The Heartbreaking Death Of Fleetwood Mac Member Christine McVie
Fleetwood Mac, one of the most influential rock bands, has tragically lost one of its members. Christine McVie — singer, songwriter, and keyboardist for the group — has passed away at the age of 79, as confirmed by her family and reported by Variety.
"On behalf of Christine McVie's family, it is with a heavy heart we are informing you of Christine's death," her family released in a statement. "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. We kindly ask that you respect the family's privacy at this extremely painful time, and we 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. RIP Christine McVie."
McVie joined the band in the 1970s and was a key member during their great success alongside Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, and ex-husband, John McVie (via the BBC).
McVie was one of original members of Fleetwood Mac
Christine McVie, born Christine Perfect, was an original member of Fleetwood Mac. She was onboard with the group when it was a British blues-rock band, before Americans Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined (via Variety).
The band released a statement on Twitter that read, "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. We were so lucky to have a life with her. Individually and together, we cherished Christine deeply and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. She will be so very missed."
McVie wrote the songs Little Lies, Everywhere, Don't Stop, Say You Love Me, and Songbird (per the BBC). She left the band in 1998 but returned in 2014 where she toured the world during the group's revival.
Christine McVie had special relationships with her bandmates
Christine McVie had a major impact on Fleetwood Mac. Her relationship with her ex-husband, John McVie, ended during her time with the group and inspired one of the band's most popular and influential albums, "Rumours" (per NBC News). However, she thinks she may have been able to save her relationship with John had they not been in the band together.
"I dare say, if I hadn't joined Fleetwood Mac, we might still be together," McVie told Rolling Stone. "I just think it's impossible to work in the band with your spouse. Imagine the tension of living with someone 24 hours a day, on the road, in an already stressful situation, with the added negativity of too much alcohol. It just blew apart."
Although their relationship did not last, their time in the band continued. The couple filed for divorce in 1978, a year after the release of "Rumours" took them to peak popularity. They were able to maintain a close friendship that persisted throughout the rest of her time with the band.
Stevie Nicks penned a heart-wrenching tribute to her late friend
John McVie was not the only member of the band to have a close bond with Christine, however. In February of 2022, Stevie Nicks told The New Yorker, "First of all, to be in a band with another girl who was this amazing musician—she kind of instantly became my best friend," adding, "Christine was a whole other ballgame."
Following the news of McVie's death, Nicks penned a handwritten note and posted it to Twitter. "A few hours ago I was told that my best friend in the whole world since the first day of 1975, had passed away," she wrote. After writing out the lyrics to a fitting song by the band HAIM, the singer finished her post with the words: "See you on the other side, my love, Don't forget me."
McVie's time with Fleetwood Mac landed her two Grammy Awards and induction into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. She was nothing short of a legend.