At Age 79, Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie Passed Away

Singer-songwriter and keyboardist Christine McVie of the illustrious British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac have died at 79.

Her family took to Facebook to announce her peaceful demise on Nov. 30th following a short illness for which she had been hospitalized.

Both the band and its members have released their statements sharing their condolences to her family and remembering her special artistic talent and inspirational personality.

“The best musician anyone could have in their band and the best friend anyone could have in their life” read the official statement of Fleetwood Mac.

Ms. McVie’s stardom peaked during the late ‘70s and ‘80s as Fleetwood Mac’s “Greatest Hits” series of songs sold millions of copies worldwide. She helped write half of the sixteen tracks in the album that topped the Billboard charts.

To Rock ‘n’ Roll During Her Mid-Teens

Some of her most popular songs written include, “Say You Love Me”, “You Make Loving Fun”, and “Hold Me” (which reached the top 4 in the chart). 

Other memorable works like “Don’t Stop”, and “Over My Head” (which reached the top 20), are still revered by fans and are held close to heart by the members. 

Playing for Fleetwood Mac Ms. McVie made five gold, one platinum, and seven multi-platinum albums with the most successful one, “Rumours” released in 1977. “Rumours” went on to become one of the biggest influencers in pop history which sold over 20 million copies as a double diamond album. 

Ms. McVie was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame along with other members of Fleetwood Mac in 1998. Even before joining the legendary band, McVie secured a no.14 British hit with Chicken Shack, a  blues band, for singing the lead in a cover of Etta James’s “I’d Rather Go Blind”.

Born Christinne Ann Perfect on July 12, 1943, in the Lake District of England, she was the second child to Cyril and Beatrice (Reece) Perfect. Her father was a classical violinist and college music professor who encouraged her to take piano lessons when she was 11. She was also influenced by her brother John who was also a musician. 

Her focus on music changed dramatically after 4 years and turned to rock ‘n’ roll during her mid-teens. 

Ms. McVie studied sculpture at Birmingham Art College and considered a career as an art teacher. After graduating from college in 1966, McVie moved to London to work as a window dresser for a department store.

She joined the band Chicken Shack a year later as a keyboardist and singer and wrote a couple of songs for the band’s debut album, “40 Blue Finger, Freshly Packed and Ready to Serve”. The British weekly Melody Maker 1969-70  named her the best female vocalist. 

Related: Christine McVie’s 12 Essential Songs

Ms. McVie married Fleetwood Mac’s bassist, John McVie, in 1970 and was invited to join the band after its guitarist Peter Green quit the band after a calamitous acid trip. She described it as a nervous experience joining her favorite band but went on to write two of the catchiest songs of the band in her first official release. The band moved from British blues to the Southern California folk-rock genre after singer, songwriter, and guitarist Bob Welch joined their ranks. 

McVie performed with the group for nearly 30 years before leaving the band. 

The band came together again in 1997 for a tour of the live album “The Dance”, which became one of the top-selling concert records of all time.