LB on FM Firing: 'They'd Lost Their Perspective'

[elle]

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/n...ective-w520246

Lindsey Buckingham on Fleetwood Mac Firing: 'They'd Lost Their Perspective'

"This was not something that was really my doing or my choice," guitarist says of exit from band

Lindsey Buckingham spoke about his firing from Fleetwood Mac for the first time when the guitarist performed Friday night at a California fundraiser.

Larry Marano/REX/Shutterstock
By Daniel Kreps

Lindsey Buckingham spoke about his firing from Fleetwood Mac for the first time when the guitarist performed Friday night at a California campaign fundraiser.

"It's been an interesting time on a lot of levels," Buckingham said at the fundraiser supporting Democratic congressional candidate Mike Levin (via Jeremy Roberts).

"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. 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 continued. "The point is that they'd lost their perspective. 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, and that legacy was really about rising above difficulties in order to fulfill one's higher truth and one's higher destiny."

Buckingham, who weaved his remarks about the Fleetwood Mac firing into a speech supporting Levin, remained diplomatic about the rift with his now-former bandmates, even sidestepping an audience member who yelled "**** Stevie Nicks."

The brief comments were Buckingham's first on the matter since Fleetwood Mac announced in April that the band recruited the Heartbreakers' Mike Campbell and Crowded House's Neil Finn to replace Buckingham, who reportedly didn't want to embark on a Mac tour this year.

"Words like 'fired' are ugly references as far as I'm concerned," Mick Fleetwood told Rolling Stone in April. "Not to hedge around, but we arrived at the impasse of hitting a brick wall. 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 him. Majority rules in term of what we need to do as a band and go forward."

Watch Buckingham's comments on the Fleetwood Mac situation below:

[elle]

TMZ adding to the slew or articles citing Lindsey's speech last night (with the storied "band he founded" inaccuracy):

Lindsey Buckingham Says He's Been Thrown Out of Fleetwood Mac https://t.co/aMjkpM4idD

— TMZ (@TMZ) May 12, 2018

http://www.tmz.com/2018/05/12/lindse...ac-thrown-out/

LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM
THROWN OUT OF FLEETWOOD MAC ...
Now I Can Go My Own Way

5/12/2018 8:43 AM PDT

Lindsey Buckingham Says He's Been Thrown Out of Fleetwood Mac

Lindsey Buckingham is no longer a part of the band he founded ... and it was not his choice.

Lindsey was performing Friday night at an L.A. backyard fundraiser for California Congressman Mike Levin, when he told the crowd he has not been a part of Fleetwood Mac for 3 months. He made it clear it was not his doing ... he was unceremoniously kicked out by a band member or members.

Lindsey didn't say who was behind the overthrow, but judging from the video it sure seems it was Stevie Nicks.

Buckingham seemed sad, saying the members behind the ouster were tarnishing the group's 43-year legacy.

The group has had a storied history of discord ... discord that in many ways made their songs and performances amazing.

[elle]

https://pitchfork.com/news/lindsey-b...source=dlvr.it

Lindsey Buckingham Responds to Fleetwood Mac Firing: Watch
Buckingham: “It harmed the 43-year legacy that we had worked so hard to build”

Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

Last month, Fleetwood Mac parted ways with longtime guitarist Lindsey Buckingham. Buckingham addressed the firing publicly for the first time last night while performing at a campaign fundraiser for California Democratic congressional candidate Mike Levin. “This was not something that was really my doing or my choice,” he said in between songs. “I think what you would say is that there were factions within the band that had lost their perspective.”

He continued, claiming the decision negatively affects Fleetwood Mac. “It harmed the 43-year legacy that we had worked so hard to build, and that legacy was really about rising above difficulties in order to fulfill one’s higher truth and one’s high destiny.” Watch his full speech below.


Stevie Nicks recently discussed the decision to replace Buckingham with former Tom Petty guitarist Mike Campbell and Crowded House’s Neil Finn on Fleetwood Mac’s upcoming tour. “Our relationship has always been volatile,” Nicks said. “This is sad for me, but I want the next 10 years of my life to be really fun and happy.” Mick Fleetwood added: “Majority rules in terms of what we need to do as a band and go forward.”

[wondergirl9847]

Originally Posted by elle

Mick Fleetwood added: “Majority rules in terms of what we need to do as a band and go forward.”

I've tried, but nothing make sense. Majority out of the 5? So, Mick, Stevie and who was the third? John? Christine, who claims she wasn't part of the ouster?

This is so disappointing that either of the McVies went along with this.

[Dr.Brown]

Originally Posted by wondergirl9847

I've tried, but nothing make sense. Majority out of the 5? So, Mick, Stevie and who was the third? John? Christine, who claims she wasn't part of the ouster?

This is so disappointing that either of the McVies went along with this.

Probably a snowball effect - the catalyst being Stevie, with Mick just "following the money", then John and Christine probably sticking with Mick out of loyalty. Very disappointed as well that they did not recognize that this is a pretty sh!tty way for the band to end its run.

[ryan4136]

After hearing LBs classy comments, I wonder if he gave Christine his blessing to stay, as to not rock the boat too much, keeping open a likelihood of reunion. If she bolted too, it really might’ve been the end for good.

[elle]

Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham Goes His Own Way (Again): A Timeline https://t.co/1LGz19iMiQ pic.twitter.com/bgELg4B2Ei

— SPIN (@SPIN) May 12, 2018

https://www.spin.com/featured/fleetw...in-a-timeline/

Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham Goes His Own Way (Again): A Timeline
Written By Stephen Thomas Erlewine April 10 2018, 5:46 PM ET

Just three years ago, when Fleetwood Mac was awash in good vibes after the return of Christine McVie, MOJO Magazine asked Mick Fleetwood if it was the classic lineup or nothing. The drummer, who has anchored the British band with bassist John McVie since 1967, responded: “This is it, to me. Emotionally, if you think of the enormity of what has happened, the surprise of what has happened, the doors that have opened to be walked through…if you were writing a book, you’d go, ‘Isn’t it a shame I can’t end it like this?’ We’ve had the chance to end it like that and I wouldn’t dream of it any other way.”

Dreams never last. It was only a matter of time before Fleetwood’s rosy summary of the future of rock’s most mercurial band shattered, and April 9, 2018 brought the news. Lindsey Buckingham–the guitarist/singer/producer/songwriter who sat at the foundation of Fleetwood Mac since 1975–would not joining the band on its farewell tour later this year. Shortly after the story broke in Variety, it was reported by Rolling Stone that Buckingham was fired over disagreements concerning this tour.

Details remain sketchy but as its surprise reveal fades, Buckingham’s departure seems like the inevitable end to his time in Fleetwood Mac. After all, the group had eight guitarists before he joined and, with this year’s addition of Crowded House’s Neil Finn and Mike Campbell of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers, there have been six other members that have played with the group once Lindsey left them high and dry. Buckingham may have played a pivotal part of Fleetwood Mac’s story but it was only a part–one that was fraught with so much creative tension, it’s a wonder either of his tenures lasted as long as they did. Here we’ve created a brief history of Buckingham’s time with the band.

***

1973: As Fleetwood Mac release Mystery To Me, their fifth album to feature Christine McVie and guitarist Bob Welch, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks debut with Buckingham Nicks, a sweet, hazy collection of folky Southern Californian soft-rock produced by Ken Olsen. Buckingham Nicks sinks without a trace, leaving the duo nearly destitute and looking for a break.

1974: Fleetwood Mac begins the year battling a former manager who launched a competing band with by the same name, alongside members of a group called Legs, and ends it with Bob Welch quitting the band on the eve of recording an album. Desperate to replace his guitarist, Mick Fleetwood remembers Ken Olsen playing him “Frozen Love,” a song from Buckingham Nicks, earlier that year, so he offers Buckingham the gig without an audition. Lindsey insists that his partner Stevie join as well–a magnanimous gesture, to be sure, but also the first sign he’ll put his own creative interests first.

1975: Despite the reservations of John McVie–“we’re a blues band, this is really far away from the blues,” Olsen recounted–Fleetwood Mac decided to follow the direction of Buckingham and Nicks and refashion themselves on their eponymous 1975 album.

1976: As Fleetwood Mac climbs the charts in the early months of 1976, Rolling Stone reveals in an April 22, 1976 news item that Buckingham and Nicks are the second couple in Fleetwood Mac to be hitting “choppy waters.” This marks the first airing of the interpersonal strife within the band and it’s a double reveal, divulging the divorce of the McVies as well. With all their dirty laundry going public, the group embarks on the stress-filled recording of a new album, which they would call Rumours after all the gossip in the press.

1977: Released in February, Rumours elevates the band to superstardom. The album stays at the top of the Billboard charts for 33 weeks, generating the Top 10 hits “Go Your Own Way,” “Dreams,” “Don’t Stop,” and “You Make Loving Fun.”


1978: Riding high on Rumours, Buckingham and Nicks experience a detente in their personal relationship as they co-produce Walter Egan’s Fundamental Roll, which features the yacht rock standard “Magnet and Steel.” (Nicks would also sing harmonies on “Gold,” a hit Buckingham produced for John Stewart in 1979).

1979: Heading into the studio to record the sequel to Rumours, Lindsey Buckingham was insisting that the Mac make an album that turned their 1977 blockbuster on its head. Christine McVie would tell Creem, “I think if we hadn’t done that album, then Lindsey might’ve left,” but that doesn’t mean the sessions were easy. Nicks recounted in the liner notes to the 2015 reissue of Tusk–the resulting double-LP released at the end of 1979–that Buckingham was so adamant to do something the opposite of previous record “that I think he scared us.”

1980: Despite two Top 10 hits in “Tusk” and “Sara,” Tusk didn’t replicate the success of Rumours, and tensions began to bubble over onto the stage. During the final gig for the supporting tour for Tusk, Buckingham announced “This is our last concert….for a long time,” sparking chatter that the band was about to split.

1981: Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks and Mick Fleetwood all release solo albums, with Lindsey’s restless Law And Order and its accompanying Top 10 hit “Trouble” overshadowed by Stevie’s Bella Donna, which produced three hits in “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,” “Leather and Lace” and “Edge of Seventeen.”

1982: Fleetwood Mac decides to reunite for a new album but, according to Buckingham, they tell the guitarist “we’re not going do that process anymore”–so he swallows his pride and the group makes the cozy, lovely Mirage.

1983: While Mirage floats down the charts, Lindsey Buckingham contributes the nervy “I Want You Back” to I’m Not Me, an album by Mick Fleetwood’s Zoo. (A move that suggests everything is operating smoothly behind the scenes.) Meanwhile, Nicks’s solo career flourishes with The Wild Heart and its hit “Stand Back”.

1984-1986: Upon the 1984 release of his solo set Go Insane, Lindsey Buckingham told Rolling Stone “I’m trying to break down preconceptions of what pop music is” and, like most pioneers, he didn’t see much commercial success for his endeavors. This was the beginning of a rough patch for the Fleetwood Mac universe. Ten years on from their pop reinvention, the group were scattered and working on solo projects. Buckingham in particular was dedicated to his studio work, but he slowly came back aboard. After aborted sessions with Nile Rogers, Buckingham and his co-producer Richard Dashut agreed to helm the new record, which was largely made while Nicks was on a solo tour.


1987: Tango In The Night is released in April of 1987 but, by August, the band splinters over the fact that Buckingham didn’t want to tour the record. He split and is replaced by Billy Burnett—who had previously played with Zoo–and Rick Vito. The new set of performers immediately head out on tour

1990: Fleetwood Mac take a stab at recording a new album with Burnett and Vito but Behind the Mask underperforms, going Gold in the US on sheer name recognition. Meanwhile, Buckingham toils away on his third solo album.

1991-1995: In 1992, Buckingham finally releases Out of the Cradle, but it went no further than a disappointing 128 on Billboard’s charts. His former bandmates aren’t faring much better. Nicks leaves Fleetwood Mac in 1993, and the group soldiers through with Bekka Bramlett and Dave Mason. This lineup produces Time, a 1995 set that is their first album since 1968 to not chart in the US, and Mick Fleetwood announces the group was breaking up.

1996-1998:
The classic ’70s lineup of Fleetwood Mac begins to mend bridges in 1996, with Fleetwood coming in to drum on a Buckingham solo project that would quickly feature John McVie. Elsewhere, Nicks reaches out to Buckingham to produce and sing on her contribution to the Twister soundtrack. By 1997, the Buckingham project morphs into new studio sessions that supplement the live reunion album The Dance, which kicks off a tour that stretches into 1998. Upon its conclusion, Christine McVie leaves the group.

1999-2008: Right after Christine’s departure, Fleetwood Mac stays quiet. They resurface in 2003 with Say You Will, an album consisting entirely of originals written separately by Nicks and Buckingham. Christine McVie does appear on the album, but these are tracks that were originally planned for a Lindsey solo album from the ’90s. Following its release, the band pursue solo projects, with Buckingham swiftly releasing Under The Skin in 2006 and Gift Of Screws in 2008.

2009-2013: Without Christine, the remaining core four reunite for a tour called Unleashed in 2009, but once again both Nicks and Buckingham choose to concentrate on solo albums, not new Fleetwood Mac recordings. This makes the 2013 appearance a surprise: the four-track
Extended Play–the first Mac music in a decade–snuck out without fanfare (or much of a title) but it as the first indication the group is attempting to do something more than play the old tunes. (This wouldn’t last long.)


2014-2015: Christine McVie rejoins the band for a reunion tour dubbed On With The Show. There are rumblings that new recordings would accompany the tour, but Nicks never signs on for a new album, so the band spends two years touring the world.

2016-2017: With Stevie Nicks reluctant to record a new album, Buckingham and Christine McVie decide to finish their own material–including a song called “On With The Show,” which was intended to be the anthem for the mid-2010s tour–much of which is recorded with the rhythm section of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie. The resulting Buckingham McVie appears in June 2017, followed by a tour from the duo. Everything seems fine within the Fleetwood Mac camp as they approach a farewell tour.

Which brings us to now: The plans for the 2018 tour swiftly collapsed after the group accepted the award for MusicCares Person of the Year in January. Not long afterward, something went wrong within the group. The first indication of something possibly being wrong is when Billy Burnette tweeted that “Lindsey Buckingham is out but I’m not in” on April 4–he swiftly deleted the Tweet, but the story was out in the world. Not a week later, Buckingham’s departure was announced simultaneously with the hire of Crowded House’s Neil Finn and Mike Campbell of the Heartbreakers–two heavy-hitters that are guaranteed to help ease the pain of Lindsey’s dismissal.
Whether the Finn and Campbell-infused edition of Fleetwood Mac flourishes or fails, one thing can be certain: it’s almost truer to the band for them to open up a messy new chapter. A tidy ending isn’t one suited for a story as operatic as Fleetwood Mac.

[elle]

Lindsey Buckingham breaks silence on leaving Fleetwood Mac: It was not "my doing or my choice" https://t.co/0gvlbDmGDy pic.twitter.com/p2UzrJ59o5

— billboard (@billboard) May 12, 2018

https://www.billboard.com/articles/c...reaction-video

Lindsey Buckingham Breaks Silence on Leaving Fleetwood Mac: It Was Not 'My Doing or My Choice'
5/12/2018 by Ashley Iasimone
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Brill/ullstein bild via Getty Images
Lindsey Buckingham on stage with Fleetwood Mac.

Just over a month after Fleetwood Mac announced Lindsey Buckingham would not be joining the group on its upcoming tour, the guitarist and singer has addressed parting ways with his bandmates.

"I have sadly taken leave of my band of 43 years, Fleetwood Mac. This was not something that was really my doing or my choice,” Buckingham, said during a performance in Los Feliz, Calif., Friday night (May 11). “I think what you would say is that there were factions within the band that had lost their perspective.”

“It harmed the 43-year legacy that we had worked so hard to build," he said of the group's decision, "and that legacy was really about rising above difficulties in order to fulfill one’s higher truth and one’s higher destiny.”

He refrained from commenting when one audience member yelled "**** Stevie Nicks."

Fleetwood Mac
READ MORE
5 Lingering Questions From Fleetwood Mac's Split With Lindsey Buckingham
Buckingham was performing at a campaign fundraiser for Mike Levin, a California Democratic congressional candidate.

On April 9, Fleetwood Mac issued a statement that simply said, "Lindsey Buckingham will not be performing with the band on this tour. The band wishes Lindsey all the best." it was also revealed that he would be replaced by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' Mike Campbell and Crowded House's Neil Finn on tour.

The remaining members of the band -- Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood -- later said the split happened because of conflicts with tour rehearsal schedules, but were reluctant to use the word "fired." “Not to hedge around, but we arrived at the impasse of hitting a brick wall," Fleetwood told Rolling Stone. "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 him. Majority rules in term of what we need to do as a band and go forward.”

Hear Buckingham's comments in the video below.

[elle]

Lindsey Buckingham discusses his departure from Fleetwood Mac https://t.co/zjrjVCHyoo pic.twitter.com/v4yMrYcHUr

— SPIN (@SPIN) May 12, 2018

NEWS \
Lindsey Buckingham Discusses His Departure From Fleetwood Mac
Rob Arcand // May 12, 2018

lindsey-buckingham-discusses-fleetwood-mac-departure
CREDIT: Steve Granitz/Getty Images

Last month, Fleetwood Mac announced an upcoming US tour, and with it that they’d finally be parting ways with longtime guitarist and songwriter Lindsey Buckingham. In conversation with Rolling Stone, the band said that the decision was in response to Buckingham’s objections to the band’s upcoming tour schedule, and that his firing came down to a sort of “majority rules” decision. At the time, Buckingham declined to comment.

But in a performance last night at a campaign fundraiser for California Democratic congressional candidate Mike Levin, Buckingham finally broke his silence on his recent departure from the band. “This was not something that was really my doing or my choice,” he said on stage between songs. “I think what you would say is that there were factions within the band that had lost their perspective.”

Buckingham also added that his firing has negatively affected the band’s career-spanning legacy together. “It harmed the 43-year legacy that we had worked so hard to build, and that legacy was really about rising above difficulties in order to fulfill one’s higher truth and one’s high destiny,” he said. Watch a clip of his remarks below.

[elle]

http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2018...as-pushed.html

Lindsey Buckingham Says He Was Pushed Out of Fleetwood Mac But Thinks of It As a "Leave"
12:14 AM -News-, Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey Buckingham
by Paul Cashmere, Noise11

Lindsey Buckingham has spoken about his departure from Fleetwood Mac for the first time calling it “leave” rather than being fired although he also said that he didn’t walk, he was pushed.

Buckingham, a staunch Democrat, was appearing at a fundraiser for California congress candidate Mike Levin on Friday night when he told the audience. “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. This was not something that was really my doing or my choice.”

Buckingham said that the band has lost its way. “I think what you would say is that there were factions within the band that had lost their perspective,” he said. “The point is that they’d lost their perspective. What that did was to harm – and this is the only 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, and that legacy was really about rising above difficulties in order to fulfil one’s higher truth and one’s higher destiny.”

Lindsey was replaced by two new members, Neil Finn of Split Enz and Crowded House fame and Mike Campbell from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.

In 2015 he was adamant that the current Fleetwood Mac tour would be the final Fleetwood Mac tour but then the rest of the band decided to lap the planet one more time.

Buckingham’s “taken leave” comment suggests that at some time in the future he will be back. However age is not on his side for that. Mick Fleetwood is now 70, John McVie is 72, Christine McVie is 74 and Stevie Nicks is 69.

[singertobe]

You guys know that video of the Hillary Clinton supporter having a total breakdown after Trump won and saying she needed an ambulance and that they "better ****** fix this"? That was me when I first found out Lindsey was fired.

[BaronVonBielski]

We still don’t know what the impass was. What exactly did each faction want or not want.

[jwd]

Originally Posted by BaronVonBielski

We still don’t know what the impass was. What exactly did each faction want or not want.

Mere speculation, but I believe part of the impasse was that Stevie couldn't stand to see Lindsey being more chummy with Christine than her. She hated that they did a record and tour together. She hated it even more when he showed more attention to her on stage at the classic east and west shows. Don't **** with the classic Stevie/Lindsey melodrama mantra. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Anybody?

[elle]

Lindsey Buckingham Says Fleetwood Mac 'Lost Their Perspective' https://t.co/frgXLvnTQ9

— Steve Gerick (@StevieG_Blues) May 12, 2018

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/linds...t-perspective/

LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM SAYS FLEETWOOD MAC ‘LOST THEIR PERSPECTIVE’

DAVE LIFTON

Steven Ferdman, Getty Images

Lindsey Buckingham has finally spoken about his departure from Fleetwood Mac. Last night, he performed at a fundraiser for Mike Levin, a Democratic candidate for California's 49th Congressional District, where he made his first public comments about the band's decision to tour without him, which you can see below.

The video, found by Medium, begins with Buckingham saying, "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. 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."


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After someone in the crowd shouted, "**** Stevie Nicks," Buckingham diplomatically raised his hand and refused to point a finger of blame. "Well, it doesn’t really matter," he continued. "The point is that they'd lost their perspective, and 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, and that legacy was really about rising above difficulties in order to fulfill one's higher truth and one's higher destiny."

Lindsey Buckingham Publicly Comments on his dismissal from Fleetwood Mac for the first time
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He then pivoted into the reason why he was playing a political fundraiser, citing a similar loss of perspective in Washington with regard to checks and balances. The seat in the U.S. House of Representatives is up for grabs, with Republican Darrell Issa, who has held the seat since 2000, stepping down.

Buckingham, who left the band after 1987's Tango in the Night and rejoined 10 years later, has been replaced by Mike Campbell from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Neil Finn of Crowded House for their upcoming tour. Nicks said that the decision to move on without him was the result of him wanting to wait until next year to go on the road.

Fleetwood Mac's tour begins Oct. 3 at the BOK Center in Tulsa and will continue, over two legs with a six-week break in mid-December and January, through April 5 in Philadelphia. You can check out all the dates here.

[elle]

from Kristen Buckingham's IG - LB's speech in 3 parts -

Time for me to get back to work now. KB Chrush will be back to design as always. Thank you all. Xo

A post shared by Kristen Buckingham (@kbchrush) on May 12, 2018 at 1:10pm PDT