Lindsey Buckingham has spoken in depth about his 2018 firing from Fleetwood Mac, and shared insights as to why he and the band have parted way. Buckingham, who was the main creative force of the band is now out on the road in support of his upcoming self-tiled solo album set for release on September 17th.

When pressed about his dismissal from the band, Buckingham told The Los Angeles Times, “It would be like a scenario where Mick Jagger says, ‘Either Keith (Richards) goes or I go. No, neither one of you can go. But I guess the singer has to stay. The figurehead has to stay. . . I think she saw the possibility of remaking the band more in the Stevie Nicks vein. More mellow and kind of down, giving her more chances to do the kind of talking she does onstage.”

Buckingham, who’s known Stevie Nicks since their high school days back in Northern California, spoke frankly about his former-girlfriend at age 73: “You could do a whole analysis on Stevie at this point in her life and what she’s allowed to happen and what she’s allowed to slip away from her. Her creativity, at least for a while it seemed like she wasn’t in touch with that. Same with the level of energy she once had onstage. I think that was hard for her, seeing me jump around in an age-inappropriate way. Also, she’s lonely. She’s alone. She has the people who work for her, and I’m sure she has friends, but y’know.”

Both Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac’s manager, legendary music mogul Irving Azoff responded to Buckingham’s claims regarding Nicks and his firing, respectively.

Stevie Nicks countered: “His version of events is factually inaccurate and while I’ve never spoken publicly on the matter, certainly it feels the time has come to shine a light on the truth. To be exceedingly clear, I did not have him fired, I did not ask for him to be fired, I did not demand he be fired. Frankly, I fired myself. I proactively removed myself from the band and a situation I considered to be toxic to my wellbeing. I was done. If the band went on without me, so be it. And after many lengthy group discussions, Fleetwood Mac, a band whose legacy is rooted in evolution and change, found a new path forward with two hugely talented new members.”

Regarding Buckingham’s statements pertaining to her personal life, Nicks added: “Those are my decisions that I get to make for myself. I’m proud of the life choices I’ve made and it seems a shame for him to pass judgment on anyone who makes a choice to live their life on their own terms.”

Irving Azoff broke his silence regarding the situation between Fleetwood Mac and Lindsey Buckingham, stating: “I have historically declined comment on artists, but in the case of Lindsey Buckingham, I will make an exception. While I understand it’s challenging for Lindsey to accept his own role in these matters and far easier to blame a manager, the fact remains that his actions alone are responsible for what transpired. Frankly, if I can be accused of anything it’s perhaps holding things together longer than I should have. After 2018 when Fleetwood Mac evolved with their new lineup, my continued work with the band was due entirely to the fact I’ve been aligned with Stevie Nicks in thought and purpose from the earliest of days. While financial gain was not a motivator for me, it was a delightful bonus that the band scored their highest grossing tour ever without Lindsey.”

  • Lindsey Buckingham tour dates (subject to change):
    September 11 – Medford, MA – The Chevalier Theater
    September 12 – Portsmouth, NH – The Music Hall
    September 14 – Washington, DC – Warner Theatre
    September 16 – New York, NY – The Town Hall
    September 18 – Atlantic City, NJ – Tropicana Casino & Resort
    September 19 – Reading, PA – Santander Performing Arts Center
    September 21 – Charlotte, NC – Knight Theatre
    September 22 – Atlanta, GA – Woodruff Arts Center – Symphony Hall
    September 24 – Knoxville, TN – Bijou Theatre
    September 26 – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL – Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
    September 27 – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall
    September 29 – Melbourne, FL – King Center for the Performing Arts
    September 30 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Parker Playhouse
    December 2 – Los Angeles, CA – The Theatre at Ace Hotel
    December 3 – El Cajon, CA – Magnolia Performing Arts Center
    December 5 – Tucson, AZ – Fox Tucson Theatre
    December 8 – Austin, TX – The Paramount Theatre For the Performing Arts
    December 9 – Dallas, TX – Majestic Theatre
    December 11 – Sugar Land, TX – Smart Financial Centre
    December 13 – Huntsville, AL – Von Braun Center – Mars Music Hall
    December 15 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
    December 17 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion
    December 18 – Wichita, KS – Orpheum Theatre
    December 20 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater
    May 17, 2022 – Dublin, Ireland – The Helix 
    May 19, 2022 – Glasgow, Scotland – SEC Armadillo 
    May 21, 2022 – Liverpool – Philharmonic Hall
    May 22, 2022 – London, England – The Palladium
    May 24, 2022 – Ghent, Belgium – Capitole 
    May 25, 2022 – Paris, France – La Cigale 
    May 26, 2022 – Utrecht, Netherlands – TivoliVredenburg Grote Zaal
    May 28, 2022 – Berlin, Germany – Theater am Potsdamer Platz 
    May 30, 2022 – Stockholm, Sweden – Cirkus 
    May 31, 2022 – Oslo, Norway – Folketeateret

SIDE NOTES

  • Out now is Lindsey Buckingham‘s triple-disc solo career retrospective Solo Anthology – The Best Of Lindsey Buckingham, which includes such favorites as “Trouble,” “Go Insane,” “Holiday Road,” and “Countdown,” along with key tracks from all his studio albums — Law And OrderGo InsaneOut Of The CradleUnder The SkinGifts Of Screws, and Seeds We Sow.
  • A third disc features 2011 live renditions of such Fleetwood Mac classics as “Never Going Back Again,” “Big Love,” “Tusk,” “I’m So Afraid,” and “Go Your Own Way.” Also included are two previously unreleased songs — “Hunger” and “Ride This Road.”

CHECK IT OUT: Lindsey Buckingham’s 2021 single, “Scream”: