Christine McVie: what Birmingham schools did Fleetwood Mac star attend and where did she grow up?

Fleetwood Mac singer Christine McVie has died at the age of 79, her family has said. The Lancashire-born singer, who found huge fame and acclaim as part of the British-American rock band, passed away after a “short illness”.

McVie, née Perfect, joined Fleetwood Mac in 1970 after marrying bassist John McVie. She had previously played piano and sung in the blues band Chicken Shack in the late 1960s.

McVie wrote Songbird, one of Fleetwood Mac’s most famous tracks, as well as You Make Loving Fun, Oh Daddy and Little Lies. Although they had a tumultuous history, the band, comprising Mick Fleetwood, Christine and John McVie, as well as Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, are one of the most successful of all time, selling more than 100 million records worldwide.

Their best-known songs include Dreams, Go Your Own Way and Everywhere, and their 1977 album Rumours cemented their fame with hits such as Second Hand News and You Make Loving Fun.

She was among the eight members of the band who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2017, she appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, revealing that she had retreated from the world and developed agoraphobia after she quit the band and moved from California to Kent.

McVie’s West Midlands upbringing

Christine is one of the most famous musicians to come from the West Midlands.

Although she was born in the Lake District village of Bouth, she grew up in the Bearwood area of Smethwick.

She also attended school in Birmingham.

She was a student at the Birmingham Art College in Moseley. Her father, Cyril Percy Absell Perfect, was also a concert violinist and music lecturer at St Peter’s College of Education in Saltley, and taught violin at St Philip’s Grammar School in Birmingham.

What did her family say following her death?

A statement from her family on Facebook said: “On behalf of Christine McVie’s family, it is with a heavy heart we are informing you of Christine’s death. She passed away peacefully at hospital this morning, Wednesday, November 30th 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. RIP Christine McVie.”

A statement from the band said on Twitter: “There are no words to describe our sadness at the passing of Christine McVie. 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.”