Rumours be damned — Stevie Nicks has commented directly on former bandmate Lindsey Buckingham's dismissal from Fleetwood Mac for the first time.
As he gears up to release his first post-Fleetwood solo album next week, Buckingham has been doing a series of pretty inflammatory interviews, including one with Rolling Stone where he claimed he was fired from the band because he asked them to delay a tour in light of his solo release.
Apparently, Buckingham was under the impression that they were still in negotiations until he received word from Fleetwood Mac's manager Irving Azoff that he was being kicked out. He went on to paint Nicks as a tyrannical leader whom the other members of the group cower before, accusing her of "want[ing] to shape the band in her own image."
Buckingham expressed similar sentiments to the LA Times, insinuating that former partner Nicks was struggling with the fact that he had children while she remained childless: "I think that was hard for her, seeing me jump around in an age-inappropriate way. Also, she's lonely. She's alone. She has the people who work for her, and I'm sure she has friends, but you know."
Nicks responded by issuing her own statement to Rolling Stone.
"[Buckingham's] version of events is factually inaccurate," she wrote, "and while I've never spoken publicly on the matter, preferring to not air dirty laundry, it certainly feels the time has come to shine a light on the truth."
Nicks went on to say that, after an "exceedingly difficult time" with Buckingham in 2018, she decided she was no longer willing to work with him. "To be exceedingly clear, I did not have him fired [...] Frankly, I fired myself," Nicks clarified, having proactively removed herself from the band and a "toxic" situation.
She added: "I was thrilled for Lindsey when he had children, but I wasn't interested in making those same life choices. Those are decisions that I get to make for myself."
While Mick Fleetwood won't rule out a reunion with Buckingham, it seems safe to say that's probably not on the table for Nicks.
Read the artist's statement in full below.
It's unfortunate that Lindsey has chosen to tell a revisionist history of what transpired in 2018 with Fleetwood Mac. His version of events is factually inaccurate, and while I've never spoken publicly on the matter, preferring to not air dirty laundry, certainly it feels the time has come to shine a light on the truth.
Following an exceedingly difficult time with Lindsey at MusiCares in New York, in 2018, I decided for myself that I was no longer willing to work with him. I could publicly reflect on the many reasons why, and perhaps I will do that someday in a memoir, but suffice it to say we could start in 1968 and work up to 2018 with a litany of very precise reasons why I will not work with him.
To be exceedingly clear, I did not have him fired, I did not ask for him to be fired, I did not demand he be fired. Frankly, I fired myself. I proactively removed myself from the band and a situation I considered to be toxic to my well-being. I was done. If the band went on without me, so be it.
I have championed independence my whole life, and I believe every human being should have the absolute freedom to set their boundaries of what they can and cannot work with. And after many lengthy group discussions, Fleetwood Mac, a band whose legacy is rooted in evolution and change, found a new path forward with two hugely talented new members.
Further to that, as for a comment on "family" — I was thrilled for Lindsey when he had children, but I wasn't interested in making those same life choices. Those are my decisions that I get to make for myself. I'm proud of the life choices I've made, and it seems a shame for him to pass judgment on anyone who makes a choice to live their life on their own terms, even if it looks differently from what his life choices have been.
Nicks will feature on Elton John's new The Lockdown Sessions album, though she's cancelled her 2021 tour dates amidst the COVID pandemic. Meanwhile, Christine McVie recently sold her Fleetwood Mac catalogue rights to Hipgnosis.
As he gears up to release his first post-Fleetwood solo album next week, Buckingham has been doing a series of pretty inflammatory interviews, including one with Rolling Stone where he claimed he was fired from the band because he asked them to delay a tour in light of his solo release.
Apparently, Buckingham was under the impression that they were still in negotiations until he received word from Fleetwood Mac's manager Irving Azoff that he was being kicked out. He went on to paint Nicks as a tyrannical leader whom the other members of the group cower before, accusing her of "want[ing] to shape the band in her own image."
Buckingham expressed similar sentiments to the LA Times, insinuating that former partner Nicks was struggling with the fact that he had children while she remained childless: "I think that was hard for her, seeing me jump around in an age-inappropriate way. Also, she's lonely. She's alone. She has the people who work for her, and I'm sure she has friends, but you know."
Nicks responded by issuing her own statement to Rolling Stone.
"[Buckingham's] version of events is factually inaccurate," she wrote, "and while I've never spoken publicly on the matter, preferring to not air dirty laundry, it certainly feels the time has come to shine a light on the truth."
Nicks went on to say that, after an "exceedingly difficult time" with Buckingham in 2018, she decided she was no longer willing to work with him. "To be exceedingly clear, I did not have him fired [...] Frankly, I fired myself," Nicks clarified, having proactively removed herself from the band and a "toxic" situation.
She added: "I was thrilled for Lindsey when he had children, but I wasn't interested in making those same life choices. Those are decisions that I get to make for myself."
While Mick Fleetwood won't rule out a reunion with Buckingham, it seems safe to say that's probably not on the table for Nicks.
Read the artist's statement in full below.
It's unfortunate that Lindsey has chosen to tell a revisionist history of what transpired in 2018 with Fleetwood Mac. His version of events is factually inaccurate, and while I've never spoken publicly on the matter, preferring to not air dirty laundry, certainly it feels the time has come to shine a light on the truth.
Following an exceedingly difficult time with Lindsey at MusiCares in New York, in 2018, I decided for myself that I was no longer willing to work with him. I could publicly reflect on the many reasons why, and perhaps I will do that someday in a memoir, but suffice it to say we could start in 1968 and work up to 2018 with a litany of very precise reasons why I will not work with him.
To be exceedingly clear, I did not have him fired, I did not ask for him to be fired, I did not demand he be fired. Frankly, I fired myself. I proactively removed myself from the band and a situation I considered to be toxic to my well-being. I was done. If the band went on without me, so be it.
I have championed independence my whole life, and I believe every human being should have the absolute freedom to set their boundaries of what they can and cannot work with. And after many lengthy group discussions, Fleetwood Mac, a band whose legacy is rooted in evolution and change, found a new path forward with two hugely talented new members.
Further to that, as for a comment on "family" — I was thrilled for Lindsey when he had children, but I wasn't interested in making those same life choices. Those are my decisions that I get to make for myself. I'm proud of the life choices I've made, and it seems a shame for him to pass judgment on anyone who makes a choice to live their life on their own terms, even if it looks differently from what his life choices have been.
Nicks will feature on Elton John's new The Lockdown Sessions album, though she's cancelled her 2021 tour dates amidst the COVID pandemic. Meanwhile, Christine McVie recently sold her Fleetwood Mac catalogue rights to Hipgnosis.
