Ex Fleetwood Mac Guitarist Lindsey Buckingham Suffers Vocal Cord Damage From Open Heart Surgery

Former Fleetwood Mac singer and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham underwent emergency open heart surgery last week which resulted in vocal cord damage, his wife Kristen revealed on social media on Friday.

“He is now recuperating at home and each day he is stronger than the last,” she wrote. “While he and his heart are doing well, the surgery resulted in vocal cord damage. While it is unclear if this damage is permanent, we are hopeful it is not.”

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“This past year has been a very stressful and difficult year for our family to say the least,” Kristen continued. “But despite all this, our gratitude for life trumps all obstacles we have faced at this moment. We feel so fortunate he’s alive. As does he. He looks forward to recovery and putting this behind him. Needless to say, all touring and shows currently scheduled have been put on pause for the moment as he gathers the strength to heal completely.”

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Buckingham joined Fleetwood Mac in 1974 with then-girlfriend Stevie Nicks. He has been its frequent frontman and songwriter for most of the years since, including its induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

The rock legend helped propel the band to international fame by writing and singing some of their most well-known hits, including “Go Your Own Way” and “Tusk,” but was involuntarily expelled from the band’s world tour last year without any formal explanation.

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Shortly after, the band brought on Neil Finn of Crowded House and Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers as a replacement, resulting in a lawsuit from Buckingham.

In October, he announced he was suing his former band members for the $12 million he lost in Fleetwood Mac’s upcoming tour. The group ultimately settled out of court.

The guitarist has spent the last few months playing solo gigs to promote his new three-disc set Solo Anthology: The Best of Lindsey Buckingham.

Despite their rocky past, Fleetwood Mac members wished their former guitarist a fast recovery.

“We are saddened by this news,” the group tweeted. “Our thoughts and love go out to Lindsey and his entire family. We are hopeful for his speedy recovery.”

“We are so thankful for the kind and generous love given by the people surrounding Lindsey, me and our kids throughout this emotional time,” Kristen wrote in her post.

She concluded with saying she hopes others seek preventative care. “Lindsey’s family has a history of heart issues, having lost both his father at 56 and his brother at 46 to heart-related illness. If anyone is experiencing even the mildest of symptoms we encourage you to seek the care of a physician.”

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