Fleetwood Mac mainman Lindsey Buckingham says having keyboardist Christine McVie back in the fold makes them a more ‘complete’ band.
And he reveals that although they worked well together as a four-piece when McVie left 17 years ago, they’re in a better place with her back in the lineup.
He tells Austin 360: “When she left, we took a little bit of time off and then went in the studio to make an album back in 2003. And we’ve done a number of successful tours, business wise and I’d say artistically as a four-piece.
“The only difference, really, is that Stevie Nicks is sort of at one end of the spectrum. She’s representing one pole, I’m representing the other end of that, and Christine is somewhere in the middle.
“So I think that the body of work speaks more eloquently. With her inclusion in it and her songs in there, suddenly you’ve got a more complete landscape. And I think her songs help inform my songs and Stevie’s.”
And he also says her return has made for a lighter atmosphere and that Nicks especially missed having her around.
Buckingham continues: “You’ve got to talk about just the fact that I think on some level, Stevie missed having her gal pal – and that’s been great.
“It kind of lightens things up again, because if there’s a polarity musically between Stevie and me, there’s also a bit of a polarity politically or socially, given our history. So it fills in that as well.
“We did great as a four-piece, but I think it’s a more complete picture when Christine is there.”
Fleetwood Mac are working on a new album which is due for release later this year and they head out on the road across the UK and Ireland starting in May:
May 27: London O2 Arena
May 28: London O2 Arena
Jun 08: Birmingham Genting Arena
Jun 09: Birmingham Genting Arena
Jun 12: Manchester Arena
Jun 14: Isle Of Wight festival
Jun 16: Glasgow SSE Hydro
Jun 17: Glasgow SSE Hydro
Jun 20: Dublin 3Arena
Jun 22: London O2 Arena
Jun 24: London O2 Arena
Jun 26: London O2 Arena
Jun 27: London O2 Arena
Jun 30: Leeds First Direct Arena
Jul 01: Manchester Arena
Jul 04: Birmingham Genting Arena
Jul 05: Leeds First Direct Arena
Jul 08: Glasgow SSE Hydro
Jul 10: Dublin 3Arena
Jul 11: Dublin 3Arena