The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, claims that Buckingham asked the group to delay their tour for three months so he could tour with his solo band in support of his upcoming solo release, Rolling Stone reported.
Buckingham said his manager told him in January that the other members of Fleetwood Mac would be touring without him when their North American tour began in August, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The guitarist said in his complaint that none of his bandmates would return his calls to give him an explanation.
According to the lawsuit, a deal was made with Live Nation that would pay each member of Fleetwood Mac between $12 million to $14 million for their 60-concert tour. Buckingham, learning that the group would play just three shows a week, asked permission to book his own shows when Fleetwood Mac was idle, Rolling Stone reported.
Related: Lindsey Buckingham, formerly of Fleetwood Mac, announces solo tour
Buckingham was told Jan. 28 that Fleetwood Mac would be touring without him, the complaint alleges. That was two days after the band performed together at Radio City Music Hall in New York, where the band was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year, The Hollywood Reporter said.
The group replaced Buckingham with Neil Finn of Crowded House and Mike Campbell, lead guitarist of the Heartbreakers.
Related: Fleetwood Mac announces tour dates, discusses Lindsey Buckingham departure
A spokesman for Fleetwood Mac told Rolling Stone in a statement that "It's impossible for the band to offer comment on a legal complaint they have not seen. It's fairly standard legal procedure to service the complaint to the parties involved, something that neither Mr. Buckingham nor his legal counsel have done. Which makes one wonder what the true motivations are when servicing press first with a legal complaint before the parties in dispute."
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