Born on 12th July 943 in Greenodd in the United Kingdom to a father who was a music teacher, McVie was a classically trained musician who performed under the name Christine Perfect with the British band Chicken Shack in the late 1960s.
She got linked up with Fleetwood Mac after marrying its bass guitarist, John McVie, at a time when the band was being led by guitarist and founder Peter Green.
The singer died on 30th November i.e. yesterday because of some illness as informed by her family through an Instagram post from her verified account.
The post read:
“On behalf of Christine McVie’s family, it is with a heavy heart we are informing you of Christine’s death. She passed away peacefully at the hospital this morning, Wednesday, November 30th, 2022, following a short illness. She was in the company of her family.”
They further added that they expect respect toward the family’s privacy at this painful time and would like everyone to keep Christine in their hearts and remember the life of an incredible human being, and revered musician who was loved universally.
Fleetwood Mac also paid tribute to McVie in a statement, which was also posted on her account.
“There are no words to describe our sadness at the passing of Christine McVie”
“She was 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.”
Fleetwood Mac Band’s Statement
She told The Guardian in June 2022 “Chicken Shack would open for [Fleetwood Mac] and I got to know John, fell in love with him, and in it was just sensational and exciting. Fleetwood Mac was fantastic and funny.”
There were songs that McVie wrote and/or sang several of their hits including “Don’t Stop,” “Over My Head,” “You Make Loving Fun” and “Say You Love Me.”
Later the band experienced some instability with the ending of McVie’s marriage and Buckingham and Nicks’s relationship. After which they got out. Nick went solo in 1990, then Buckingham in 1987, and then McVie too earlier this year released a compilation of her song titled “Songbird (A Solo Collection)”.
But despite the band’s interpersonal struggles, their musical chemistry was undeniable and they did eventually reunite.
“I just wanted to embrace being in the English countryside and not have to troop around on the road. I moved to Kent, and I loved being able to walk around the streets, nobody knowing who I was. Then of course I started to miss it,” McVie told The Guardian about her 16-year hiatus from Fleetwood Mac. “I called Mick and asked: ‘How would you feel about me coming back to the band?’ He got in touch with everybody and we had a band meeting over the phone and they all went: ‘Come back!!’ I felt regenerated and I felt like writing again.”
Tributes for McVie poured into social media on Wednesday.
Nick shared a handwritten letter to her best friend on Instagram with their photo saying that she didn’t know about her illness till Saturday night and was just told a few hours ago that her best friend is no more.
Nicks said since learning of McVie’s illness, the song “Hallelujah” by Haim, a folksy ballad about friendship and loss, has been “swirling around” in her head. “I thought I might get to sing it to her, and so, I’m singing it to her now.”
Ann Wilson, of the band Heart, told CNN in a statement: “Christine was a gem. Soulful, classy, and a beautiful songwriter. ‘Over My Head’ was always my sultry, angelic favorite. Bon Voyage sweet soul!”
On Twitter, the rock band Garbage paid tribute, writing: “Gutted to learn about the passing of Christine McVie. Just gutted. Songbird forever.”
The Eagles wrote on Facebook that the band was “deeply saddened” by the news of McVie’s passing, calling her a “vibrant, soulful spirit” and her music “a gift to the world.”
“We had the utmost admiration and respect for Christine”
Eagles Statement
It is very disheartening news even if we all have to move on from it. The industry has lost an artist who created and presented to the world the best of her works and dedicated herself to her career thus inspiring many.
