Lindsey Buckingham leaves Fleetwood Mac over tour disputes, replaced by Mike Campbell and Neil Finn

'The band wishes Lindsey all the best'

Lindsey Buckingham has been fired by Fleetwood Mac following disagreements over the band’s upcoming tour.

Mike Campbell, the lead guitarist for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, along with Crowded House frontman Neil Finn will replace Buckingham for the shows.

News of the split broke when former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Billy Burnette Tweeted: “Breaking news: Lindsey Buckingham is out but I'm not in.” Burnette, who has not played with the band since the mid-90s, has since deleted the message.

Fleetwood Mac has since confirmed the news in a statement: “Lindsey Buckingham will not be performing with the band on this tour. The band wishes Lindsey all the best.”

Sources told both Rolling Stone and Variety that Buckingham did not exit the band voluntarily, saying the guitarist was fired.

Fleetwood Mac continued: “We are thrilled to welcome the musical talents of the calibre of Mike Campbell and Neil Finn into the Mac family.

“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.

“Fleetwood Mac has always been a creative evolution. We look forward to honouring that spirit on this upcoming tour.”

Mick Fleetwood relayed similar sentiments, saying: “Fleetwood Mac has always been about an amazing collection of songs that are performed with a unique blend of talents.

“We jammed with Mike and Neil and the chemistry really worked and let the band realize that this is the right combination to go forward with in Fleetwood Mac style. We know we have something new, yet it’s got the unmistakable Mac sound.”

Finn said in a statement: “Two weeks ago, I received a wonderful invitation to be a part of a truly great band. A few days later, I was standing in a room playing music with Fleetwood Mac.

“It felt fresh and exciting, so many great songs, a spectacular rhythm section and two of the greatest voices ever. Best of all, we sounded good together. It was a natural fit. I can’t wait to play.”

Buckingham – who previously left Fleetwood Mac in 1987, only to return when the band reunited in 1996 – has been ranked among the greatest guitarists of all time, performing on the band’s classic albums Fleetwood Mac, Rumours, and Tusk.

He last played with the Mac earlier this year, at New York’s Radio City Music Hall during Grammy Week, when the band were honoured as MusiCares Person of the Year.

When exactly the band will embark on their tour remains unknown as dates have not been confirmed.