Stevie Nicks has confirmed the heartbreaking reason Fleetwood Mac will never tour again (Picture: GAB Archive/Redferns)
Stevie Nicks has clarified why Fleetwood Mac will never tour as a band again: the death of Christine McVie.
At the height of the iconic group’s popularity, the band was comprised of Mick Fleetwood, bassist John McVie, keyboardist and vocalist Christine McVie, vocalist Stevie Nicks, and guitarist and vocalist Lindsey Buckingham.
While the band saw many iterations over the years, Stevie, 76, believes that Christine McVie is an inextricable part of the group’s dynamic and refuses to tour without her.
Christine died at the age of 79 in 2022 following a stroke and a cancer diagnosis, devastating her friend and bandmate Stevie.
The iconic singer has since said that she and the other surviving Fleetwood Mac musicians could not face going on stage without the late keyboardist and singer, who was such an integral part of their sound.
Most recently, when asked if there is a chance of Fleetwood Mac reuniting on stage, Stevie told Mojo magazine, ‘Without Christine, no can do… There is no chance of putting Fleetwood Mac back together in any way. Without her, it just couldn’t work.’
Christine McVie played the keyboard and sang for the band (Picture: Fin Costello/Redferns)
Stevie and Christine remained close friends up until Christine’s passing (Picture: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images )
Christine joined Fleetwood Mac in 1970, after her husband John McVie (Picture: Getty Images)
Stevie shared how heartbroken she was that she didn’t get a chance to say a final goodbye to her friend and musical collaborator before she died.
She said: ‘It was all stunningly strange because there wasn’t any lead-up to it.
We got a call, and I was going to rent a plane and go see her, but her family said, “Don’t come, because she may not be here tomorrow.” And the next day, she passed away.’
She went on to describe her desire to sing with her friend one more time, saying: ‘I wanted to go there and sit on her bed and sing to her – which definitely would have made her pass away faster. But I needed to be with her. And I didn’t get to do that. So that was very hard for me. I didn’t get to say goodbye.’
Christine was on stage for all of the bands most iconic moments, including their performances at Madison Square Garden (Picture: Getty Images)
Christine’s family confirmed her death in 2022 with a statement that read: ‘It is with a heavy heart we are informing you of Christine’s death.
‘She passed away peacefully at hospital this morning, Wednesday, November 30, 2022, following a short illness. She was in the company of her family.
‘We kindly ask that you respect the family’s privacy at this extremely painful time and 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.’
Following the statement, Christine’s Fleetwood Mac bandmates shared a devastating tribute of their own.
‘There are no words to describe our sadness at the passing of Christine McVie,’ it began.
‘She was truly one-of-a-kind, special and talented beyond measure. She was the best musician anyone could have in their band and the best friend anyone could have in their life.
‘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.’
In a tribute of her own that she posted on Instagram, Stevie wrote: ‘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 ill … until late Saturday night. I wanted to be in London, I wanted to get to London – but we were told to wait.
‘So, since Saturday, one song has been swirling around my head, over and over and over. I thought I might possibly get to sing it to her, and so I’m singing it to her now.
‘I always knew I would need these words one day…It’s all I can do now.’
The rest of the note included the lyric’s to Haim’s Hallelujah. Stevie concluded the note with the touching message: ‘See you on the other side my love. Don’t forget me. Always, Stevie.’
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