Who is Stevie Nicks and what happened to Christine McVie?

FLEETWOOD Mac created some of music’s most iconic hits from the 1970s and beyond.

However, it wasn’t always harmonious between Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie or the other members.

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Who is Stevie Nicks?

Stevie Nicks, born May 26, 1948, is an American singer and musician from Phoenix, Arizona.

In 1967, Stevie joined her future ex-boyfriend and bandmate Lindsey Buckingham’s group Fritz.

After Fritz disbanded in 1972, Stevie and Lindsey performed as a duo until meeting Mick Fleetwood.

On December 31, 1974, Mick specifically asked Lindsey to join Fleetwood Mac.

Lindsey urged Mick to recruit Stevie as well, and in 1975 Fleetwood Mac released their first studio album.

As part of the group, Stevie found success as Fleetwood’s songs Landslide, Rhiannon, Little Lies, Go Your Own Way, Hold Me and Everywhere gained mainstream popularity.

On July 27, 1981, Stevie released her debut solo album, Bella Donna.

Regardless, she’s credited with being the voice behind the hits “Edge of Seventeen,” “Stand Back,” “Talk to Me,” and “Did Anyone Ever Write Anything for You?”.

In September 2014, her eighth solo project, 24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault, was released to listeners everywhere.

Stevie’s last album with Fleetwood Mac was the 2003 project Say You Will.

Say You Will featured a minimal contribution from Stevie’s late bandmate, Christine McVie.

What happened between Stevie and Christine McVie?

During Fleetwood Mac’s time together, the group dynamic has seen ups and downs in their relationships.

Stevie’s relationship with Christine McVie was no exception.

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The friendship between Stevie and the late Christine is one of camaraderie and support.

However, there would be times when the couple’s friendship saw friction.

As a result, both openly admitted that they had not spoken to each other for some time.

Referring to their early years together in Fleetwood, Christine told The Guardian: “It was crucial that I got along with her because I had never played with any other girl.

“I liked her straight away. She was fun and nice, but there was no competition either.

“We were completely different on stage and we also wrote differently.”

Stevie echoed Christine’s sentiments, telling NME: “We felt like together, we were a force of nature.

“We probably made a pact in our first rehearsal that we would never accept being treated as second-class citizens in the music business.

“When we walked into a room, we were so awesome and so strong and so smart that none of the super rock star men would look right through us… and they never did.”

Sometime in the early 1980s, the singers’ friendship took a turn and they drifted apart.

It appeared to be taking place around the same time as Stevie was seeing solo celebrity with Bella Donna, mourning the death of her boyfriend Robin Anderson, and coincidentally going through a very short-lived marriage to Robin’s widower, Kim Anderson.

Christine told Rolling Stone at the time: “She thought it was what Robin would have wanted.

“They’ve known each other for a long time and it didn’t seem like crazy love to me. I didn’t buy her a wedding present.

“Ten years ago she was really down to earth and had a tremendous sense of humor, which she still has.

“But she seems to have kind of created her own fantasy world, which I’m not a part of. We don’t socialize much.”

When did Stevie and Christine make up?

Although the “best friends” cut ties in the early 1980s, they fixed things years later.

Since making amends, the two have supported each other on various occasions.

The bandmates stayed in touch even after Christine left Fleetwood Mac in 1998.

Recalling her groupmates’ decision, Stevie told Vulture: “I understood why. I understood that in her heart of hearts she couldn’t do it anymore.

“I love Chris and she was my best friend for 30 years. So when your best friend looks you in the eye and says, ‘I can’t do this anymore’, you just have to let her go. And that’s what I did.”

In September 2013 Christine played her first Fleetwood show in 15 years and rejoined the band in September 2014.

Speaking about her reunion with Stevie and the others, Christine told theartsdesk, “Stevie and I are really good friends.

“In fact, I think we’re better friends now than we were 16 years ago.

“If it’s the Buckingham/Nicks show that John and Mick are supporting, that’s going to cause a lot of tension and stress.

“But having me in there gave Stevie a chance to catch his breath and not have this constant thing with Lindsey. Your sister was back.”

She toured twice more with Fleetwood Mac and Stevie before Christine’s death on November 30, 2022.

Months earlier, in June of this year, the singer revealed that she and Stevie had once again not spoken to each other.

Christine told Rolling Stone: “I don’t communicate much with Stevie.

“We did a lot on the last tour. We always sat next to each other on the plane and got along really well.

“But since the band broke up, I haven’t spoken to her at all.”

What did Stevie say about Christine’s death?

Upon learning of Christine’s death, Stevie took to social media to mourn the loss of her longtime friend.

She posted 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 sick … until late Saturday night. I wanted to be in London, I wanted to come to London – but we were told to wait.

“So since Saturday, there’s a song that’s been buzzing around in my head over and over again.

“I thought maybe I could sing it to her, so I’m singing it to her now.”

Remembering the late Christine, she added, “I always knew I would need those words someday… It’s all I can do now.”

“See you on the other side, my dear. Do not forget me. Always, Stevie.”