Lindsey Buckingham sues Fleetwood Mac and former bandmates

Back in early April and not long after Fleetwood Mac announced their currently running Farewell Tour, the band announced that longtime lead guitarist and songwriter Lindsey Buckingham was out of the group and wouldn’t be included in that tour. The last time Buckingham left the group it took two guitarists to replace him; and that is again the situation for the band’s current tour. On April 9, Fleetwood Mac announced that Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and Neil Finn of Crowded House would replace Buckingham for this tour, according to MSN.

And now, Buckingham is suing his former bandmates and says he deserves a financial cut from Fleetwood Mac’s current tour. Specifically, according to The Hollywood Reporter …

Buckingham is suing Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie and John McVie, claiming he should still be paid his share of tour revenues because he still wants and is able to perform with the group.

Buckingham was romantically involved with Stevie Nicks when the couple joined Fleetwood Mac back in 1974. He left the band once before in 1987 and didn’t rejoin the “Rumors” group until 1996. He’s been an active member of Fleetwood Mac since getting back together with them in 1996. Buckingham is credited with writing and singing many of Fleetwood Mac’s big hits, including “Go Your Own Way” and “Tusk.”

The band basically fired Buckingham because they didn’t want to postpone their current tour to accommodate Buckingham’s desire to instead release and promote a solo album.

Buckingham says he would have been paid at least $12 million for his share of the tour proceeds, which the remaining bandmembers are now splitting. He is suing for breach of fiduciary duty and breach of oral contract, among other claims, and is asking the court for a declaration that because he is able and willing to perform on the tour and is being involuntarily excluded, he should still be paid his share of the revenue. ~ Hollywood Reporter

The Huffington Post shared a statement released by Fleetwood Mac’s publicist Kristen Foster who said that the super band would be contesting Buckingham’s lawsuit. “Fleetwood Mac strongly disputes the allegations presented in Mr. Buckingham’s complaint and looks forward to their day in court,” Foster said. “The band has retained Dan Petrocelli to handle the case.”

Buckingham is suing his former band and bandmates for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, according to Radar Online. For more on the story, see the video accompanying this article.

Also see: Lindsey Buckingham fired by Fleetwood Mac leading up to group’s ‘Farewell Tour’