Farewell, Songbird: Fleetwood Mac Singer Christine McVie Passes Away
The music industry bids a fond farewell to Fleetwood Mac singer-songwriter Christine McVie, who passed away at the end of November aged 79.
The band expressed their sadness at Christine’s passing via social media, describing her as a one-of-a-kind talent and “the best friend anyone could have in their life.”
Christine joined Fleetwood Mac in 1970 as a keyboardist. She became an integral part of the band by co-writing hits such as ‘Don’t Stop’, ‘Everywhere’ and ‘Little Lies’ among other classic tracks.
She married Fleetwood Mac bassist John McVie in 1968. She joined the band after the departure of founding guitarist Peter Green who died in 2020. Peter was also the best man at Christine and John’s wedding.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXveFeQFyuU
Christine established herself as a formidable songwriter and vocalist within the group prior to the addition of Stevie Nicks and her husband, guitarist Lindsey Buckingham in 1975.
That same year the band released their self-titled album. It included McVie’s chart-topping songs ‘Over My Head’ and ‘Say You Love Me’.
In 1977, Fleetwood Mac released their eleventh album ‘Rumours’. The record provided some of the band’s most-loved hits as well as charting the demise of personal relationships within the band.
Life in a band is never easy, and it took its toll on the McVie’s relationship with the couple divorcing after the ‘Rumours’ tour. Nicks and Buckingham had also parted ways, as notoriously documented in the Buckingham-penned ‘Go Your Own Way’.
Outside of Fleetwood Mac, McVie recorded three solo albums throughout her career and contributed vocals for recordings by Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys as well as Christopher Cross.
She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 as a member of Fleetwood Mac and re-joined the band in 2014 for a series of live performances. She also released an album with Lindsey Buckingham in 2017 prior to his final firing in 2018.
Fleetwood Mac owes much to Christine McVie and her significant hit-making contributions to the band. Loving tributes continue to flow for the late Songbird, whose voice and lyricism captured the hearts of millions.
