A month after his sudden departure from Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey Buckingham has broken his silence. According to him, it wasn’t his decision to leave the iconic group.
In April, the band announced it would be continuing a new tour without Buckingham. The news shocked fans around the world, particularly because he’s been part of the group for decades and wrote some of the band’s biggest hits including ‘Tusk’ and ‘Go On Your Way’.
“Fleetwood Mac has always been about an amazing collection of songs that are performed with a unique blend of talents,” he said. “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.”
The band collectively added that it was “thrilled” to welcome new members Mike Campbell and Neil Finn, and confirmed they’ll be performing all the hits “that the fans love”, as well as “surprising our audiences with some tracks from our historic catalogue of songs.”
Buckingham has now been filmed talking about his firing, breaking his silence since leaving the group. The video has been shared on YouTube and Twitter.
“It’s been an interesting time on a lot of levels. For me, personally, probably some of you know that for the last three months I have sadly taken leave of my band of 43 years, Fleetwood Mac,” he told a crowd as he performed at an event in Los Angeles.
“This was not something that was really my doing or my choice. I think what you would say is that there were factions within the band that had lost their perspective.”
Buckingham said leaving the group has undone the legacy the band worked hard to create.
“What that did was to harm — and this is the only thing I’m really sad about, the rest of it becomes an opportunity — it harmed the 43-year legacy that we had worked so hard to build,” he explained. “That legacy was really about rising above difficulties in order to fulfil one’s higher truth and one’s higher destiny.”
While Buckingham is clearly upset he’s no longer part of the band, new member Finn said in a statement he was excited about his new gig.
“Two weeks ago I received a wonderful invitation to be a part of a truly great band,” he said last month. “A few days later I was standing in a room playing music with Fleetwood Mac. It felt fresh and exciting, so many great songs, a spectacular rhythm section and two of the greatest voices ever. Best of all, we sounded good together. It was a natural fit. I can’t wait to play.”
Buckingham originally joined the band in 1975 and played with Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie and Stevie Nicks until 1987. A decade later, he re-joined the group. Their last performance together was in January. In addition to his work with Fleetwood Mac, he also released six solo albums.