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Fleetwood Mac’s Mick Fleetwood and Lindsey Buckingham Reunite After Years of Estrangement
In a surprising development for fans of Fleetwood Mac, drummer Mick Fleetwood and former guitarist Lindsey Buckingham have reportedly reconciled, seven years after Buckingham’s contentious departure from the iconic band. The news of this reunion surfaced when music producer Carl Falk shared images on social media platform Threads, depicting the pair collaborating in a studio setting. This unexpected reconciliation hints at potential future musical ventures for the acclaimed artists.
Musical Collaboration Sparks Reconciliation
Carl Falk’s social media post revealed the purpose of the meeting. “Slightly unreal moment to sit with Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood to play Lindsey the album we have been working on,” Falk wrote, adding, “And to see his genuine happiness for Mick to finally do his own album and offering to play guitar and to sing on it. Can’t wait to finish this one.” Buckingham, aged 75, has apparently offered his musical talents to contribute to Fleetwood’s forthcoming solo album, suggesting a significant step towards mending their fractured relationship.
Thawing Relations After Contentious Exit
This collaboration suggests a possible reconciliation following Buckingham’s dismissal from Fleetwood Mac in 2018. Buckingham initially joined the band on New Year’s Eve 1974, alongside his then-girlfriend Stevie Nicks. He departed in 1987, but later rejoined in 1996, remaining until his termination.
Background to Buckingham’s Departure
At the time of Buckingham’s 2018 exit, reports confirmed by Rolling Stone indicated that disagreements regarding a planned tour precipitated his removal. Allegedly, an altercation occurred between Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, his former romantic partner from 1968 to 1976, at the MusicCares benefit event in 2018. Nicks later characterized Buckingham’s behavior as unkind towards “anybody,” including musician Harry Styles. She further claimed that her parents influenced her decision to part ways with him.
Christine McVie’s Funeral: A Brief Encounter
In a Rolling Stone interview, Nicks recounted seeing Buckingham only once since his firing, at the funeral of bandmate Christine McVie, who sadly passed away from cancer in November 2022 at the age of 79. “The only time I’ve spoken to Lindsey was there, for about three minutes. I dealt with Lindsey for as long as I could. You could not say that I did not give him more than 300 million chances,” she stated, highlighting the strained nature of their relationship until recently.
Hopes for Future Peace
Fleetwood has previously voiced his desire for reconciliation between Buckingham and Nicks. Speaking to Us Weekly, he expressed, “I always have a fantasy that [Nicks] and Lindsay would pal up a bit more and just say ‘everything’s OK’ for them both. But we’ve had such an incredible career.” Following Buckingham’s departure in 2018, Fleetwood Mac swiftly announced his replacements: Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and Neil Finn of Crowded House.
New Lineup and Fan Speculation
“We are thrilled to welcome the musical talents of the caliber of Mike Campbell and Neil Finn into the Mac family,” the band stated at the time. “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.” However, despite the new lineup, some fans speculate about a potential full classic lineup reunion, fueled by the launch of a new official Fleetwood Mac Instagram account in October 2024. Social media posts, including a TikTok video showcasing official Fleetwood Mac profiles alongside Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham‘s accounts, have further intensified these reunion rumors.