Emily Brown
Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood has said the band is 'done' following the death of songwriter Christine McVie.
McVie passed away at the age of 79 on 30 November, 2022 following what her family described as a 'short illness'.
She had been known as a singer, songwriter and keyboardist for Fleetwood Mac after she joined the group in 1970, and wrote hits including 'Over My Head' and 'Say You Love Me' during her years with the band.
Following her passing, Fleetwood described her as a 'wonderful woman and an incredible talent', and said in a eulogy written for McVie that the band was 'trying to come to terms with the fact she has really flown away'.
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The musician spoke further about the band in the wake of McVie's loss as he attended the 65th Grammy Awards last night (5 February), when he admitted that at the moment he doesn't see a future for Fleetwood Mac without the singer.
Speaking to the LA Times on the red carpet, he said: “I think right now, I truly think the line in the sand has been drawn with the loss of Chris."
Fleetwood made clear that he still plans to perform, but 'not as Fleetwood Mac'.
He continued: "I’d say we’re done, but then we’ve all said that before. It’s sort of unthinkable right now.”
Fleetwood, 75, explained that other band members are focusing on other projects at the moment, saying: "They all get out and play, so I’m gonna be doing the same thing, finding people to play with.
“Anyone out there?” he added, jokingly.
McVie's last live performance took place in February 2020, when she appeared at the Peter Green Tribute Concert at the London Palladium shortly before the outbreak of coronavirus.
Fleetwood said 'part of [his] heart' flew away on the day McVie died, saying in his eulogy: "I will miss everything about you.
"The other day when John and I were sitting together and not knowing how to come to terms with the loss of Christine, I blundered into a powerful word.
"I said, ‘John, it’s the enormity of it all!’ The enormity of our loss, the enormity of her passion, the enormity of her talents and her unshakable sense of grace in the way she handled life’s challenges," the drummer continued.
He added: “I think she would have been truly amazed at all the attention and celebrations of her music around the world and in total disbelief at the fact they were closing down sporting events to pay tribute to her.
"But that was our Christine – she was a North country girl from beginning to end, never caring about the fluff."
Fleetwood Mac's last global tour, named An Evening with Fleetwood Mac, took place in 2018 and 2019.