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Christine McVie, the singer-songwriter behind some of Fleetwood Macâs biggest hits, died Wednesday following a brief illness, according to a statement posted by her family on her verified Instagram account.
She was 79.
âOn behalf of Christine McVieâs family, it is with a heavy heart we are informing you of Christineâs death. She passed away peacefully at hospital this morning, Wednesday, November 30th 2022, following a short illness,â the statement reads. âShe was in the company of her family.â
The statement went on to read: âWe kindly ask that you respect the familyâs 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.â
Fleetwood Mac paid tribute to McVie in a statement, which was also posted on her account.
âThere are no words to describe our sadness at the passing of Christine McVie,â the bandâs statement read. âShe 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.â
Born 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 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.
âChicken Shack used to open for [Fleetwood Mac],â she told The Guardian in June 2022. âI got to know John, fell in love with him and it was just sensational and exciting. Fleetwood Mac were fantastic and really funny.â
The group underwent several member changes before Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham joined in 1974 and the band shot to super stardom.
McVie wrote and/or sang several of their hits including âDonât Stop,â âOver My Head,â âYou Make Loving Funâ and âSay You Love Me.â
Fleetwood Mac underwent some instability with both the ending of the McViesâ marriage, as well as Buckingham and Nicksâ personal relationship.
Buckingham opted to leave the band and go solo in 1987, followed by Nicks who went solo in 1990.
McVie also went solo and earlier this year released a compilation of her solo work titled âSongbird (A Solo Collection).â
But despite the bandâs interpersonal struggles, their musical chemistry was undeniable and they did eventually reunite.
âI 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,â McVie told The Guardian about her 16 year hiatus from Fleetwood Mac. âI called Mick and asked: âHow would you feel about me coming back to the band?â He got in touch with everybody and we had a band meeting over the phone and they all went: âCome baaaack!!â I felt regenerated and I felt like writing again.â
Fleetwood Mac was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
Tributes for McVie poured in to social media on Wednesday.
âWe were so lucky to have a life with her,â Fleetwood Mac said in their statement. âIndividually and together, we cherished Christine deeply and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. She will be so very missed.â
Nicks, meanwhile, shared a handwritten letter to her bandmate on Instagram, along with a photo of herself with McVie. âA few hours ago I was told that my best friend in the whole world since the first day of 1975, had passed away. I didnât even know she was ill⌠until late Saturday night.â
Nicks said since learning of McVieâs illness, the song âHallelujahâ by Haim, a folksy ballad about friendship and loss, has been âswirling aroundâ in her head. âI thought I might possibly get to sing it to her, and so, Iâm singing it to her now.â
Ann Wilson, of the band Heart, told CNN in a statement: âChristine was a gem. Soulful, classy and a beautiful songwriter. âOver My Headâ was always my sultry, angelic favorite. Bon Voyage sweet soul!â
On Twitter, the rock band Garbage paid tribute, writing: âGutted to learn about the passing of Christine McVie. Just gutted. Songbird forever.â
The Eagles wrote on Facebook that the band was âdeeply saddenedâ by the news of McVieâs passing, calling her a âvibrant, soulful spiritâ and her music âa gift to the world.â
âWe had the utmost admiration and respect for Christine,â their statement said. âWe send our heartfelt condolences to her family, her bandmates, and her legions of fans.â
Sumber: www.cnn.com