. Further internet “research” (ha ha) indicates that it may have been true for singles in the UK.

Anyway, being much more blues oriented in my rock tastes, I lost interest in them an LP or two after Green and Kirwan left.

[dfwgator]

There have been so many incarnations, but it seems like the big division is between the B/N era (when they became very popular) and the time before (when they were much more interesting IMO).

Sort of like Genesis with Peter Gabriel vs Genesis with Phil Collins.

[Architect of Avalon]

Lindsey and Stevie should reform Buckingham Nicks.

[RckyRaCoCo]

Luvs me some Fleetwood Mac, also enjoyed a lot of Lindsey's solo work...but sadly, unghhh ....

...yikes, heard feral cats sing better...sad.

Just like Joltin' Joe once said..."there comes a time to hang up the jock..."

[Mariner]

“I think of FM as Buckingham and Nicks with a backup band. “

Originally they were one of the great British Blues bands spawned by John Mayall’s Blues Breakers, who both Fleetwood and McVie played for.

Along with Peter Green, Eric Clapton and Mick Taylor who also played in various incarnations of the Blues Breakers.

Their album “Then Play On” is genius.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz4xF7g4pno&list=PLlXZkIelTTE9xmy5rB0zjnxyATZuyXgz_&index=7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqKKGDcexZs&index=15&list=PLlXZkIelTTE9xmy5rB0zjnxyATZuyXgz_

[dfwgator]

Didn’t Lindsey just do an album with Christie McVie?

[T-Bone Texan]

Did you just quote Devo?

[dfwgator]

You need the original “Tusk” video with Stevie working that baton.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InjF8xj93LU