Happy birthday to former Fleetwood Mac singer Christine McVie, who turns 70-years old today (July 12).
Christine Perfect was the piano player for Chicken Shack from 1967 to 1969. Her band Chicken Shack and Mick Fleetwood and John McVie’s band Fleetwood Mac would often share a bill.
Fleetwood and McVie asked Christine to guest on the second Fleetwood Mac album ‘Mr Wonderful’ in 1968. She also appeared on the next two Fleetwood Mac albums ‘Then Play On’ (1969) and ‘Kiln House’ (1970) before becoming a permanent member of Fleetwood Mac for their 5th album ‘Future Games’ after her marriage to John McVie.
In 1974, Fleetwood Mac relocated to the USA and recruited Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham of duo Buckingham Nicks to their line-up. The supergroup was complete.
With Buckingham and Nicks in the band, Fleetwood Mac recorded their classic ‘Fleetwood Mac’ album featuring Christine’s ‘Over My Head’, ‘Say You Love Me’ and ‘Warm Ways’ as well as Nicks’ ‘Rhiannon’ and Buckingham’s ‘Monday Morning’.
However, it was the next album ‘Rumours’, fuelled by cocaine and relationship break-ups, that cemented Fleetwood Mac as one of the biggest acts on the planet. ‘Rumours’ won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1978.
Christine’s last studio album with Fleetwood Mac was ‘Time’ in 1995. She was also on the live album ‘The Dance’ (1997) then officially retired from the band.
When Fleetwood Mac released their last studio album ‘Say You Will’ in 2003 Christine was credited as an additional musician and contributed keyboards and backing vocals to ‘Bleed To Love Her’ and ‘Steal Your Heart Away’.
Christine is the first member of Fleetwood Mac to reach 70. Mick Fleetwood is 66, John McVie is 67, Lindsay Buckingham is 63 and Stevie Nicks is 65.
