Mick Fleetwood said in a new interview he has “reconnected” with Lindsey Buckingham and is open to a potential reunion/farewell tour with the vocalist/guitarist.
Speaking with Rolling Stone, Fleetwood said, “I’ve really enjoyed being reconnected with Lindsey, which has been gracious and open, and both of us have been beautifully honest about who we are and how we got to where we were.”
Rolling Stone notes Fleetwood got back in touch with Buckingham after not speaking for two years. A big catalyst for them talking again was the death of Fleetwood Mac founding guitarist Peter Green, who died in July 2020 at the age of 73.
Fleetwood also mentioned that he’s thinking about a potential farewell tour, likely once it’s safe to tour again following the coronavirus pandemic. He said, “I’m very aware that we’ve never played that card. I think the vision for me, and I think it would be hugely appropriate, is that we actually say ‘this is goodbye’ and go out and actually do that. That has always been my vision and I’m a flatly confident that we can do that. We owe it to the fans.”
Could Buckingham be part of this potential farewell tour? Fleetwood indicated, “Strange things can happen,” and also mentioned that while having Buckingham would be great, the tour should “…also respect the people who are in the band, Neil Finn and Michael Campbell.” This, of course, is considerably different from what Fleetwood said to Rolling Stone in January 2020 regarding Buckingham coming back to the band.
“No. Fleetwood Mac is a strange creature. We’re very, very committed to Neil and Mike, and that passed away a time ago, when Lindsey left,” said Fleetwood in that interview. “And it’s not a point of conversation, so I have to say no. It’s a full drama of Fleetwood Mac, no doubt. His legacy is alive and well, and as it should be. A major, major part that will never be taken away, and never be down-spoken by any of us. Neil and Mike have tremendous respect for Lindsey. The situation was no secret. We were not happy. It was not working, and we parted company. And that really is the all of it.”
Of course, the biggest thing seemingly in the way of Buckingham rejoining Fleetwood Mac is the thing that led to his exit: His relationship with Stevie Nicks.
Buckingham told Rolling Stone in October 2018 he was fired from Fleetwood Mac after Nicks allegedly gave the band a “him or me” ultimatum following the band being honored at the MusiCares Person of the Year gala in January 2018 where she was not pleased with some of Buckingham’s behavior. There was also an issue within the band regarding the start of Fleetwood Mac’s current tour. The band wanted to start in August, while Buckingham wanted to start in November to give him time to promote and tour in support of a solo album.
Nicks would finally publically comment on the Buckingham situation for the first time in October 2020 in an interview with the Los Angeles Times saying, “I never planned for that to happen. Any time we re-formed to do a tour or a record, I always walked in with hope in my heart. And I just was so disappointed. I felt like all the wind had gone out of my sails.”
The Los Angles Times noted, “Nicks is reluctant to discuss the details of that night [at the MusiCares gala], though she admits it was the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back.’”
Nicks added, “I just felt like a dying flower all the time. I stayed with him from 1968 until that night. It’s a long time. And I really could hear my parents — I could hear my mom saying, ‘Are you really gonna do this for the rest of your life?’ And I could hear my dad saying in his very pragmatic way — because my dad really liked Lindsey —‘I think it’s time for you and Lindsey to get a divorce.’ It’s a very unfortunate thing. It makes me very, very sad.”
So, how does Fleetwood see this whole thing playing out considering the Buckingham/Nicks situation?
“I can’t speak for the dynamic with Stevie and him. I don’t even need to protect it. It’s so known that they’re chalk and cheese in so many ways, and yet not,” said Fleetwood.