Stevie Nicks: Fleetwood Mac's legacy lives on, but the band cannot

Stevie Nicks recently shared her thoughts on the future of Fleetwood Mac, expressing a firm belief that the band cannot continue without the late Christine McVie. In a conversation with Mojo, Nicks stated, "Without Christine, no can do. There is no chance of putting Fleetwood Mac back together in any way. Without her, it just couldn’t work."

The idea of reuniting Fleetwood Mac became only a remote possibility following McVie’s unexpected death in November 2022. McVie had been a vital part of the band since joining in 1971, contributing not only her vocals and keyboard skills but also some of the band’s most iconic songs, such as “Over My Head," "Morning Rain," "Songbird," and "You Make Loving Fun."

Her absence leaves a void that Nicks feels is insurmountable. In fact, Stevie Nicks noted in the past that "Christine wrote most of the singles..."

McVie’s final performance with Fleetwood Mac was in 2019, during a tour that notably excluded longtime member Lindsey Buckingham. Buckingham had been ousted from the band in 2018, reportedly due to longstanding tensions with Nicks that finally came to a head. To fill Buckingham's role, Fleetwood Mac brought in Neil Finn from Crowded House and Mike Campbell, formerly of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, to complete the lineup.

Stevie Nicks on the death of Christine McVie

Reflecting on McVie’s passing, Nicks described it as a sudden and surreal event. "It was all stunningly strange because there wasn’t any lead-up to it," she revealed. "We got a call, and I was going to rent a plane and go see her, but her family said, ‘Don’t come, because she may not be here tomorrow.’ And the next day, she passed away."

Nicks expressed her deep regret at not being able to say goodbye in person, sharing, "I wanted to go there and sit on her bed and sing to her – which definitely would have made her pass away faster," she added with a touch of humor. "But I needed to be with her. And I didn’t get to do that. So that was very hard for me."

Why a Fleetwood Mac reunion probably will not happen

Christine McVie’s contribution to Fleetwood Mac was immense, and her departure from the band in 1998 marked the end of an era. Although she retired from touring for nearly 16 years, she returned to the fold in 2014, much to the delight of fans. Her reunion with Buckingham in 2017 led to the release of the album Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie, showcasing their unique musical chemistry.

However, Buckingham's dismissal from the band the following year meant that this would be their final collaboration under the Fleetwood Mac banner. Buckingham had said: "I think searching for change is engrained in me...," and he publicly seemed to take the decision in stride.

As for the possibility of Fleetwood Mac undertaking another tour, Nicks addressed the other hurdles in her interview with Mojo. Even if the band members were open to the idea, she pointed out that Buckingham’s health issues might make such an endeavor difficult. Sure, when asked if he'd like to reunite, Buckingham said, "In a heartbeat, absolutely," elaborating that it would be ideal to end the band on a positive note.

However, in 2019, Buckingham underwent emergency open-heart surgery following a heart attack, an event that also affected his vocal cords.

While he has since released a solo album and resumed touring, the rigors of a Fleetwood Mac tour, which often spans over a year and a half, could be too demanding for him. "Even if I thought I could work with Lindsey again, he’s had some health problems," Nicks explained. "It’s not for me to say, but I’m not sure if Lindsey could do the kind of touring that Fleetwood Mac does, where you go out for a year and a half. It’s so demanding."

The band lives on...sort of

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Fleetwood Mac’s future, Nicks remains committed to keeping the band’s music alive. Not only can people still listen to their songs, but fans attending Stevie Nicks shows can expect to hear a significant portion of Fleetwood Mac’s catalog, as Nicks has incorporated many of the band’s songs into her solo set. "Fleetwood Mac is all over my set," Nicks noted.

"Now that there is no more Fleetwood Mac, that opens the door for me to do other songs, like 'The Chain,' that I’ve never done [solo]. I will keep the music of Fleetwood Mac alive, for as long as I can." With the band’s future uncertain, Stevie Nicks is ensuring that Fleetwood Mac’s legacy is highlighted through her solo performances, providing fans with a continued connection to the music that has touched so many lives over the decades.