Fleetwood Mac bandmates have confirmed that Lindsey Buckingham’s departure from the iconic rock group was a result of his on-and-off his feud with frontwoman, Stevie Nicks.
Last year, Buckingham left the band in bitter circumstances.
The singer claimed he had been fired by Nicks, who reportedly became enraged after she caught him “smirking” during her speech at a benefit concert.
Founder Mick Fleetwood told Mojo that the tiff led to Nicks refusing to share a stage with Buckingham again, and eventually, Lindsey was removed from the band.
While Fleetwood denied that Buckingham was sacked, he did say that the animosity between the warring ex-lovers is what lead to his departure from the group: “Support really could not be given to ask the situation to continue. It was too challenging,
“The truth is, call it what you want, a parting of company took place, 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 – Lindsey and Stevie.”
It was a sentiment echoed by the group’s keyboardist, Christine McVie, who that she feared a split was imminent of “a choice” wasn’t made. “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.”
Last October, Buckingham began to take legal proceedings against his former bandmates.
The former frontman’s complaint regarded about an alleged breach of oral contract and fiduciary duty.
The group disputed Buckingham’s allegations, and a settlement was agreed towards the end of the year.
Despite the strife, Fleetwood Mac are still very much on the touring circuit, with Crowded House singer Neil Finn acting as a replacement for Buckingham.
Next week, Stevie Nicks will be inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Janet Jackson, The Cure and Radiohead.
It’s a landmark event for the singer, who will become the first woman to appear in the Hall of Fame twice – once, for her work with Fleetwood Mac and now, for her solo career.
