In a new interview with Broken Record podcast, Neil Finn shared his thoughts about his time with Fleetwood Mac and reflected on what he learned during his period in the band.
“What I did learn was that classic bands are a result of – and music is a result of – five, in that case, individuals having quite distinctive personalities musically,” the rocker explained. “And something about that being undeniable and un-replaceable. Although, having said that, I did replace Lindsey.”
“I have a feeling we’d probably get on just fine,” Finn added. “He was not happy about the situation, I understand that, but I don’t think he would have blamed me for it, particularly. And I think he probably had some awareness of my songs and probably, I would hope at some point he might have thought, ‘Well, at least somebody that can write a good song is taking my part.”
Fleetwood Mac announced plans for a worldwide tour in March 2017, originally calling it a farewell tour. However, it turned into a final tour for Lindsey Buckingham.
In 2018, Buckingham was fired from the band after a disagreement over the tour’s direction. He wanted to play newer or lesser-known songs, but the band disagreed. Stevie Nicks told manager Irving Azoff she didn’t want Buckingham on stage anymore. This caused his departure from the band.
After his exit, Fleetwood Mac needed replacements. On April 9, 2018, the band announced that Mike Campbell and Neil Finn would join them for the tour. They ended up playing over 80 shows in North America, Europe, and Oceania.
It appears that Buckingham would rejoin the band ‘in a heartbeat,’ but feels that his exclusion from the band was a disrespect to the legacy.
“In a heartbeat, absolutely. If there’s more to come [from Fleetwood Mac], if there’s a way to heal that, that would be great. It would be very appropriate to close on a more circular note,” Buckingham said during an interview. “I was in the band for almost 45 years and we were always – this is always part of our legacy – we were always able to work out our differences over things of which were far more profound than any issues that happened in 2018 with me departing the band. The band collectively allowing that to happen, maybe out of weakness to some degree, it disrespected the legacy we built.”
Even if there were an offer, a band reunion seems unlikely after Christine McVie’s passing in November 2022.