Fleetwood Mac created so many classics, and they'll continue to enjoy quite the lasting legacy. Chances of a return however are very slim, especially following the passing of Christine McVie.
In the following, we're going to turn the calendar back to 2018, and revisit the firing of Lindsey Buckingham after such a lengthy run with the group. According to the former band member, his exit was very harsh, and he put a lot the blame on Stevie Nicks. However, Nicks told a different story in a lengthy post with Rolling Stone.
We'll take a look at what both sides had to say, and how Buckingham found out about his dismissal. We'll also reveal how he feels today, and if he'd still be open to reuniting with the band.
Stevie Nicks Called Lindsey Buckingham's Story Of His Firing From Fleetwood Mac Inaccurate
It was a major move back in 2018 as Lindsey Buckingham was ousted by Fleetwood Mac. There are many different sides to what went down, and Stevie Nicks felt it necessary that she briefly told her side of things, and what went down. According to Nicks, the problems began years and years ago, dating back to the late '60s.
Speaking alongside Rolling Stone, Nicks issued a lengthy statement on Lindsey's dismissal, claiming it wasn't her call or choice.
"It’s unfortunate that Lindsey has chosen to tell a revisionist history of what transpired in 2018 with Fleetwood Mac. His version of events is factually inaccurate, and while I’ve never spoken publicly on the matter, preferring to not air dirty laundry, certainly it feels the time has come to shine a light on the truth."
"We could start in 1968 and work up to 2018 with a litany of very precise reasons why I will not work with him. 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 well-being. I was done. If the band went on without me, so be it."
Nicks would go on to reveal that the path forward was in a different direction.
"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."
Lindsey Buckingham Revealed That He Didn't Hear Anything From His Bandmates, And That He Was Told By His Manager
Lindsey Buckingham wasn't happy with the way his exit went down and according to the band member, it harmed the group's legacy. Lindsey revealed that the verdict didn't even come from his bandmates, he was told by the group's manager, Irving Azoff. Buckingham revealed that he was told Stevie Nicks never wanted to play with him again.
Looking back, Buckingham wasn't pleased with the way his release went down given everything that band had to overcome in the past.
“I’m not saying that I can’t be hard to get along with sometimes, but if you put it in a larger context of all the things that Fleetwood Mac has been through and what we’ve risen above in order to keep our eye on the larger picture and in order to fulfil our destiny over and over again… What was most disappointing about it to me was not, ‘Oh, I’m not gonna get to do this tour’. What it was [is] again, we spent 43 years building this legacy which was about rising above things – it stood for more than the music."
He continues, “And by allowing this to happen through some levels of weakness – my own weakness included – I think we did some harm to that legacy. And that’s a shame.”
Despite the negative history, Lindsey hasn't closed the door on a return, and is very much interest in a reunion tour.
Lindsey Buckingham Is Open To Reuniting Fleetwood Mac But The Chances Remain Very Low
"Mick knows I would come back like a shot," he tells PEOPLE. "But I'm not hanging my hat on that at all." Buckingham is still very open to a reunion and feels as though it would help the band members as well.
"I think that would be a healing thing for everyone to go in and just knock out a quick tour," but added, "I can't imagine that happening without Stevie."
"I think that all of us were very committed to Fleetwood Mac as a concept, as something that we had all collectively built together, and that wasn't something that any of us wanted to throw away lightly."
Despite the interest, it doesn't seem like Mick Fleetwood plans to reunite the group at this point. "I'm not saying that Fleetwood Mac will never do anything again, but certainly, the line in the sand has been drawn."
For now, Mick is proud of the group's legacy, and it doesn't seem as though anything else will be taking place.
