Fleetwood Mac
In a surprising story that unfolded late Monday, rock legends Fleetwood Mac have reported fired singer/guitarist Lindsey Buckingham. In a statement, the band announced that Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and Neil Finn of Crowded House will replace him in the lineup on any currently-unannounced tour dates.
The statement reads, “We are thrilled to welcome the musical talents of the caliber of Mike Campbell and Neil Finn into the Mac family. With Mike and Neil, we’ll be performing all the hits that the fans love, plus we’ll be surprising our audiences with some tracks from our historic catalogue of songs. Fleetwood Mac has always been a creative evolution. We look forward to honoring that spirit on this upcoming tour.”
Mick Fleetwood added, “Fleetwood Mac has always been about an amazing collection of songs that are performed with a unique blend of talents…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.”
In his own statement, Finn said, “Two weeks ago I received a wonderful invitation to be a part of a truly great band. 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 famously joined Fleetwood Mac in 1974 alongside Stevie Nicks and co-wrote, sang and produced many of their most iconic songs. He left the band in 1987 but returned 9 years later for The Dance reunion tour. Of course, the band’s volatility, internal drama and lineup changes have always been part of the Fleetwood Mac story, so it’s entirely possible Buckingham could return to the fold.
Fleetwood Mac last performed together in January when they were honored at the MusiCares concert event over Grammy weekend.
