John Graham McVie (born 26th November 1945) is a British rock bass guitarist who has been a member of Fleetwood Mac since September 1967. Previously he had been in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers with Peter Green and Mick Fleetwood.
Despite the band being partly named for him (hence the 'Mac'), McVie was initially reluctant to leave the security of the Bluesbreakers and for the first two months or so of its existence, bass duties were covered by Bob Brunning. When Mayall's next album Crusade was recorded with a brass section, McVie decided he did not want to play in a jazz style and contacted Green stating his availability. He replaced Brunning with immediate effect.
As a result, McVie appeared on every Fleetwood Mac record except for their first single. His best known contribution to the group is the iconic bass guitar riff on The Chain (1977) which gained particular prominence when used
Personal life[]
He was married to the group's keyboardist/vocalist Christine McVie (nee Perfect) from 1968 to 1976. Despite their divorce, the two have remained amicable and Christine has appeared on all of the band's subsequent albums although mostly only in a guest capacity after Behind the Mask (1990).
He married Julie Ann Rubens in 1978. They remain together and their daughter Molly Elizabeth was born in 1989. Molly would appear on backing vocals at the end of the song Say You Will (2003).
Solo album[]
John McVie's "Gotta Band" with Lola Thomas (1992)
Guest appearances on solo albums by Fleetwood Mac members[]
| Year | Artist | Album | Songs | Guests on same tracks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Christine Perfect | Christine Perfect | When You Say | Danny Kirwan (the song's composer) |
| 2006 | Lindsey Buckingham | Under the Skin | Down On Rodeo, Someone's Gotta Change Your Mind | Mick Fleetwood (on Someone's Gotta Change Your Mind) |
| 2008 | Lindsey Buckingham | Gift of Screws | Wait For You, Gift of Screws | Mick Fleetwood |