Buckingham blames “disoriented” Stevie Nicks for the lack of new Fleetwood Mac music
 

By Paul Brannigan ( Classic Rock ) 12/6/21

Lindsey Buckingham says the fact that Fleetwood Mac haven’t released a new album since 2003 “wasn’t for lack of trying”

Lindsey Buckingham blames Stevie Nicks for the lack of new music from Fleetwood Mac, telling Classic Rock magazine that the fact that the legendary rock band haven’t released a studio album since 2003‘s Say You Will “wasn’t for lack of trying.”

Buckingham, who released a self-titled solo album earlier this year, was fired from Fleetwood Mac in 2018, and claimed earlier this year that Nicks was the catalyst for that decision: speaking with the LA Times, the guitarist said that Nicks issued a ‘him or me’ ultimatum to the band, in a bid to assert more control over the group, an accusation Nicks has denied.

Now, in a new interview running in the new issue of Classic Rock magazine, on sale on December 7, Buckingham suggests that his former partner’s reticence to get involved in the writing and recording of new Fleetwood Mac material is the reason there’s been no new album from the band in 18 years.

Buckingham claims that work had actually begun on a new Fleetwood Mac album back in 2012.

“I had a bunch of songs, and Mick [Fleetwood] and John [McVie] and I went in with the producer Mitchell Froom and cut a bunch of stuff,” he tells Classic Rock. “This was before Christine [McVie] returned to the band in 2014. We very much wanted to draw Stevie in, and for some reason she refused to participate.”

Buckingham claims that Nicks, “has sort of gotten a little bit disoriented in her wanting to pursue Stevie Nicks in capital letters, if you will.”

“I think she kind of lost track of her writing a little bit,” he says, “and maybe didn’t think she had anything she felt she could offer, and so did not want to be a part of it.”

“That effort to engage her was revamped again when Christine returned,” Buckingham says, “because it was like, ‘well, Christine’s back, maybe now Stevie will want to do this.’ Christine had a bunch of song ideas and I helped her with those, and we eventually went in the studio and cut those. And we were still hoping to make that a Fleetwood Mac album, and Stevie wouldn’t do it. That became the duet album that Christine and I did [2017’s Lindsey Buckingham Christine McVie]. So it wasn’t for lack of trying.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Buckingham suggests that he’s open to the idea of another reunion with the band.

“Who knows, maybe we’ll manage to see clear to have one more nice run out there,” he says. “That would be the proper way to go.”
https://www.loudersound.com/news/lin...LtEDrrJRcZXfMI

nothing new, only confirming facts we knew.

WHY would he want to go back to that?

It's OVER. Let it go.

OMG!! Goat is the reason they don't have new music?? Holy wow!!

Lets psycho analyze (again)

Hmmmm. Why would Stevie after all her solo albums and going back and forth the the Mac after solo work suddenly want to pursue Stevie Nicks (in capital letters).

We dont have to be Sherlock or Watson to figure this out. Chris came back and was making music with Lindsey. She tried to torpedo the effort which did not work. They worked without her and her jealousy was more than she could do. Buck/Vie walked away from her and worked without her. She could not contain her jealous rage and demanded Lindsey be fired.

I totally agree. But I wonder, if he's really serious about this: "Buckingham suggests that he’s open to the idea of another reunion with the band," doesn't he consider he might be shooting himself in the foot?
I think they have ALL lived in such an insular vacuum of money and fame that they really don't know how to just be normal people.
Maybe they should all be reduced to be cleaning ladies to bring themselves back down to earth.

Didn't they try to do an album in 2008? But Stevie said let's do a tour of what people want to hear called Unleashed: Hits. (Say You Love Me, Stand Back, Rhiannon, etc)

Lindsey had wanted to tour GOS more in 08.

Lindsey leaves out another possible explanation for why Stevie wouldn’t record a new album with FM- she doesn’t want to work with him again in the studio. But I can see why he wouldn’t want to mention that possibility.

Christine worked with Lindsey in the studio in 2014 and 2016 and even went on a Summer/Fall tour with him.

Why didn't Stevie record with the 2018 Mac? They had from February 2018 to October to make new music. Or during breaks of the tour or from November 2019 until lockdown in March of 2020.

That speaks more to me than not working with Lindsey. And even if it is not wanting to work with him, how does it make it right when you're a member of a band. Madam I'm Not the Boss I guess.

Bingo!!!!:wavey:

right. excuse of not wanting to work specifically with Lindsey is thoroughly dead and buried now. :thumbsup:

FM had 3 years without Lindsey now, and other songwriters all said they'd be happy to record together. in addition, most of them had a year and a half of sitting at home and doing nothing. they could have recorded more than one album sending music back and forth during that time.

Now I'm wondering if she wanted him fired because maybe he told her she's not creative anymore.

She used to be The Bomb but man she has become like The Eagles. Trying to sell the past. I bet she'll do a Bella Donna album performance tour followed by an intermission then a set of hits.

I'm so happy for Journey. They broke from Azoff and they're doing new music and an arena tour.

She's tired. And her voice isn't pleasing in the least. Good for Journey!!

Azoff was the problem for Journey. Azoff has you tour every year doing the same shtick.

Journey is a great concert. They did Lollapalooza and NYC Homecoming festivals this year. Azoff never got them booked for gigs that big.

And they don't need to join Harry Styles at the hip in order to feed their families either.

Yes I know Christine worked with Lindsey on the Buck/Vie album and they toured together. I don’t see how that how dismisses the idea that Stevie doesn’t want to work with Lindsey in the studio anymore. I thought it was pretty obvious that Stevie wasn’t really happy with Say You Will, either the recording of it or the end result, for whatever reason. It took forever to convince her to do the 4 song EP, and I think she’s only on 2 of those songs. I have no idea what her problem with Lindsey in the studio is, I mean the SYW documentary cast him in a very good light, in my opinion. But something clearly happened there that turned Stevie off with wanting to record with Lindsey again.

Because Old I'm Not The Boss does NOT want to be told what to do. ESPECIALLY BY HIM. His job as producer is to guide her and her songs towards a greater end. Old I'm Not The Boss ain't having it.

They worked together on a Fleetwood Mac album

That Fleetwood Mac album had to become Lindsey Buckingham Christine McVie because one of the members of Fleetwood Mac did not participate. And when you're in a band, it's a team. In my home, I'm the boss, absolutely. But I'm not the boss in my band.


If you watch interviews for the Unleashed Tour, Stevie said the next time we tour we're going to have a new album so this one time we'll do all the songs you want to hear. That was 5 years after Say You Will. If she didn't want to record with Lindsey again because making and touring SYW was so bad, would she have told people in 2008 FM will make new music again? Or is it just her history of being a lying DJT before candidate DJT actually was born circa 2015?:laugh:

Stevie just doesn't like Lindsey having any decision making power. I agree with Homies offering about not being able to listen to Lindsey.

I love Stevie but I think what Lindsey said rings a lot of truth. Remember the days Stevie would say she went solo because she is a prolific song writer and had a back log of songs. Last time we heard new songs was in 2011 when she released In Your Dreams. What has she released since? 24 Karat Gold, Without You from the Fleetwood Mac EP, and Show Them the Way. All songs from the vault. I think Stevie is still a prolific writer; but of poems, not songs. In early interviews she often talked about being a song writer. Now it seems she refers to herself as a poet more often. Somewhere at sometime she stopped taking the poems to the piano it seems. Certainly this slump, for lack of a better word, does provide support what Lindsey says.

If you really really want to know Bwboy. Getting KB pregnant turned out to be one of her buttons. (Who knew?) This happened at the end of The Dance.

She needed FMac for SYW. Eventually, having Christine back gave him an avenue to work without her. And that in my opinion was the straw that broke everything. He got to tour, make new music with HER band. When the rest of FM made fun of her, she cut him. It was the smart move for her business.

She absolutely doesn't want to be in the studio with him. She ALSO doesn't want to write new material. Look at the disaster her new song was, not to mention, beyond inappropriate. 24K was terrible worn out versions of some fantastic demos.

She wants to be the boss, make big money on tour 'STEVIE NICKS', stay relevant by playing the witch role and having youth around her. She does NOT want to spend the rest of her life with her ex lover, who HAD Christine, FM, a family, and lives of their own.

She took control of Fleetwood Mac for that reason. It's no accident that she brought in a guitarist that she could control. I know a lot of people want to bless her as the talented legend that wrote Dreams. But as someone said to me that had little clue about FMac. She said to me, "Stevie Nicks reminds me of like the Rosanne of rock and roll. She tries so hard to be a diva, when she's just a clueless entitled white person."

She sacked LB and brought in 2 songwriters (and guitarists) to replace him,who wanted to go into the studio and they still couldn't produce new material. The one new piece of new material she did spit out in lock down is downright awful and will make your ears bleed.. Yet, she happily covered anywhere anything anyone asked her too. Her dislike (I don't buy it completely though) of LB aside, it's not far fetched to say, creatively, the well has run dry. He's always been a PIA to her (and everyone else) in the studio, yet, he's the only one who can sort out her crazy style (Soldiers Angel--another one, even with LBs touch--can make your ears bleed). I'd actually be curious to see what he could do with "Show them the Way".
Tom Petty said LB was her best producer, and he's not wrong. And I think that is what pisses her off endlessly.

Ooh, no you didn't!:lol::lol::lol:

“Christine had a bunch of song ideas and I helped her with those...”


It’s not incorrect but his wording, as usual, underplays Christine’s abilities. He always makes sure to let the world know he “helped her” or that “she wanted me to do that for her.” We get it Lindsey, you’re the genius.

I sound annoyed, sure, but I also have a great deal of respect for Lindsey as a songwriter, player, and arranger. I love the new album, even with all the breathy vocals. But man, his constant need to prop himself by underplaying Christine’s musical capabilities is really annoying. He never admits that her “musical ideas” are of interest in themselves.

Old I'm Not The Boss may be the standout star, but Christine is what balanced them all out, and made it work. She made them sound cohesive. That's why she had the most hits. She was the glue of FM.

I think in his own way he is as much a diva as Stevie.
He is annoying and imagine working in a studio with him when your already a power crazed paranoid yourself.
Enough to turn you into the weird and unrecognisable person you are today.

That said, the main reason she doesn’t get into a studio…..she has no new material, and is in love with the legend that is …”Stevie Nicks”

I see things a little bit different than some of you. IMHO she hid behind STEVIE NICKS for her excuse to stay away from the band. She purposely scheduled recordings and tours when she was aware Fleetwood Mac wanted to record and then tour. Yes ego was part of it but IMHO she purposely kept herself busy and used her fame to indirectly say "I dont need you, I dare you to do something without me>"

Truly. Who could say they're writing a song about Dr. MLK Jr and Rep. John Lewis and make it about herself without entertainment media critiquing it? Stevie Nicks. Also, does she not need to be shown the way? Only we need to be shown?

Inducted as a solo artist when there were other women with more contributions to music and culture who hadn't been even nominated. Stevie Nicks

Cozy up to Azoff and he'll buy you want you want and ride your coattails.

There are so many amazing songs she has without him. And, on the BuckVie record, she put lyrics to one of his songs and Too Far Gone came out of it. Furthermore, I attended his show and as happy as I am to see him, I honestly can barely tell what he plays on guitar anymore. No bass player..... so f*** right off with the same old, "I had to help Christine."

How the mighty have fallen! (And yes, I know he's been doing that for years) It's just really irritated me this time. Especially, down a bass player. :confused::distress:

Oh boy, a lot to unpack here. None of our idols are perfect by any means but if you look back, all that fame and fortune during the 76-78 period I think shifted this band permanently and lead to the periods that followed. Stevie in particular let the fame go to her head and she was annoying with her constantly commenting on record sales despite night after night of inconsistent performances, even during the heyday. Remember that the early 90's just about destroyed her career until the Dance comeback. Since then, it's been all about the legend (she did some spectacular music, but a legend, she is not). The sad fact is that her well of creativity dried up decades ago, she just can't write a great song anymore. Lindsey can be a bit much at times, but he's spot on with this and I'm glad he's finally put it out there.

I thought the same thing. It's like, "Oh yeah, Stevie's disoriented and creatively tapped out and it's all her fault we didn't make new music." Beat. "But I'd sure like it if they/she invited me back!" Whaaaaat??

Also spot on. In fact, she's gone on the record saying as much. She's in her 70s and doesn't want or need to make herself unhappy anymore.

On the other hand, I do agree with the substance of what he's saying even though the WAY he's saying it is tone deaf and arrogant. She's been experiencing a very long and very linear erosion of confidence in her writing since the early 1980s. It seems unlikely anyone could turn that around now.

But sometimes I also look at it like this: She had her ultra-prolific period in the late 70s/early 80s; his has been much more recent. In the end, the two of them will probably come out about even in the amount of material they created. It's just that their timing was way different.

I seriously think she's just tired. And doing anything new at this point is indeed a lot of work. And then doing it with someone that's constantly banging on you in the press, that happens to be your ex lover... Not something most 70+ year olds want to do.

But yea, she has said as much as, "I don't see working with him ever.. and don't know if that will change... " paraphrasing

For me, what buries the "argument" that Stevie was creative back then and earned the chance to enjoy her legend now is that she herself said "I'm never doing the Stevie Nicks greatest hits tour again or the same show you've been seeing a million times" and when she said to Ellen with Sheryl Crow standing next to her in 2019 that she won't stop making albums because people dont listen to them.

Either she's a liar or something isn't working upstairs.

2 things can co-exist:

• fact: Stevie has not been creative anymore and she did everything in her power to stop another Fleetwood Mac album.
• fact: Lindsey sees Fleetwood Mac as his life's work and at 70+ does not want to be referred to as "former FM member" - he wants to still be a full-fledged member. that has everything to do with the band, and the only thing that has to do with Stevie is that she wants FM to be SN's band. Mick clearly has been fighting that.

equating SN with FM makes sense to the people who only care about SN and could not care less FM.

Lindsey wants to be a *current* part of Fleetwood Mac. because again - that's his life's work. people who yell he should move on at 70+ must be starting new careers after 70 and don't want any credit for what they did before they were 70, i guess?

you are talking about Lindsey right? that he should be tired of working with someone who has been constantly banging on him in the press for decades? saying over and over stuff like - he's a useless pothead... laying on the floor... playing guitar while i had to earn bread for us [working on our songs rarely makes it into that]... he cannot do anything... i had to support us [he bought all the recording equipment and worked as a touring musician so we can get ahead is never mentioned]...he left me in Aspen all alone [because he was earning money for us so we can keep recording never makes it into that]... and the list goes on. there is a reason her cult hates him - because she nurtured portraying him as useless (even called him "mr useless" about 5 or so years ago in some interview - remember that??) for decades.

Lindsey has let her get away with that forever, for peace in the band. is he spewing some facts now after she and her all-powerful manager managed to push him out of the band? sure. but that was not an excuse for firing, because he was not banging on her in the press then. he has every right to do it now.

I think it would be humiliating for him, to go back and be in HER band. Because clearly, it is HER band now. $he holds the cards. How F*CKING EMASCULATING. It sucks, but $he won.:mad:

"Excuse me Miss Stevie, can I go to the bathroom now?"

And what's the point? Do they even have another tour in them? I don't think they do.

Him wanting to go back to HER band is PATHETIC.

She either doesn't have a lot of material to work with that she still likes and/or the people she would use to help make the record are not available..or don't want to work with her.

It's already been documented that she had issues with Mike Campbell and she ghosted him after the tour when he sent her tracks to consider.

What's probably most likely the case - albums take a ton of work that she doesn't like doing at this point in time. She's just waiting to launch another greatest hits tour and hit the casino market.

while you obviously accepted (as she wanted FM fans to) that it is SN's band now, LB apparently has not, and he's fighting back. i don't think Mick has, either.

you are telling him he should accept it.


however, as you know, i personally and selfishly don't want him to go back. because i like creativity, new music, small venues, fast moving shows and not having to go bankrupt in order to see my favorite musician live.

but i get it why he's trying to set the record straight.

Didn't she yell at Mike to play a song like Lindsey did?

She ignored his tracks he sent her but she called him immensely talented in her response to Lindsey's September RollingStone interview. Though not by name, just an immensely talented musician:laugh:

He shouldn't want to work with her or speak to her ever again!!!
I'm not saying his POV isn't valid. It certainly is. Hers is delusional. But, as I said, who knew getting someone else pregnant was one of her buttons.

Which was the genesis of the "post Christine, just the two of them" era.

What do you mean here? Don't remember her quote of this.

This.

Between the time Lindsey left in 1987 and SYW in 2003 -SIXTEEN YEARS- he released one studio album and did two short tours. Stevie did four studio albums and eight tours in that same time. To date, she’s released one more album than him.