Christine McVie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Christine McVie
McVie performing in 2019
Born	Christine Anne Perfect (1943-07-12)12 July 1943 Bouth, Lancashire, England
Died	30 November 2022(2022-11-30) (aged 79)
Occupation	Musician singer songwriter
Years active	1966–1998 2004 2013–2022
Spouse(s)	John McVie ​ ​ (m. 1968; div. 1976)​ Eduardo Quintela ​ ​ (m. 1986; div. 2003)​
Musical career
Origin	Birmingham, England
Genres	Blues blues rock pop rock rock soft rock
Instruments	Vocals keyboards
Labels	Blue Horizon Reprise E1 (US) Sanctuary Columbia
Signature

Christine Anne McVie (born Perfect; 12 July 1943 – 30 November 2022) was an English musician and songwriter. She was most famous as the keyboard player and one of the main singers for the band Fleetwood Mac.

McVie was part of several bands, including Chicken Shack, in the mid-1960s British blues music scene. She started working with Fleetwood Mac in 1968. She first played as a guest musician, then joined the band officially in 1970. Her first songs with Fleetwood Mac appeared on their fifth album, Future Games.

She stayed with the band through many changes. She wrote songs and sang lead vocals. She was called "the main force behind some of Fleetwood Mac's biggest hits." Eight songs she wrote or co-wrote, like "Don't Stop" and "Everywhere", were on Fleetwood Mac's 1988 Greatest Hits album. She also released three solo albums.

As a member of Fleetwood Mac, McVie was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1998, she won a Brit Award for her amazing contribution to music. After almost 30 years with Fleetwood Mac, she left the band in 1998. She lived a quieter life and released a solo album in 2004.

She performed with Fleetwood Mac again in London in 2013. She officially rejoined the band in 2014 for their On with the Show tour. McVie received several awards for her songwriting. These included the Gold Badge of Merit Award in 2006 and the Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2014. She also won two Grammy Awards.

Early Life and Music

Growing Up

Christine McVie was born on 12 July 1943, in a village called Bouth in England. She grew up near Birmingham. Her father, Cyril Perfect, was a concert violinist and music teacher. Her mother, Beatrice Perfect, was a psychic. McVie's grandfather was an organist at Westminster Abbey.

She started playing piano at age four. She began studying music seriously at age 11. She had classical training until she was 15. Then, she became interested in rock and roll music. She was inspired by artists like Fats Domino and the Everly Brothers.

Starting in Music

McVie studied art for five years. She wanted to become an art teacher. While at art school, she met musicians in the blues scene. She joined a band called Sounds of Blue. She also sang with Spencer Davis.

After art school, she moved to London. She worked briefly as a window dresser. She didn't have enough money to start an art career.

Chicken Shack

In 1967, Christine Perfect heard that her friends were forming a blues band called Chicken Shack. They needed a pianist. She joined the band as a pianist, keyboard player, and backing singer. Her first song with Chicken Shack was "It's Okay with Me Baby."

She stayed with Chicken Shack for two albums. Her blues piano playing and singing were very clear. Chicken Shack had a hit song with "I'd Rather Go Blind", where McVie sang lead vocals. She won an award for the UK's best female vocalist in 1969 and 1970. She left Chicken Shack in 1969. She had married Fleetwood Mac bassist John McVie a year earlier. She wanted to be with her husband.

Fleetwood Mac

McVie was a big fan of Fleetwood Mac. The two bands often met while touring. Both bands were on the same record label, Blue Horizon. McVie played piano on some of Fleetwood Mac's songs before she officially joined. She also released her own solo album, Christine Perfect.

In 1970, she was asked to join Fleetwood Mac as a keyboard player. This happened after Peter Green left the band. She had already helped with piano and backing vocals on their album Kiln House. She also drew the album cover. The band needed another musician to make their sound complete. McVie already knew many of their songs.

Becoming a Key Member

McVie became a very important part of Fleetwood Mac. She played keyboards, wrote songs, and sang lead vocals. Before she joined, the band thought about breaking up. But, as band member Mick Fleetwood said, "Christine became the glue." She made their sound much better.

The first album where McVie was a full band member was Future Games in 1971. On this album, she also worked with American guitarist Bob Welch.

In 1974, McVie moved to California with Fleetwood Mac. Bob Welch left the band. Then, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham joined. The band now had two female lead singers who also wrote songs. McVie and Nicks became good friends. Their voices sounded perfect together.

On the 1975 album Fleetwood Mac, McVie wrote and sang lead on four songs. These included "Warm Ways" and "Over My Head". Her songs "Over My Head" and "Say You Love Me" became top-20 hits. "Over My Head" helped Fleetwood Mac become popular on American radio.

McVie in 1977

In 1976, McVie wrote "You Make Loving Fun" for their next album, Rumours (1977). This song became a top-10 hit. Her biggest hit from Rumours was "Don't Stop", which reached the top five. Rumours also included McVie's beautiful ballad "Songbird".

By the end of the Rumours tour, Christine and John McVie had divorced. They remained friends and continued to work together.

Later Years with Fleetwood Mac

McVie had a hit song called "Think About Me" from the 1979 album Tusk. After the Tusk tour, the band took a break. They reunited in 1981 to record the album Mirage. Released in 1982, Mirage brought the band back to the top of the US charts. It included the top-five hit "Hold Me", which McVie co-wrote.

McVie released her second solo album, Christine McVie, in 1984. It had hits like "Got a Hold on Me" and "Love Will Show Us How". She said she wanted the album to be honest and pleasing to her own ears.

She married keyboardist Eddy Quintela in 1986. They wrote songs together for Fleetwood Mac albums. She rejoined Fleetwood Mac in 1987 to record Tango in the Night. This album was a huge success. McVie's song "Little Lies", co-written with Quintela, was the biggest hit from the album. Another McVie song, "Everywhere", also became a big hit.

In 1990, the band recorded Behind the Mask. McVie's song "Save Me" reached the US top 40. Her father passed away in 1990 while she was on tour. She decided to stop touring after that.

She stayed with the band and wrote new songs for later albums. In 1997, Fleetwood Mac recorded a live album called The Dance, which was very popular. McVie performed with the group for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. She also performed at the Grammy Awards and Brit Awards. After 1998, she decided not to continue with Fleetwood Mac. She said she had developed a fear of flying.

Time Away from Fleetwood Mac

After The Dance, McVie went back to England to be near her family. She mostly stayed out of public view. In 2000, she accepted an honorary music degree. Five years after leaving Fleetwood Mac, she and Eddy Quintela divorced.

In 2004, McVie released her third solo album, In the Meantime. She also played as a guest musician on Fleetwood Mac's last studio album, Say You Will. She attended a Fleetwood Mac concert in London in 2003 but did not join them on stage.

She received the Gold Badge of Merit Award in 2006 for her songwriting. In 2012, Stevie Nicks said it was unlikely McVie would rejoin the band. However, things changed.

Return to Fleetwood Mac

Buckingham and McVie performing live in 2017

In 2013, McVie performed on stage in Hawaii with the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band. This was her first performance in 15 years. Later that year, she joined Fleetwood Mac on stage in London to play "Don't Stop." The audience loved her return.

On 11 January 2014, Mick Fleetwood announced that McVie was rejoining the band. This was officially confirmed two days later.

In 2016, Mick Fleetwood mentioned that Lindsey Buckingham and McVie had written many new songs. He suggested they could even make a duet album.

The album Lindsey Buckingham Christine McVie was released on 9 June 2017. It was followed by a tour. They performed many songs from the new album, along with Fleetwood Mac songs. In 2018, Fleetwood Mac announced that Lindsey Buckingham would be replaced by other musicians.

In 2019, McVie was featured in a BBC documentary called Fleetwood Mac's Songbird – Christine McVie.

Other Music Projects

McVie also sang with other artists. She sang with Christopher Cross on his 1988 album. She also sang with Bob Welch on his solo version of "Sentimental Lady".

Personal Life

Christine Perfect married John McVie in 1968. Peter Green was the best man at their wedding. Instead of a honeymoon, they celebrated with Joe Cocker in Birmingham. They divorced in 1976 but remained good friends and continued to work together.

From 1979 to 1982, she dated Dennis Wilson from the Beach Boys. McVie married Portuguese keyboardist Eddy Quintela in 1986. They wrote several songs together, including "Little Lies". They divorced in 2003.

During Fleetwood Mac's most successful period, McVie lived in Los Angeles. In 1990, she moved to a historic manor house in England. She retired there after leaving Fleetwood Mac in 1998. She found inspiration in the countryside and worked on her solo music. After rejoining Fleetwood Mac in 2014, she spent more time in London.

Death

Christine McVie passed away in hospital on 30 November 2022, at age 79. Her family announced her death. Fleetwood Mac said she was "the best musician anyone could have in their band and the best friend anyone could have in their life." Stevie Nicks called McVie her "best friend in the whole world."

Discography

With Chicken Shack

Solo Albums

With Fleetwood Mac

Compilation Albums

Singles

See also

In Spanish: Christine McVie para niños