Christine McVie, a member of the Fleetwood Mac band, died at the age of 79, and Mick Fleetwood and Stevie Nicks led tributes to the “unique” singer. Fleetwood stated that a piece of his heart had “flown away” after receiving the news, while Nicks grieved the loss of his “best friend in the entire world.”
McVie’s family revealed her death on Wednesday following a brief illness. Even though Fleetwood and Nicks later published separate remarks on social media, Fleetwood Mac issued a single statement.
“This is a day where my darling beautiful Friend Christine McVie has risen to fly and left us, earthbound persons, to listen to the melodies of that ‘songbird,’ informing one and all that love is all about us to reach for and touch in this precious life that has been given upon us,” Fleetwood wrote.
“Today, a piece of my heart flew away… Christine McVie, you will be missed in every way. Memories come to me from all directions.”
Nicks stated he wanted to see McVie in London but was unaware of her condition until Saturday night.
“A few hours ago, I was told that my greatest companion in the entire world since the first day of 1975, had passed away,” she wrote on Instagram. “ I was completely unaware that she was ill until late Saturday night. I was desperate to visit London and travel there, but we were told to wait.”
Rumors, one of the best-selling albums of all time and possibly their most famous, was released in 1977 and included singles such as Second Hand News and You Make Loving Fun. The album also had several multi-platinum hits and sold over 40 million copies worldwide.
In a tweet from the band, McVie was described as “truly one-of-a-kind, remarkable, and talented beyond measure.”
“There are no words to explain how deeply we mourn Christine McVie’s death.” According to the statement, she was “unique, outstanding, and very gifted.” She was not only the best friend someone could have, but she was also the best musician anyone could have in their band.
“It was a blessing to share my life with her. We all adored Christine and cherish the lovely memories we have of her. She will be greatly missed.”
Singer-songwriter and keyboardist McVie wrote Songbird, one of the band’s most well-known songs, as well as You Make Loving Fun, Oh Daddy, and Little Lies.
Duran Duran bassist John Taylor stated that McVie “radiated both purity and sass in equal measure.”
“Incredibly sorry to learn about Christine McVie, an artist I held dear and close to my heart,” Taylor said on the group’s account. ” She was a great singer, songwriter, and band member of all time. She radiated innocence and sass in equal measure, lighting 1970s music. RIP.”
Sheryl Crow, a singer from the United States, also paid tribute to Christine McVie, stating, “I am so sad to hear about Christine McVie going on to heaven. The world seems strange without her. What a legend, an icon, and an extraordinary person. RIP.”
Christine Perfect was the title of McVie’s debut solo album in 1970, titled after her maiden name. In an interview this year, she told Uncut magazine, “There are probably a couple great tunes on there.”
Songbird, a compilation of songs from two of her previous solo albums, was released in June of this year by the musician.
She was one of eight members of the band who were named into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. McVie left the band almost three decades later, in 1998, but returned in 2014 when a special performance at the O2 revived her enthusiasm for singing and playing.
“It felt amazing, like I’d never gone,” she reportedly told the Guardian at the time. “When I returned to the stage, I saw the same familiar faces.”
She appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs in 2017 after leaving the band and moving from California to Kent. She talked about how she had gotten more introverted and had developed phobias there.
Peter Green, the other co-founder of Fleetwood Mac, died two years ago at the age of 73.
“It is with great sadness that we inform you of Christine’s death,” her family said in a statement. “She died softly this morning, Wednesday, November 30, 2022, at the hospital, after a brief illness.”
“She was in the room with her family. We humbly ask that you respect the family’s privacy during this extremely difficult time, and that everyone remember Christine as a wonderful human being and revered musician who was loved by all.”
