Singer, songwriter and musician best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac, Christine McVie has died at the age of 79 after a short illness.

Despite its tumultuous history, Fleetwood Mac became one of the most famous rock bands of the 1970s and 80s, made up of Mick Fleetwood, Christine and John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.

Christine McVie joined the band in 1970 and would go on to write some of the band’s biggest hits including Everywhere, Tell Me Lies, Say You Love Me, and Oh Daddy.

Christine Perfect, as she was then, married John McVie, the band’s bass guitarist, in 1968.

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Having married John McVie, the band’s bass guitarist in 1968, Christine had great success with the band and her song-writing skills were perhaps most evident in the 1975 album Fleetwood Mac, 1977’s Rumours, and 1979’s Tusk and 1987’s Tango in the Night.

The You Make Loving Fun singer died peacefully at a hospital in the company of her family, a statement said.

McVie left Fleetwood Mac after 28 years in 1998 but returned in 2014 and enjoyed success through her solo albums, including her self-titled album, Christine McVie in 1984, and an album she released with Lyndsey Buckingham in 2017 entitled ‘Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham.’

The family's statement said “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.”

The 1977 album Rumours, inspired by the complicated break-ups of the McVies and the band's other couple, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, became one of the biggest selling of all time, with over 40 million copies sold worldwide.

A statement by the band said of the Songbird singer: “We were so lucky to have a life with her.

“Individually and together, we cherished Christine deeply and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. She will be so very missed.”

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