Almost two years after her passing at 79, Christine McVie is finally getting the recognition she deserves as a key figure in Fleetwood Mac.

“Songbird: An Intimate Biography of Christine McVie” (released Nov. 19, Hachette Books, 340 pages, $32.50) delves into the evolution of the Birmingham-born keyboardist from art student to the understated backbone of Fleetwood Mac.

The title of the book is taken from McVie’s beloved song, a track among her four contributions to Fleetwood Mac’s iconic 1977 “Rumours” album. Although it was never a chart-topping hit—being the B-side to Stevie Nicks’s “Dreams”—“Songbird” became a staple at the band’s concerts. This poignant piano ballad, both heart-wrenching and romantic, highlighted McVie’s typically reserved persona.

Her songwriting contributions (including hits like “Don’t Stop” and “You Make Loving Fun”) and her quiet strength were crucial to the magic that made Fleetwood Mac unique. Both Nicks and Mick Fleetwood have stated that the band could not exist as it once did without her.

Lesley-Ann Jones, a British author and former Fleet Street journalist known for her biographies of stars like Freddie Mercury, Marc Bolan, and her childhood friend David Bowie, utilizes her past conversations with McVie along with thorough research and collected interviews.

The “Songbird” biography does not present scandalous details but offers a concise overview of Christine Perfect, whose romantic relationships and musical inspirations often intermingled to create enchanting experiences.

Here are some key takeaways.

Christine McVie initially aspired to be a sculpture teacher

Prior to her involvement with the blues band Chicken Shack in 1966, McVie had ambitions to teach sculpture (following in the footsteps of her father, Cyril, who had a passion for art and music).

Her goal was fueled by both a genuine interest in art—especially Egyptian and Greek friezes—and the idea of job security.

“I thought that if I chose a rather unique subject, I’d always have work,” she reflected.

However, her fate changed after meeting fellow art students who played blues music, which ultimately led to her joining Chicken Shack and, eventually, Fleetwood Mac.

Christine McVie hoped her marriage to John McVie would last

Despite the complicated relationships within Fleetwood Mac, which contributed to the band’s often dramatic narrative—sometimes spawning heartfelt lyrics for “Rumours”—McVie felt that her six-year marriage to bassist John McVie might have had a chance outside of the band’s chaos.

“Looking back, I sometimes think I might’ve been happier if I’d followed my original plan: become a mother, support John in his career, and remain in the background,” she shared with Jones in 1999, a year after she left Fleetwood Mac.

In another interview with Rolling Stone, McVie commented, “I believe it’s nearly impossible to work in the same band as your spouse. Imagine the strain of being together 24/7 on the road, all while dealing with the added stress of too much alcohol.”

John McVie’s struggles with alcohol are well-known, and McVie acknowledged their impact on their relationship, stating, “John is not easy to be around when he’s drunk. He becomes very hostile. I was witnessing more of Mr. Hyde than Dr. Jekyll.”

Christine McVie was initially hesitant about Stevie Nicks joining Fleetwood Mac

When Mick Fleetwood introduced the idea of adding the duo known as Buckingham Nicks to the band, he primarily wanted Lindsey Buckingham, but also suggested that Stevie Nicks join them.

Initially hesitant about the prospect of adding another woman to the group (she had been told they would be arriving as a duo), McVie was resistant to the idea of anyone else joining their circle.

However, upon meeting the enchanting Nicks, she quickly fell for her new bandmate, who would prove to be the perfect match.

“It was essential for me to get along with Stevie since I had never played alongside another woman before,” McVie shared with BBC Four in a documentary aired after her passing. “But I liked her immediately. She was hilarious and kind, and there was no sense of rivalry. Our stage presences were completely distinct … and our songwriting styles were different too.”

Nicks echoed this sentiment in a 2020 interview with The Face magazine, recalling how “awestruck” she was when she first encountered McVie at the ages of 28 and 33, respectively.

Nicks has also noted that at their initial rehearsal, they made a promise to themselves: “we would never accept being treated as second-class citizens in the music industry.”

Christine McVie leaves Fleetwood Mac and seeks solitude

In 1998, McVie chose to step away from the chaos of rock ‘n’ roll and retreat to her tranquil English estate in Kent, yearning for peace and freedom. However, after the lengthy renovations at her home were completed, she found herself feeling alone and uncertain about the solitude she craved.

She immersed herself in television shows (favoring “ER” and crime dramas) and enjoyed reading fantasy books, but also turned to excessive drinking and relied on medication for sleep. An incident where she fell down the stairs sparked a moment of realization: there was “no one to hear her screams” in her isolated life.

McVie made her return to Fleetwood Mac in 2014, expressing to the Sunday Times that it felt as if she had emerged from a period filled with “mud and gray days, where everything was dark, including her heart and mind.”

The band’s On With the Show tour spanned 120 concerts over 15 months, grossing nearly $200 million. This tour marked the last time the classic lineup of the band – consisting of the McVies, Nicks, Fleetwood, and Buckingham – would perform together.