KRISTEN KICKS LINDSEY ASS... "IT WAS A GREAT GIFT" SAYS BUCKINGHAM

Fleetwood Mac to unleash greatest hits.  Legendary band brings familiar hits for June 3 show.

By David Burger
The Salt Lake Tribune

Fleetwood Mac released "Rumours" in 1977 despite going through incredible personal turmoil -- its two famous couples, Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, and John McVie and wife Christine McVie, broke up during the recording sessions.

Perhaps it was inevitable that Fleetwood Mac classics such as "Go Your Own Way" and "The Chain" record the tragedy of lost love.

So as Reprise Records is preparing to release a Fleetwood Mac box set this summer, with unreleased tracks from the "Rumours" sessions as well as never-before-seen footage of the band, it must be hard for the musicians to relive those times, right?

"It's a little touching in some ways," Buckingham agreed in an interview after watching the video footage.

The release of the box set and tour might seem like, well, marketing, or at least an unorthodox response to the musical history created more than 30 years ago. But Buckingham, who will perform with the four remaining members of Fleetwood Mac at EnergySolutions Arena June 3, speaks about the material from the strength of a decadelong, happy marriage to photographer Kristen Messner. "I was lucky enough to meet a woman who kicked my ass," said Buckingham about his wife. "It's been a great gift."

For the musician, happiness comes from the memories of creating some of the pop-rock band's most enduring songs during the "Rumours" sessions" -- including "Don't Stop," "Dreams," "Gold Dust Woman" and "You Make Loving Fun," with the last rumored to be about Christine McVie's affair with the band's lighting director.

With a catalog of those songs as well as other hits from legendary albums such as "Tusk" and "Tango in the Night," the revived band can afford to tour without a new release. "Standing on principle, maybe it's not the right time," Buckingham said about touring sans new album. "But we have a significant body of work. We wanted to reconvene."

Buckingham said after touring with the band in support of "Say You Will" through 2003 and 2004, he asked for several years off to work on solo efforts. He recorded and toured behind two successful albums, "Under the Skin" and "Gift of Screws," and then received another phone call from band founder Mick Fleetwood. "It usually is Mick getting everyone together," Buckingham said with a laugh.

It's still up in the air about what's next for the former members of Fleetwood Mac. "We haven't decided what we want to do," Buckingham said. "The obvious thing would be [to record an album]. I won't presume anything. My mantra is to keep my mouth shut."