Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac dead at 79
Donate
NEW YORK — Christine McVie, the English hitmaker and keyboardist who found fame in the 1970s as a member of Fleetwood Mac, died Wednesday, the band and her family said. She was 79 years old.
A family statement posted on McVie’s social media said the artist died “peacefully” while hospitalized “following a short illness.”
In a separate statement from Fleetwood Mac, the legendary band called McVie — who joined the group behind “Rumours” in 1970 and penned a number of their hits — “truly one-of-a-kind, special and talented beyond measure.”
“She was the best musician anyone could have in their band and the best friend anyone could have in their life,” the statement continued.
“She will be so very missed.”
Born Christine Anne Perfect on July 12, 1943 in England, the artist studying sculpture fell in with musicians in Britain’s blues scene and her nascent career in rock began.
In 1967 she joined the blues band Chicken Shack, which routinely came across Fleetwood Mac, and played piano as a session musician on a number of Peter Green’s songs off the latter band’s second album “Mr. Wonderful.”
She married member and bassist John McVie in 1968, and joined the group officially in 1970, becoming a mainstay member as a lyricist, lead vocalist and keyboardist.
When the group went stateside and added members Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, McVie penned a number of hit songs off their 1975 self-titled album, including “Over My Head” and “Say You Love Me.”
Her biggest hit was “Don’t Stop,” off the seminal “Rumours” album, which also included her songs “Songbird” and “You Make Loving Fun,” a track about her affair with the band’s lighting director.
The McVies divorced by the end of the tour — a closing chapter to one of many of Fleetwood’s well-known, tumultuous love stories that inspired their hit music.
Despite its ever-changing lineup and juicy internal drama, Fleetwood Mac is one of the most popular and influential bands of the 1970s and 1980s.
McVie was inducted alongside fellow band members into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
- bio
- latest posts
Executives Talk
Meet The Mayor
THEIR LIFE THEIR STORY
EDITOR'S PICK
Most Popular
DAY
-
For die-hard fans, comeback kid Trump can do no wrong - Ford shares fall as Q4 profits lag estimates
- Markets mostly rise but tech earnings dent recovery optimism
- Global stocks slump on recession fears
- GE Announces the Successful Completion of the Open Cycle of the Azito Phase IV Power Plant, Generating Approximately 8% of Ivory Coast Current Installed Electricity Capacity
- US jogger’s death sparks emotional outcry and political debate
WEEK
MONTH
- For die-hard fans, comeback kid Trump can do no wrong
- Twitter to Label Tweets by Leaders Who Break Its Rules
- Turkey bans import of polymer waste
- Occultist accused of homeless voter scheme in California mayor bid
- US state reports first litter of wolf pups in 80 years
- To pay or not to pay? The dilemma for ransomware victims
POST YOUR COMMENTS
MAORANDCITIES.COM uses both Facebook and Disqus comment systems to make it easier for you to contribute. We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. All comments should be relevant to the topic. By posting, you agree to our Privacy Policy. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, name-calling, foul language or other inappropriate behavior. Please keep your comments relevant and respectful. By leaving the ‘Post to Facebook’ box selected – when using Facebook comment system – your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the “X” in the upper right corner of the Facebook comment box to report spam or abuse. You can also email us.