Reg McVie: What Happened To John McVie’s Father?

Reg McVie is the father of John McVie of the rock band Fleetwood Mac. Reg’s son John McVie is a British bass guitarist who made it to number 37 on Rolling Stone’s list of 50 greatest bassists. He joined Fleetwood Mac shortly after its formation. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Fleetwood Mac.

Reg McVie: Bio Summary

Who Was John McVie’s Father, Reg McVie?

Reg McVie was born on February 23, 1922, in Brentford Registration District (Ealing?), Greater London, Middlesex, England, UK. He is also known as Reginald Edward William McVie. He was the son of John McVie and Edith McVie and the brother of Lillian E. McVie, Ronald E. McVie, and Eva E. McVie. There’s very little information about his early life and family. His educational details are unavailable.

Reg McVie married Dorothy McVie in the year 1944, in Brentford, Middlesex, England. Their son John Graham McVie was born on 26 November 1945, in Ealing, Middlesex, England. They had a daughter Brenda Christine McVie, who died at a very young age. The couple’s son John displayed an interest in music at an early age. Growing up, he played the trumpet.

John McVie was 14 years old when he started to play the guitar in local bands, covering songs by The Shadows. He eventually switched to playing the bass guitar. After he realized that most of his friends made attempts to play lead guitar, John took the top two strings off his guitar and decided to play bass. Reg McVie who was very supportive of his son bought him a pink Fender bass.

John McVie said of his beloved father Reg McVie: “He brought it home one day as a present and I went mad. I stood in front of the mirror in my room and dreamed I was Jet Harris, the Shadows’ bassist, because he played a pink Fender, too.” John even decided to quit school while he was still a teenager. Eventually, he began a nine-month civil service training as a tax inspector.

John McVie spent nine months working full-time during the day as a tax inspector and playing all-nighters with the Bluesbreakers. He then decided to become a professional musician. He was a member of the rock band John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers from 1964 to 1967. He then joined the band Fleetwood Mac and has been a member since 1967.

ALSO, READ: Dorothy McVie: How Did John McVie’s Mother Die?

Reg McVie’s son joined Fleetwood Mac shortly after its formation. His surname combined with that of his bandmate Mick Fleetwood’s surname is the source for the band’s name, “Fleetwood Mac”. He and Mick are regarded as the only two members of the group to appear on every Fleetwood Mac release, and for more than fifty years have been the group’s last remaining original (or almost original in John McVie’s case) members.

Reg McVie and his wife Dorothy McVie have supported their son from day one. John said: “My parents, bless their hearts, were very supportive from day one. It was a sort of “bemused tolerance”. They used to come to some of the gigs in London and I think enjoyed the whole scene.” Reg lived a very private life which is why much information about his life is unavailable.

What Happened To John McVie’s Father?

Reg McVie died on March 02, 1991, at age 69, in Ealing Hospital, London, London, England, UK. The cause of his death is unknown. His wife Dorothy McVie died in the year 2002, at age 79. Reg’s son John McVie is still alive. He is in his late 70s at the time of this writing. John was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2013. His band Fleetwood Mac canceled the Australia and New Zealand tour at the time so he could undergo treatment.

The group announced on social media: “Fleetwood Mac who has just completed the European leg of their phenomenally successful worldwide tour has announced the cancellation of their upcoming 14 date tour of Australia and New Zealand,” a post on Fleetwood Mac’s Facebook page reads. “John McVie, one of the co founding and original members of Fleetwood Mac is now scheduled to be in treatment for cancer during that period of time.”

ALSO, READ: Molly McVie: Inside The Life Of John McVie’s Daughter

“We are sorry to not be able to play these Australian and New Zealand dates. We hope our Australian and New Zealand fans as well as Fleetwood Mac fans everywhere will join us in wishing John and his family all the best.” John McVie went ahead to play with the band during their 2014 On With The Show tour following an improvement in his condition.

However, in the year 2017, it was reported that John McVie’s colon cancer was completely cleared. John has also battled alcohol problems. He was a heavy drinker and suffered an alcohol-induced seizure but has been sober since the 1980s.