Buckingham and Nicks Are At It Again

We learned in recent days that Stevie Nicks decided to boot Lindsey Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac over his alleged bad behavior at a benefit concert earlier this year. That behavior amounted to smirking when Nicks began to ramble during her speech and not approving of the song "Rhiannon" being played as Stevie's entrance music. Originally we were told that the break-up was centered around Buckingham who according to the original narrative, wanted to record and tour and then join his former band mates on the road.

None of this is surprising for a band that has gone through drama before. But what is different now is the age and maturity (or lack thereof) of these now 70 somethings as they tour the states via Live Nation. Both Mac and Buckingham are touring and so far it appears that the split is hurting ticket sales for Fleetwood Mac and possibly helping Buckingham who just filed a lawsuit seeking 12 million dollars in lost wages. This is the kind of drama that doesn't result in creativity.

Fans seem to be on Lindsey's side and if one were to examine the evidence on a cursory level they would have to implicate Stevie Nicks as not being the team player. Strangely enough though, Nicks has been nominated to the rock and roll hall of fame at precisely the same moment Buckingham filed paperwork in a Los Angeles County court.

Monopoly board master Irv Azoff was the one who broke the news to Buckingham that he was no longer welcome on stage with Stevie Nicks. It was an ultimatum and she won at least in the short run. Azoff is banking on the curiosity car wreck theory, where people want to show up and support their favorite team as each side tries to gin up sympathy both fake and real to lure fans to their side.

People who have watched this band for decades are at a loss to explain the speed at which Mick Fleetwood and Irving Azoff moved to upend Lindsey Buckingham. The venues were likely already booked. And the show must go on. But for now, it's a show long and drama and short on substance for a band that at this stage of their existence needs Lindsey Buckingham more than he needs them.