In a recent interview, Stevie Nicks opened up about the profound impact of losing her Fleetwood Mac bandmate Christine McVie and the implications it has for the band’s future. McVie passed away in autumn 2022 after a stroke, a loss Nicks describes as “devastating.”
“It was all stunningly strange, because there wasn’t any lead up to it,” Nicks shared, reflecting on the suddenness of McVie’s passing. “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 to her friend and bandmate. “I wanted to go there and sit on her bed and sing to her – which definitely would have made her pass away faster,” Nicks added, her humor a veil for her tears. “But I needed to be with her. And I didn’t get to do that. So that was very hard for me.”
Since McVie’s death, Nicks has been clear that Fleetwood Mac cannot continue. “Without Christine, no can do,” she stated. “There is no chance of putting Fleetwood Mac back together in any way. Without her, it just couldn’t work.”
Despite Fleetwood Mac’s history of operating without McVie from 1998 to 2014, Nicks emphasized that her absence now is different. It placed more responsibility on Nicks and Buckingham to lead the band. However, a potential reunion with Lindsey Buckingham, who left the band in 2018, seems unlikely. “Even if I thought I could work with Lindsey again, he’s had some health problems,” Nicks explained, referring to Buckingham’s emergency open heart surgery in 2019. “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.”
As for her own career, Nicks continues to tour solo. She is scheduled to return to Europe for a series of dates this summer, including a headlining show at London’s Hyde Park on July 12.
With Fleetwood Mac’s future firmly behind her, Nicks remains focused on her solo work, carrying forward the legacy of the band while honoring the memory of her dear friend and collaborator, Christine McVie.
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