NEW YORK - Fleetwood Mac, the veteran rockers notorious for internal strife, are at it again. The band said Tuesday it was parting ways once more with guitarist Lindsey Buckingham.

The announcement, made as the British-American group prepares a summer tour, nonetheless came as a surprise as the band's classic lineup had reunited over the past few years.

"Lindsey Buckingham will not be performing with the band on this tour. The band wishes Lindsey all the best," the remaining members said in a statement.

The group said he would be replaced on the tour by two guitarists - frontman Neil Finn of Australian pop stalwarts Crowded House and Mike Campbell, who led the backup band of late rocker Tom Petty.

"Fleetwood Mac has always been a creative evolution. We look forward to honoring that spirit on this upcoming tour," the band said.

It was not immediately clear why Buckingham was, in the words of one of the band's hits, set to go his own way.

But entertainment site Variety, quoting an anonymous source, said the band fired Buckingham rather than the guitarist choosing to leave.

Drummer Mick Fleetwood has been the only consistent member of the 50-year-old group, which has generated a string of emotionally resonant hits such as "Dreams" and "Landslide." - AFP