History of Lindsey Buckingham in Timeline
Lindsey Buckingham is an American musician, guitarist, and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist of Fleetwood Mac from 1975-1987 and 1997-2018. Beyond his pivotal role in Fleetwood Mac, which led to his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, Buckingham has cultivated a solo career, releasing seven studio albums and three live albums. Noted for his distinctive fingerpicking guitar style, he was recognized as one of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" by Rolling Stone in 2011.
October 3, 1949: Lindsey Buckingham Born
On October 3, 1949, Lindsey Adams Buckingham was born in Palo Alto, California, to Morris H. Buckingham and Rutheda, née Elliott.
1963: Morris H. Buckingham's Career
By 1963, Morris H. Buckingham, Lindsey's father, was the President of Alexander-Ballert Company of San Francisco, a producer of roasted coffee beans.
1966: Joined Fritz Rabyne Memorial Band
From 1966, Lindsey Buckingham performed psychedelic and folk rock as a bassist and vocalist with the high school rock band Fritz Rabyne Memorial Band.
1967: Stevie Nicks joins Fritz
In 1967, Lindsey Buckingham invited Stevie Nicks to join Fritz as a backing vocalist.
1968: Brother's Olympic Medal
In 1968, Lindsey Buckingham's brother Gregory won a silver medal at the Olympics in Mexico City.
1971: Delayed Move to Los Angeles
Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks delayed their move to Los Angeles in 1971 due to Buckingham suffering from a bout of mononucleosis.
1972: Recorded Demos with Stevie Nicks
In 1972, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks recorded seven demos on a half-inch 4-track Ampex recorder and drove to Los Angeles to pursue a recording contract.
September 1973: Buckingham Nicks Album Release
In September 1973, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks released their studio album, Buckingham Nicks, produced by Keith Olsen; however, Polydor Records dropped them soon after due to poor sales.
December 1974: Offered Guitar Slot in Fleetwood Mac
In December 1974, Mick Fleetwood offered Lindsey Buckingham the vacant guitar slot in Fleetwood Mac after being impressed by his guitar work on "Frozen Love".
1975: Joined Fleetwood Mac
In 1975, Buckingham joined Fleetwood Mac, replacing Bob Welch, and convinced the group to recruit Stevie Nicks.
1975: Fleetwood Mac Album Release
In 1975, Fleetwood Mac released their self-titled studio album, which reached number one on the American charts. Lindsey Buckingham contributed songs to the album.
1977: Relationship Breakdown with Stevie Nicks
By 1977, Lindsey Buckingham's relationship with Stevie Nicks had broken down, which was chronicled in songs written by both of them.
1977: Making Rumours
During the making of Rumours in 1977, Buckingham and Nicks were breaking up.
1977: Rumours Release
In 1977, Fleetwood Mac released the album Rumours, which sold over 40 million copies worldwide, becoming commercially successful. The album included songs written and sung by Buckingham such as "Go Your Own Way".
1978: Creation of the Model One Guitar
In 1978, Lindsey Buckingham collaborated with Rick Turner to create the Model One guitar.
1979: Release of Tusk
In 1979, Fleetwood Mac released "Tusk", a double album primarily directed by Buckingham. The title track, also written by Buckingham, peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
1981: Law and Order Album Release
In 1981, Lindsey Buckingham released his debut solo studio album, "Law and Order". The album featured guest appearances by Mick Fleetwood and Christine McVie and spawned the single "Trouble".
1981: Bella Donna
In 1981, Tom Moncrieff, who toured with Buckingham and Nicks to promote the Buckingham Nicks album, played bass on Stevie Nicks' debut solo studio album Bella Donna.
1981: Focus of Solo Anthology
The anthology 'Solo Anthology: The Best of Lindsey Buckingham' released in 2018 focused on Lindsey Buckingham's solo career since 1981.
1982: Last Tour Before Reunion
1982 marks the last time that Lindsey Buckingham toured with the Rumours-era lineup of Fleetwood Mac, prior to their reunion in 1997.
1982: Mirage Album Release
In 1982, Fleetwood Mac released the album Mirage, which returned the band to the top of the US album chart.
1983: National Lampoon's Vacation Songs
In 1983, Lindsey Buckingham wrote and performed the songs "Holiday Road" and "Dancin' Across the USA" for the film National Lampoon's Vacation. "Holiday Road" was released as a single.
1984: Go Insane Album Release
In 1984, Lindsey Buckingham released his second solo studio album, Go Insane. The title track became a modest hit.
1985: Back to the Future Soundtrack
In 1985, Buckingham contributed to the soundtrack of Back to the Future with the song "Time Bomb Town", playing all the instruments except drums.
1986: Co-wrote "Since You've Gone"
In 1986, Lindsey Buckingham co-wrote "Since You've Gone" for Belinda Carlisle's debut solo album, Belinda.
1987: Leaves Fleetwood Mac
Following his departure from Fleetwood Mac in 1987, Buckingham spent much of the next five years working on his third solo album.
1987: Tango in the Night Release
In 1987, Fleetwood Mac released "Tango in the Night", which became a top ten hit in the US and the UK. Buckingham had given up much material for the album, which would have been used for his third solo studio album.
1987: Buckingham Left Fleetwood Mac
In 1987, Lindsey Buckingham left Fleetwood Mac to focus on his solo career after experiencing constant creative and personal conflict within the group.
1988: Greatest Hits Compilation
In 1988, Fleetwood Mac's greatest hits compilation was released, and the unedited version of Sara was restored on the album.
1990: Mick Fleetwood's Biography
In 1990, Mick Fleetwood published a tell-all biography, which Buckingham gently rebuked in his song "Wrong".
1992: Out of the Cradle Release
In 1992, Buckingham released his third solo studio album, Out of the Cradle, which explored his relationship with Stevie Nicks and his decision to leave Fleetwood Mac.
1992: Solo Tour
In 1992, Buckingham toured as a solo artist for the first time, featuring a band of seven other guitarists.
January 20, 1993: Performed at Bill Clinton's Inauguration
On January 20, 1993, Fleetwood Mac performed "Don't Stop" at Bill Clinton's inauguration after being asked by the newly elected president. Buckingham participated in the performance.
1993: Reunion at Bill Clinton's Inauguration Ball
In 1993, Lindsey Buckingham and other former band members reunited at the inauguration ball for President Bill Clinton, initiating some reconciliation between them.
1995: Vocals on "Time"
In 1995, Buckingham performed some vocals on one track of Fleetwood Mac's studio album "Time".
1995: Recording of 'Gift of Screws' Begins
Lindsey Buckingham started recording his fourth solo studio album, titled 'Gift of Screws', in 1995, with recording continuing until 2001.
1997: Rejoined Fleetwood Mac
In 1997, Buckingham rejoined Fleetwood Mac full-time for the live tour and album "The Dance".
1997: Fleetwood Mac Reunion Tour
In 1997, Lindsey Buckingham and the Rumours-era lineup of Fleetwood Mac reunited for the first time since 1982 for a tour titled "The Dance".
July 8, 1998: Birth of First Child
On July 8, 1998, Lindsey Buckingham had his first child with Kristen Messner.
1998: Christine McVie Leaves Fleetwood Mac
In 1998, Christine McVie left Fleetwood Mac due to her fear of flying and to be with her family in the UK, reducing the band to a four-piece group.
1998: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
In 1998, Lindsey Buckingham, as a member of Fleetwood Mac, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
2000: Marriage to Kristen Messner
In 2000, Lindsey Buckingham married Kristen Messner.
2001: Behind the Music Documentary
In 2001, Lindsey Buckingham described his touring band as "the crazy band" in the Lindsey Buckingham: Behind the Music documentary for VH1.
2001: Completion of 'Gift of Screws' Recording
Lindsey Buckingham completed recording his fourth solo studio album 'Gift of Screws' in 2001, which he then presented to Warner Bros. and Reprise for release.
2002: The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac Release
In 2002, Fleetwood Mac released 'The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac', which featured the unedited version of Sara.
2003: Release of 'Say You Will'
In 2003, Fleetwood Mac released 'Say You Will', their first studio album in 15 years to include both Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, featuring Buckingham's song "Peacekeeper" as the first single, followed by a world tour.
2004: Tusk Reissue
In 2004, the unedited version of Sara was restored on the reissue of Tusk.
October 3, 2006: Release of 'Under the Skin'
On October 3, 2006, Lindsey Buckingham released his fourth solo studio album, 'Under the Skin', an acoustic album featuring him on almost all instruments.
June 2007: 'Under the Skin' Tour Concludes
Lindsey Buckingham's tour in support of his album 'Under the Skin', which began three days after the album's release, concluded in June 2007.
2008: Title Track Meaning Revealed
In 2008, Buckingham revealed that the title track "Go Insane" was about his post-breakup relationship with Stevie Nicks.
2008: Release of 'Gift of Screws'
In 2008, Lindsey Buckingham's album 'Gift of Screws' was officially released, featuring tracks from the originally planned album and new recordings, followed by a promotional tour.
March 1, 2009: Fleetwood Mac "UNLEASHED" Tour Begins
On March 1, 2009, Fleetwood Mac's "UNLEASHED" Tour commenced in Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, without the involvement of Christine McVie.
November 3, 2010: Announcement of New Studio Album
On November 3, 2010, Lindsey Buckingham announced on his website that he was working on a new untitled studio album, planning to release it in early 2011.
April 22, 2011: Filming Concert for DVD Release
On April 22, 2011, Lindsey Buckingham filmed a concert for DVD release to support his upcoming studio album, 'Seeds We Sow'.
September 6, 2011: Release of 'Seeds We Sow'
On September 6, 2011, Lindsey Buckingham released his studio album 'Seeds We Sow'.
2011: Rolling Stone's "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time"
In 2011, Rolling Stone ranked Lindsey Buckingham 100th in its list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".
May 3, 2012: Solo Tour Begins
On May 3, 2012, Lindsey Buckingham began a solo tour of the United States in Solana Beach, California.
November 2012: Release of 'One Man Show'
In November 2012, Lindsey Buckingham released a completely solo live album, 'One Man Show', via digital download at iTunes, recorded from a single night in Des Moines, Iowa.
April 4, 2013: "Live World" Tour Commences
On April 4, 2013, Fleetwood Mac's "Live World" tour commenced in Columbus, Ohio.
2013: Buckingham Credits on Hesitation Marks
In 2013, Lindsey Buckingham is credited for contributing to three songs on 'Hesitation Marks', the eighth studio album by Nine Inch Nails.
January 11, 2014: Christine McVie Rejoining Fleetwood Mac
On January 11, 2014, Mick Fleetwood announced that Christine McVie was rejoining Fleetwood Mac.
September 30, 2014: "On with the Show" Tour Opens
On September 30, 2014, Fleetwood Mac's "On with the Show" North American tour opened in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
January 2015: Possible End of Fleetwood Mac
In January 2015, Lindsey Buckingham suggested that the new studio album and tour might be Fleetwood Mac's last, possibly ceasing operations in 2015 or soon after.
June 2015: UK Arena Dates
In June 2015, Fleetwood Mac played arena dates in the United Kingdom, selling out in minutes.
August 2016: New Project Updates
In August 2016, Mick Fleetwood revealed that Fleetwood Mac had a large amount of recorded music, but virtually none of it included Stevie Nicks, while Buckingham and Christine McVie contributed multiple songs.
June 9, 2017: Release of Lindsey Buckingham Christine McVie
On June 9, 2017, Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie released their collaborative studio album, 'Lindsey Buckingham Christine McVie', which also features Mick Fleetwood and John McVie.
June 21, 2017: Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie Tour Begins
On June 21, 2017, Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie began a 38-date tour to promote their collaborative album.
January 2018: Buckingham Dismissed from Fleetwood Mac
Following Fleetwood Mac's performance at the MusiCares Person of the Year event in January 2018, Lindsey Buckingham was dismissed from the band due to disagreements about the tour.
April 25, 2018: Fleetwood Mac Addresses Buckingham's Departure
On April 25, 2018, Mick Fleetwood and the band discussed Buckingham's departure on CBS This Morning, stating that he wouldn't agree to the tour plans.
August 2018: Announcement of Solo Anthology
In August 2018, Reprise issued a press release for Lindsey Buckingham's new solo anthology, 'Solo Anthology: The Best of Lindsey Buckingham', which focused on his solo career since 1981.
October 5, 2018: Release of 'Solo Anthology'
On October 5, 2018, Lindsey Buckingham's 'Solo Anthology: The Best of Lindsey Buckingham' was released, followed by a solo tour throughout North America.
October 2018: Buckingham Files Lawsuit Against Fleetwood Mac
In October 2018, Lindsey Buckingham filed a lawsuit against Fleetwood Mac for breach of fiduciary duty, breach of oral contract, and intentional interference with prospective economic advantage.
2018: Dismissed from Fleetwood Mac
In 2018, Buckingham was dismissed from Fleetwood Mac and replaced by Mike Campbell and Neil Finn.
February 2019: Emergency Open Heart Surgery
In February 2019, Lindsey Buckingham underwent emergency open heart surgery, which initially caused vocal cord damage, but he ultimately recovered.
2020: Collaboration with The Killers
In 2020, Lindsey Buckingham collaborated with The Killers on their studio album 'Imploding the Mirage', playing guitar on the first single "Caution".
June 8, 2021: Announcement of New Solo Album
On June 8, 2021, Lindsey Buckingham announced his seventh solo studio album, 'Lindsey Buckingham', along with the release of the first single, "I Don't Mind".
July 23, 2021: Release of "On the Wrong Side"
On July 23, 2021, Lindsey Buckingham released "On the Wrong Side", the second single from his upcoming album 'Lindsey Buckingham'.
September 17, 2021: Release of Lindsey Buckingham album
On September 17, 2021, Lindsey Buckingham's album 'Lindsey Buckingham' was released and his tour to support it started the same month.
2021: Divorce Filing and Reconciliation
In 2021, Lindsey Buckingham and Kristen Messner filed for divorce, but ultimately decided to mend their relationship.
2021: Guest Appearance on Halsey's Album
In 2021, Lindsey Buckingham guested on Halsey's studio album 'If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power'.
2021: Collaboration with Brandy Clark
In 2021, Lindsey Buckingham played on a new version of "The Past Is the Past" by Brandy Clark, issued as a bonus track on the deluxe edition of her album 'Your Life Is a Record'.
August 27, 2022: Performance with The Killers and Johnny Marr
On August 27, 2022, Lindsey Buckingham joined The Killers on stage in Los Angeles to perform his guitar solo from "Caution" and a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way". The Killers and Buckingham were joined by Johnny Marr of the Smiths to perform "Mr. Brightside" together to close the concert.
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