LA TIMES INTERVIEW - Fleetwood Mac fired Lindsey Buckingham. So why won’t he let them go?

Fleetwood Mac fired Lindsey Buckingham. So why won’t he let them go?

BY AMY KAUFMAN - LA TIMES

This is the album that started all the trouble.

“Lindsey Buckingham,” the singer-guitarist’s seventh solo venture, was finished nearly four years ago. Upon completing the 10-song collection, he asked his bandmates in Fleetwood Mac if they’d be willing to slightly delay an upcoming tour so he could promote his new music. He’d made a similar request back in 2006 and was granted two years to tour behind back-to-back solo efforts. For his new album, he only wanted three months.

But Fleetwood Mac’s 2018 tour dates had already been sketched out. Still, Buckingham says, the majority of the group — drummer Mick Fleetwood, keyboardist-vocalist Christine McVie and bassist John McVie — seemed flexible. Stevie Nicks, the band’s primary lead singer and singular superstar, however, would not budge.

The tension between Buckingham and Nicks, who were an infamously volatile couple during Fleetwood Mac’s 1970s peak, only grew from there. In January 2018, when the group walked onstage to receive their MusiCares Person of the Year award, “Rhiannon” — a song written by Nicks — was playing, which Buckingham complained about. Then Nicks, who accepted the prize on behalf of the band, felt that Buckingham was mocking her for her lengthy speech.

“Ironically,” Buckingham says, “nothing went down that night that was [as contentious] as the stuff we’d been through for 43 years.” But within a week, he was fired from Fleetwood Mac.

It was a seismic shift in Buckingham’s life — one he is still struggling to accept today, at age 71. As it would turn out, it was only the first in a series of upheavals. Following his departure, Buckingham sued Fleetwood Mac for lost wages, including the $12 million to $14 million he claimed he would have made in just two months on that 2018 tour.

New York Times "Lindsey Buckingham Has Survived It All"

Lindsey Buckingham Has Survived It All

After a heart attack and (another) feud with Stevie Nicks, the former Fleetwood Mac guitarist returns with a new solo album.

By Lindsay Zoladz - New York Times

Sept. 8, 2021

LOS ANGELES — One day in early February 2019, Lindsey Buckingham woke up to a wallop of a surprise: He had just had a heart attack, followed by an emergency triple bypass.

The good news was that he’d had a cardiac event at arguably the best possible time and place, while under anesthesia for a minor medical procedure. (His older brother Greg, an Olympic swimmer, dropped dead from one alone in his backyard in 1990, at 45. A similar fate befell their father at 56.)

Buckingham found out the bad news when he tried to speak and realized he couldn’t raise his voice above a hoarse whisper: Someone had been “a little rough with the breathing tube,” as he put it, and damaged his vocal cords — not just any vocal cords, but those of the onetime Fleetwood Mac yelper responsible for such modern pop standards as “Go Your Own Way,” “Second Hand News” and “Never Going Back Again.” For months, he wasn’t sure if the injury was temporary or permanent. But fortunately, from his serene California living room one Saturday afternoon in August, Buckingham can now recall it all with a full-voiced laugh.

“Somebody in the hospital was going, ‘Oops! Hope he doesn’t find me!’”

Buckingham, 71, may be playing a bit on what he knows is his prickly, self-serious reputation — as parodied, however absurdly, by Bill Hader on “Saturday Night Live” — but throughout a series of conversations he was remarkably open and quick with the occasional self-deprecating joke. As he prepares to release “Lindsey Buckingham,” his first solo album in a decade, on Sept. 17, his edges seem to have smoothed a bit in the wake of a series of perspective-shifting events: the bypass and then the pandemic, of course, but also the July 2020 death of the Fleetwood Mac founder Peter Green, and Buckingham’s recent separation from Kristen Messner, his wife of 21 years and the mother of his three children.

Then there was the business, three years ago, when he got kicked out of Fleetwood Mac, a beloved group known as much for its timeless song-craft as its intra-band pyrotechnics and power struggles, and then sued his former bandmates.

Many of Buckingham’s solo releases have been pressure valves for when Fleetwood Mac was feeling a little too tense or controlled. After steering the group more left of center with the edgy and eclectic “Tusk” in 1979, the drummer and (in Buckingham’s words) “vibe master” Mick Fleetwood said they would have to reorient in a more commercial direction. Buckingham told him, “OK, well, I guess I’ve got to make some solo albums.”

Lindsey Buckingham Releases New Single "On The Wrong Side"

Hear Lindsey Buckingham’s Sad But ‘Ebullient’ New Song ‘On the Wrong Side’

Fleetwood Mac-inspired track features on singer's upcoming self-titled solo album, out September 17th

BY DANIEL KREPS

Rollingstone

Lindsey Buckingham has shared his new song “On the Wrong Side,” the latest single from the former Fleetwood Mac singer’s upcoming self-titled album and first solo LP since 2011.

“On the Wrong Side” is both musically and lyrically inspired by Buckingham’s former band, with the lyrics dealing with his long journey with Fleetwood Mac as well as the road of life.

Buckingham, who likened his new single to Mac’s hit “Go Your Own Way,” added in a statement that “On the Wrong Side” is “not a happy song, subject-matter wise, but it was an ebullient song musically. This was sort of the same idea.”

Oddly, this isn’t Buckingham’s first song titled “On the Wrong Side.” A completely different song with dissimilar lyrics written and performed by Buckingham featured on the soundtrack for the 1994 film With Honors; it’s unclear why Buckingham opted to reuse the song title for the new track (maybe he forgot?). Hear that version of “On the Wrong Side” below:

Lindsey Buckingham, the singer’s first solo album since 2011’s Seeds We Sow, arrives September 17th; he previously shared “I Don’t Know” from the LP, which he wrote and recorded in his Los Angeles home studio.

“I wanted to make a pop album, but I also wanted to make stops along the way with songs that resemble art more than pop,” Buckingham previously said of the album. “As you age, hopefully, you keep getting a little more grounded in the craft of what you’re doing. For me, getting older has probably helped to reinforce the innocence and the idealism that hopefully was always there.”

Buckingham will also embark on a nationwide solo trek that kicks off September 1st in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

US TOUR DATES:

SEPTEMBER 2021

9/1/2021 The Pabst Theater – Milwaukee, WI 

9/3/2021 Mystic Lake – Mystic Showroom – Prior Lake, MN

9/4/2021 Four Winds Casino Resort / Silver Creek Event Center – New Buffalo, MI 

9/7/2021 Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall – Munhall, PA 

9/8/2021 Riviera Theatre – North Tonawanda, NY

9/9/2021 The Academy of Music – Northampton, MA 

9/11/2021 The Chevalier Theater – Medford, MA 

9/12/2021 The Music Hall – Portsmouth, NH 

9/14/2021 Warner Theatre – Washington, DC 

9/16/2021 The Town Hall – New York, NY 

9/18/2021 Tropicana Casino & Resort – Atlantic City, NJ 

9/19/2021 Santander Performing Arts Center – Reading, PA 

9/21/2021 Knight Theatre – Charlotte, NC 

9/22/2021 Woodruff Arts Center – Symphony Hall – Atlanta, GA 

9/24/2021 Bijou Theatre – Knoxville, TN 

9/26/2021 Ponte Vedra Concert Hall – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 

9/27/2021 Ruth Eckerd Hall – Clearwater, FL 

9/29/2021 King Center for the Performing Arts – Melbourne, FL 

9/30/2021 Parker Playhouse – Fort Lauderdale, FL 

DECEMBER 2021

12/2/2021 The Theatre at Ace Hotel – Los Angeles, CA 

12/3/2021 Magnolia Performing Arts Center – El Cajon, CA 

12/5/2021 Fox Tucson Theatre – Tucson, AZ 

12/8/2021 The Paramount Theatre For the Performing arts – Austin, TX 

12/9/2021 Majestic Theatre – Dallas, TX 

12/11/2021 Smart Financial Centre – Sugar Land, TX 

12/13/2021 Von Braun Center – Mars Music Hall – Huntsville, AL 

12/15/2021 Uptown Theater – Kansas City, MO 

12/17/2021 The Criterion – Oklahoma City, OK 

12/18/2021 Orpheum Theatre – Wichita, KS 

12/20/2021 Boulder Theater – Boulder, CO

LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM NEW ALBUM OUT SEPT 17, NEW SINGLE "I DON'T MIND" OUT NOW

Today, Lindsey Buckingham has announced his forthcoming self-titled LP due out September 17, 2021 on Reprise, alongside the first single, “I Don’t Mind.” Lindsey Buckingham is his first solo release since 2011’s Seeds We Sow and follows his departure from Fleetwood Mac. As with the seven studio and three live albums he has released as a solo artist beginning with 1981’s Law and Order, the new project showcases Buckingham’s instinct for melody and his singular fingerpicking guitar style, reaffirming his status as one of the most inventive and electrifying musicians of his generation. Written, produced and recorded by Buckingham at his home studio in Los Angeles, CA, the album will be released via vinyl, CD and on all digital and streaming services. A limited-edition blue vinyl version is also available for pre-order via www.lindseybuckingham.com.

Pre-order Lindsey Buckingham HERE. Listen to “I Don’t Mind” HERE.

Says Buckingham of the meaning of the single, “‘I Don’t Mind,’ like many of the songs on my new album, is about the challenges couples face in long-term relationships.” He continues, “Over time, two people inevitably find the need to augment their initial dynamic with one of flexibility, an acceptance of each others’ flaws and a willingness to continually work on issues; it is the essence of a good long term relationship. This song celebrates that spirit and discipline.”

The new album is a welcome display of Buckingham’s instantly recognizable guitar work and vocal layering, particularly on songs such as “Power Down,” “Scream” and “Swan Song.” Elsewhere, Buckingham pays homage to ‘60s folk group the Pozo-Seco Singers’ hit single “Time,” a song he’s admired since he was a teenager and has long intended to cover. “I wanted to make a pop album, but I also wanted to make stops along the way with songs that resemble art more than pop,” he says. “As you age, hopefully you keep getting a little more grounded in the craft of what you’re doing. For me, getting older has probably helped to reinforce the innocence and the idealism that hopefully was always there.”

Buckingham will be returning to the stage with a 30-city 2021 U.S. tour, marking his first in-person shows following a life-saving open-heart surgery in 2019. He’ll kick off the extensive run of shows at Milwaukee’s Pabst Theatre on September 1st, with stops at The Town Hall in NYC, The Theatre at Ace Hotel in LA and more. Tickets go on sale June 11th at 10:00AM local time. Visit www.lindseybuckingham.com for more info. 

Over the last four decades, Buckingham has developed a radical sense of experimentation and an unrivaled savvy as a producer. He first honed these skills as a singer, guitarist, songwriter, producer and the musical visionary of Fleetwood Mac, for which he wrote and produced several Top Ten hits, including “Go Your Own Way,” “Tusk” and “Big Love.” Under Buckingham’s direction, Fleetwood Mac became one of the best-selling and most beloved rock groups of all time. As a solo artist, Buckingham often plays nearly every instrument himself; his complex arrangements and inventive production choices make his solo work thrilling to experience. Earlier this year, he appeared on “Caution,” the newest single from the Killers. He remains a highly sought-after collaborator, a maverick and a visionary.

US TOUR DATES:

SEPTEMBER 2021

9/1/2021 The Pabst Theater – Milwaukee, WI 
9/3/2021 Mystic Lake – Mystic Showroom – Prior Lake, MN
9/4/2021 Four Winds Casino Resort / Silver Creek Event Center – New Buffalo, MI 
9/7/2021 Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall – Munhall, PA 
9/8/2021 Riviera Theatre – North Tonawanda, NY
9/9/2021 The Academy of Music – Northampton, MA 
9/11/2021 The Chevalier Theater – Medford, MA 
9/12/2021 The Music Hall – Portsmouth, NH 
9/14/2021 Warner Theatre – Washington, DC 
9/16/2021 The Town Hall – New York, NY 
9/18/2021 Tropicana Casino & Resort – Atlantic City, NJ 
9/19/2021 Santander Performing Arts Center – Reading, PA 
9/21/2021 Knight Theatre – Charlotte, NC 
9/22/2021 Woodruff Arts Center – Symphony Hall – Atlanta, GA 
9/24/2021 Bijou Theatre – Knoxville, TN 
9/26/2021 Ponte Vedra Concert Hall – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 
9/27/2021 Ruth Eckerd Hall – Clearwater, FL 
9/29/2021 King Center for the Performing Arts – Melbourne, FL 
9/30/2021 Parker Playhouse – Fort Lauderdale, FL 

DECEMBER 2021

12/2/2021 The Theatre at Ace Hotel – Los Angeles, CA 
12/3/2021 Magnolia Performing Arts Center – El Cajon, CA 
12/5/2021 Fox Tucson Theatre – Tucson, AZ 
12/8/2021 The Paramount Theatre For the Performing arts – Austin, TX 
12/9/2021 Majestic Theatre – Dallas, TX 
12/11/2021 Smart Financial Centre – Sugar Land, TX 
12/13/2021 Von Braun Center – Mars Music Hall – Huntsville, AL 
12/15/2021 Uptown Theater – Kansas City, MO 
12/17/2021 The Criterion – Oklahoma City, OK 
12/18/2021 Orpheum Theatre – Wichita, KS 
12/20/2021 Boulder Theater – Boulder, CO

EUROPEAN TOUR DATES:

MAY 2022

5/17/2022 – The Helix, Dublin, Ireland

5/19/2022 – SEC Armadillo, Glasgow, UK

5/21/2022 – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, UK

5/22/2022 – The London Palladium, London UK

5/24/2022 – Capitole, Ghent, Belgium

5/25/2022 – La Cigale, Paris, France

5/26/2022 – TivoliVredenburg Grote Zaal, Utrecht, Netherlands

5/28/2022 – Theater am Potsdamer Platz, Berlin, Germany

5/30/2022 – Cirkus, Stockholm, Sweden

5/31/2022 – Folketeateret, Oslo, Norway

JUNE 2022

6/02/2022 – Heartland Festival, Kværndrup, Denmark

Fleetwood Mac Live: 3CD and 2LP Sets to be released

Fleetwood Mac Live: 3CD and 2LP Sets to be released separately. Available June 25, 2021

When Fleetwood Mac released their first live album in December 1980, it captured the legendary band’s most iconic lineup on stage demonstrating the full scope of their collective, creative powers. Recorded mostly during the world tour for Tusk, Fleetwood Mac Live delivered a double-album’s worth of exhilarating performances that included massive hits like “Dreams” and “Go Your Own Way,” “Rhiannon,” and “Don’t Stop.”

Back in April, Rhino gave the band’s live debut a much-deserved encore with a new 3-CD/2-LP collection that features a remastered version of the original release plus more than an hour of unreleased live music recorded between 1977 and 1982. Following this, Rhino will make the newly remastered live album available as a double vinyl on 25th June 2021 (vinyl doesn't include the previously unreleased material)

Rhino will also make available a separate 3-CD version which includes remastered version of the original 2-CD version, plus it will include a third disc of remastered previously unreleased version.

CD One (Remastered)
1 Monday Morning [3:55]  
2 Say You Love Me [4:18]  
3 Dreams [4:18]  
4 Oh Well [3:44]  
5 Over & Over [4:54]  
6 Sara [7:23]  
7 Not That Funny [9:04]  
8 Never Going Back Again [4:13]  
9 Landslide [4:55]

CD Two (Remastered)
1 Fireflies [4:25]  
2 Over My Head [3:37]  
3 Rhiannon [7:43]  
4 Don’t Let Me Down Again [3:57]  
5 One More Night [3:43]  
6 Go Your Own Way [5:44]  
7 Don’t Stop [4:05]  
8 I’m So Afraid [8:28]  
9 The Farmer’s Daughter [2:25]

 
CD Three (Previously unreleased)
1 Second Hand News* The Forum, Inglewood, CA (10/21/82) [4:11]  
2 The Chain ** Richfield Coliseum, Cleveland, OH (5/20/80) [6:51]  
3 Think About Me ** Kemper Arena, Kansas City, MO (8/24/80) [3:15]  
4 What Makes You Think You’re The One ** Kansas Coliseum, Wichita, KS (8/23/80) [4:13]  
5 Gold Dust Woman *** The Forum, Inglewood, CA (8/29/77) [7:19]  
6 Brown Eyes * The Forum, Inglewood, CA (10/22/82) [4:26]  
7 The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Pronged Crown) *** State Fair Arena, Oklahoma City, OK (5/18/77) [6:21]  
8 Angel ** Richfield Coliseum, Cleveland, OH (5/20/80) [4:35]  
9 Hold Me * The Forum, Inglewood, CA (10/21/82) [4:13]  
10 Tusk ** Kemper Arena, Kansas City, MO (8/24/80) [6:25]  
11 You Make Loving Fun *** Tulsa, OK (5/19/77) [4:44]  
12 Sisters Of The Moon ** Omaha Civic Auditorium, Omaha, NB (8/21/80) [7:05]  
13 Songbird ** Omaha Civic Auditorium, Omaha, NB (8/21/80) [3:55]  
14 Blue Letter *** Little Rock, AK (5/20/77) [4:39]  
15 Bonus Track  
16 Fireflies (Remix - Long Version) (1981) [4:05] 
* Mirage Tour, 
** Tusk Tour, 
*** Rumours Tour

Lindsey Buckingham reinterprets his intricate solo masterpiece “Never Going Back Again”

Watch Lindsey Buckingham Perform New Version of “Never Going Back Again” In Fender’s New Re-Creation Series

Lindsey Buckingham reinterprets his intricate solo masterpiece “Never Going Back Again” using the newly released Fender Acoustasonic Jazzmaster in Fender’s Re-Creation video series.

The gorgeously filmed performance spends a lot of quality time focused on Lindsey’s left and right hand, giving guitarists a clear view of his alternate Travis picking technique. He adds a nice, improvised melodic interlude in the song’s middle section, using his classic ‘solo while holding down the rhythm’ style.

And the sounds! Let’s say this video, the first in Fender’s new series, may well win over anyone who wasn’t sure of the Acoustasonic’s acoustic tonal capabilities.

“Even though I’ve only been with this new Jazzmaster for a short time, I can see that it would have a lot of uses in the studio. I’m excited to give it more time to get to know it a little better.”

“Acoustic guitar has always been my soulmate and alter ego; it got me to a place where I guess I had my own style,” Buckingham said. “Anytime I can take that orchestral approach, I have. The American Acoustasonic Jazzmaster allows you to do just that.”

American Songwriter