Remembering Christine McVie (1943-2022)

 Longtime Fleetwood Mac singer Christine McVie passed away in hospital after a brief illness, she was 70 years old. The lovely Christine was a beautiful singer, songwriter, piano/keyboard player for Fleetwood Mac & in a solo career.

Christine Anne Perfect was born in Lancashire, England on July 12th, 1943. Her father was a concert violinist & her mother a physic medium. Originally wanting to be an art teacher but she ended up in the music business.

In 1968 she married Fleetwood Mac bassist John McVie, by 1971 she became a full-time member. It wasn't until 1975 when Stevie Nicks & Lindsay Buckingham joined Mac as the group became one of the biggest rock bands of all time. McVie usually was overshadowed by the star of Stevie Nicks.

In 1975 her biggest songs from the album- Fleetwood Mac, Over My Head & Say You Love Me,
both reached the top twenty in the US. She also co-wrote World Turning with Lindsay Buckingham, as well as Warm Ways & Sugar Daddy on her own.

In 1977 Fleetwood Mac released their biggest album, Rumors. It is considered one of the best albums of all time, selling over 40 million copies worldwide. It reached number one in the US in 1977 staying there for 31 nonconsecutive weeks. It won the Grammy for album of the year as well.

Christine's contributions to Rumors included Don't Stop, which reached #3 in the US, You Make Lovin' Fun which was inspired with an affair she was having with one of the bands lighting techs. That song was a top ten US hit. 

Her classic, Songbird was also on the album & the beautiful ballad often was an encore at Fleetwood Mac shows. Other members of the band admitted to peaking from backstage as she performed the lovely song. She also penned Oh Daddy for Mick Fleetwood who was the only father in the band.

By the end of Rumors, the band was one of the biggest groups in the world, but the McVie's
marriage ended, as did the more publicized relationship of Stevie Nicks & Lindsey Buckingham. The McVie's divorced in 1976 but remained friends for the rest of their lives. Amazingly the album was put together & then toured as these relationships fell apart.

Fleetwood Mac released the double album Tusk in 1979, it was nowhere near as successful as Rumors. Christine had penned six songs on the album, Over & Over / Think About Me/ Brown Eyes / Never Make Me Cry/ Honey Hi & Never Forget. The band took & break, then Stevie Nicks solo career took off.

Fleetwood Mc returned in 1982 with the album Mirage, McVie's Hold Me became the second biggest hit to Stevie Nicks' Gypsy. Hold Me spent a then record seven weeks at #4 on the US charts. The song Only Over You as about her three-year relationship with the Beach Boys Dennis Wilson.

In 1984 she released the second of her four solo albums, the first was in 1970 under the name Christine Perfect.

In 1986 Mac made a comeback with their biggest album since Rumors- Tango in the Night. McVie

had two big hits in Little Lies & Everywhere. In 1990 her song Save Me was the only hit from the album Behind the Mask.

In 1997 she & Fleetwood Mac reunited for the live album which reached number one, The Dance, which was followed up with a highly successful reunion tour. She was away from the band from 1998-2014, then joined the again for their On With The Show Tour from 2014-2015.

In 2017 she & Lindsey Buckingham put out an album & did a 38-show tour. She appeared again with Fleetwood Mac the next year, as they fired Buckingham.