Christine McVie, who contributed to Fleetwood Mac’s distinctive style with her bluesy vocals and keyboards, passed away on Wednesday after a brief illness. She was 79.
On social media, the musician’s family shared the news of her passing, stating that she passed away at the hospital “after a short illness,” surrounded by her loved ones.
The message said, “It is with a heavy heart that we inform you that Christine McVie Dies on behalf of Christine McVie’s family.” “After a brief illness, she died quietly this morning, Wednesday, November 30, 2022, at the hospital. She was with her family at the time. Please respect the family’s right to privacy during this tough time. We also ask that you keep Christine in your thoughts as you honor her life as a remarkable human being and a revered musician adored by all.”
There are “no words to explain our loss” upon her passing, according to Fleetwood Mac, a band McVie performed with when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame together in 1998.
The rockers praised her for being “really one-of-a-kind, extraordinary, and skilled beyond measure.” “In addition to being the finest friend someone could have, she was also the best musician anyone could have in their band. Being able to live with her was such a blessing. We all loved Christine very much and are grateful for the wonderful memories we have of her. She is going to be sorely missed.”
View this post on Instagram
McVie joined Fleetwood Mac in 1970 and played with her then-husband, John McVie. She sang on iconic singles like “Everywhere” and “You Make Loving Fun.”
While a band reunion was still possible, she told Rolling Stone last year that she didn’t feel “physically up for” one last tour despite the possibility.
“My health is not very good. I’m crippled with a persistent back condition. I don’t know if I could physically do it because I stand up to play the piano. Which statement is that? The flesh is weak, but the mind is willing, “She spoke. “Being at home makes me very happy. I’m not sure if I want to go on tour again. It’s bloody difficult work. I’ll say that we might and leave it at that.”
In July 1943, McVie was born in the British town of Bouth into a musical family. Her grandpa played the Westminster Abbey organ, and her father, Cyril, was a concert violinist and a music instructor at a nearby school.
Despite going to Birmingham’s art college, she started playing music in the late 1960s and became the pianist for the blues group Chicken Shack. She married Fleetwood Mac bassist John McVie in 1968, and two years later, she officially became a group member.
Beginning with Future Games in 1971, McVie’s soulful vocals (she ultimately shared lead vocal duties with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham) and keyboards significantly impacted Fleetwood Mac’s sound. More Fleetwood Mac singles have her singing lead than Nicks or Buckingham.
The McVie songs “Don’t Stop,” “Songbird,” “Oh Daddy,” and “You Make Loving Fun,” which are alleged to be about her affair with the band’s lighting director, were included on the band’s seminal 1977 album Rumours, one of the best-selling recordings of all time.
Although the band’s emotional struggle was a factor in the album’s composition, McVie said to Rolling Stone in June that despite her ignorance at the time, she served as a rock for the group.
She added, “I was supposed to be the Mother Teresa who would hang around with everyone or try to [keep] everything pleasant and cool and relaxed. “However, they were wonderful people and excellent friends. Even though I tend to be very calm, I love the storm. Although it’s been stated that we quarreled a lot, we laughed a lot.”
Read more:
Despite divorcing in 1976, McVie and John remained good friends and bandmates. She released three solo albums over the years, including a self-titled record in 1984 that reached a peak of No. 26 on the Billboard 200, even though she continued to record with Fleetwood Mac throughout the years and with a changing lineup.
The musician later rejoined the original Fleetwood Mac lineup, including John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, and Stevie Nicks, for the live album The Dance, which debuted at number one on the charts when it was released in 1997. The star wed keyboardist Eddy Quintela in 1986; they divorced in 2003.
Although McVie took a 15-year vacation from the group in the early 2000s, she formally rejoined in 2014 and has since gone on several protracted tours with them. In 2017, she and Buckingham also released an album together.
“In my life, I believe that I followed my plan rather successfully. Sincerely, I don’t think I offered myself any advice. “In June, she spoke to Rolling Stone. “I believe I continued with what I was doing and relished every minute. The most beautiful times in my life occurred when we were the Buckingham-Nicks version of Fleetwood Mac. To me, that was the finest.”
Leave a Reply