Lindsey Buckingham suffered vocal-cord damage during emergency open-heart surgery last week. He is recovering at home, his wife Kristen said in an official statement.
She posted a photograph to social media that shows a bandage covering a portion of the former Fleetwood Mac star's throat. "While it is unclear if the damage is permanent," Kristen added. "We are hopeful it is not."
Buckingham was forced out of Fleetwood Mac when Stevie Nicks announced last year that she could no longer work with him. A consistent member of the group since their reunion for 1997's The Dance, Buckingham originally joined before Fleetwood Mac's 1975 self-titled studio album.
Buckingham tried to patch things up with an emotional email to band co-founder Mick Fleetwood to no avail. Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Neil Finn of Crowded House subsequently replaced Buckingham on an ongoing tour. Buckingham later sued, and the case was settled out of court.
“This past year has been a very stressful and difficult year for our family to say the least,” Kristen wrote. “But despite all of this, our gratitude for life trumps all obstacles we have faced at this moment. We feel so fortunate that he’s alive. As does he. He looks forward to recovery and putting this behind him. Needless to say, all touring and shows currently schedule have been put on pause for the moment as he gathers the strength to heal completely.”
Despite their frayed relationship, Fleetwood Mac expressed support and solidarity with their former bandmate. The group sent "thoughts and love" to Buckingham via Twitter, wishing the musician a "speedy recovery."
