Christine McVie dead aged 79 – Fleetwood Mac singer behind hits including Everywhere has died, her family says
FLEETWOOD Mac singer Christine McVie has died following a short illness, her family have confirmed.
The star – who wrote hits including Little Lies, Everywhere and Don’t Stop – was 79.
She died peacefully at a hospital on Wednesday morning with her family by her side.
The family’s statement added: “It is with a heavy heart we are informing you of Christine‘s death.
“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”.
Rock band Fleetwood Mac, founded in London in 1967, sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the most successful groups ever.
Their best-known songs include Dreams, Go Your Own Way and Everywhere.
Christine’s devastated bandmates described her as “one-of-a-kind, special and talented beyond measure” in a heartbreaking tribute.
A statement from Fleetwood Mac said on Twitter: “There are no words to describe our sadness at the passing of Christine McVie.
“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.”
Meanwhile, Stevie Nicks described Christine as her “best friend in the whole world” and said she had not known Christine was ill until Saturday night, and had wanted to visit her in London.
She wrote on Instagram: “A few hours ago I was told that my best friend in the whole world since the first day of 1975, had passed away.
“I didn’t even know she was ill … until late Saturday night. I wanted to be in London, I wanted to get to London – but we were told to wait.
“So, since Saturday, one song has been swirling around my head, over and over and over. I thought I might possibly get to sing it to her, and so I’m singing it to her now.
“I always knew I would need these words one day…It’s all I can do now.”
Mick Fleetwood also paid tribute to his late bandmate, saying “part of my heart has flown away”.
He wrote on Twitter: “This is a day where my dear sweet Friend Christine McVie has taken to flight and left us earthbound folks to listen with bated breath to the sounds of that ‘song bird,’ reminding one and all that love is all around us to reach for and touch in this precious life that is gifted to us.
“Part of my heart has flown away today.. I will miss everything about you Christine McVie.
“Memories abound.. they fly to me.”
Despite its tumultuous history, Fleetwood Mac became one of the famed rock bands of the 1970s and 80s, comprising of Mick Fleetwood, Christine and John McVie, as well as Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.
Over three decades, Christine was part of the Fleetwood Mac circus – a rollercoaster ride of dizzying highs and crashing lows before she quit and retreated to the Kent countryside.
Christine, born Christine Perfect in Bouth, Lancashire, had been playing the piano since childhood but set aside her classical training once she heard early rock records by Fats Domino and others.
While studying at the Moseley School of Art, she befriended various members of Britain’s emerging blues scene and, in her 20s, joined the band Chicken Shack as a singer and piano player.
Among the rival bands, she admired was Fleetwood Mac, which then featured the talents of blues guitarist Peter Green along with the rhythm section of Fleetwood and McVie.
She joined Fleetwood Mac in 1970 as the keyboardist after marrying John McVie and contributing to the backup vocals on Kiln House.
ROCK AND ROLL LIFE
The band was rocked by a number of scandalous affairs at its peak in the mid-1970s.
John McVie once even joked: “About the only people in the band who haven’t had an affair are me and Lindsey.”
Christine had an affair with the band’s married sound engineer Martin Birth in 1973.
By the time the group came to record Rumours, the McVies – though still legally married – were barely speaking, Christine later revealed.
During the production of Rumours, she had a fling with Fleetwood Mac’s lighting engineer, Curry Grant.
The relationship inspired the song You Make Loving Fun and she told John the song was about her dog “to avoid flare-ups”.
She and John divorced in 1976.
The split inspired the renowned 1977 album Rumours, as well as the breakup of the band’s other couple, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.
It became one of the best-selling albums of all time and included hits such as Second Hand News and You Make Loving Fun.
In addition to several multi-platinum tracks, the record sold more than 40 million copies worldwide.
But as the 1990s drew to a close, McVie said she just wanted “to chill and be ordinary” and she returned to the UK after moving to the US for the band.
It wasn’t for another 15 years that she appeared on stage again in 2013 with the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band.
She then rejoined Fleetwood Mac the following year.
After divorcing John in 1976, McVie dated Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys for three years before marrying Portuguese keyboardist Eddy Quintela in 1986.
The pair divorced in 2003 after working together on a number of songs including Little Lies.
McVie’s death comes two years after Fleetwood Mac co-founder Peter Green died at the age of 73.
Fleetwood Mac, co-founded by drummer Mick Fleetwood in 1967, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
