Christine McVie first left Fleetwood Mac in 1998, after completing the touring cycle connected with the live album The Dance. Her departure followed decades as one of the band’s principal singers, keyboardists, and songwriters.
McVie had already stepped back from some touring earlier in the 1990s, partly because of a fear of flying, but she remained involved with Fleetwood Mac. She contributed to later recordings and returned for the band’s 1997 reunion project, The Dance, which documented the classic lineup performing together again.
After the 1998 tour and the band’s appearances surrounding its Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, McVie decided not to continue as a full-time member. This is why 1998 is generally given as the year she left the group, even though her relationship with Fleetwood Mac had included periods of reduced touring and continued studio involvement.
McVie eventually rejoined Fleetwood Mac in 2014 for the On with the Show tour, returning to the stage with the band after a 16-year absence. That later reunion is why 1998 marks her first departure rather than her permanent exit.