After Christine McVie’s death, mourning for a loved one is the main focus for family, friends, music colleagues and fans. However, some are already asking the question that inevitably arises with the loss: Are Fleetwood Mac now history? Undoubtedly, this is a topic that will also concern the other band members more than ever.
The fact is, Fleetwood Mac have always been a fluctuating band. Members came and went, sometimes returning to their place in the group – including Christine McVie, who rejoined in 2014 and was part of Fleetwood Mac until the end of her life. Lindsey Buckingham split from Fleetwood Mac in 2018 – he later said he was forced into it by Nicks. The guitarist even sued the band for breach of contract. Nicks said he had nothing to do with the decision. A Fleetwood Mac studio album hasn’t been released since 2003’s Say You Will, despite alleged efforts by Buckingham and McVie, who released songs originally written for Fleetwood Mac as a duet album in 2017. “It wasn’t that we didn’t try,” Buckingham said. However, Stevie Nicks was not ready.
Neil Finn and Mike Campbell took Buckingham’s place on stage in 2018. “The guys were great,” Christine McVie explained in early 2022. “We had a great time with them, but now we’ve kind of broken up, so I hardly see them anymore.” Disbanded – whether this will ever be officially announced remains to be seen, nevertheless, a stage comeback now seems even more unlikely than before.
Stevie Nicks and Mick Fleetwood – would they be ready?
Nicks is currently touring with Billie Joel and has more solo shows planned as well. Mick Fleetwood is also not averse to another tour with the band, revealed Christine McVie in one of her last interviews. Nevertheless, the musicians felt drained after the last big tour. “It all looks very beautiful when you attend the show, but the work that has gone into getting to this point is incredible. I know Mick would do it in a heartbeat, but I can’t really tell. We’re definitely not going on tour this year.”
McVie also stated that she also doesn’t think the bassist and her ex-husband John McVie would be ready for a post-COVID-19 pandemic tour. The latter was diagnosed with cancer in 2013. Although his condition has improved in the meantime, he is no longer in the form of his life. “He just doesn’t have the strength for it anymore.”