Buckingham: “Not my choice”

Lindsey explains his dismissal from Mac.

Lindsey Buckingham has finally given his side of the story after his departure from Fleetwood Mac. Back in April, the group confirmed they were parting company with their guitarist, vocalist and songwriter of 43 years’ standing, and bringing in Tom Petty

And The Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell and Crowded House leader Neil Finn for a North American tour.

Speaking at a political fundraiser in California, Buckingham confirmed that the shock move was “not something that was really my doing or my choice”. Choosing his words carefully, he added: “You would say there were factions within the band that had lost their perspective.”

When a fan yelled an insult about

Stevie Nicks, seemingly questioning her loyalty to a former romantic partner, Buckingham responded: “Well, it doesn’t really matter. The point is that what [the band] did was to harm the fortythree-year legacy that we had worked so hard to build. This is the only thing I’m really sad about; the rest of it becomes an opportunity. That legacy [of ours] was really about rising above difficulties in order to fulfil one’s higher truth and one’s higher destiny.”

Talking to Rolling Stone shortly after the switch was made, Mick Fleetwood explained: “Not to hedge around, but we arrived at the impasse of hitting a brick wall. Majority rules in terms of what we need to do as a band and go forward. 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 Lyndsey.”

The new line-up takes to the road in October. Their North American tour runs until April 2019. At press time no British dates had been scheduled. DL