FLEETWOOD MAC CO-FOUNDER PETER GREEN DIES AT AGE 73

BBC News reports:

Fleetwood Mac co-founder Peter Green has died aged 73.

Solicitors acting on behalf of his family said in a statement, “It is with great sadness that the family of Peter Green announce his death this weekend, peacefully in his sleep. A further statement will be provided in the coming days.”

Blues rock guitarist Green, from Bethnal Green in east London, formed Fleetwood Mac with drummer Mick Fleetwood in 1967.

Green left the band after a last performance in 1970, as he struggled with his mental health. He was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia and spent time in hospital in the mid-70s.

He was among the eight members of the band – along with Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, John McVie, Christine McVie, Danny Kirwan and Jeremy Spencer – who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

Paying tribute, Whitesnake’s David Coverdale said Green was an artist he “truly loved and admired”. In a tweet, he said, “I supported the original Fleetwood Mac at Redcar Jazz Club when I was in a local band… he was a breathtaking singer, guitarist and composer. I know who I will be listening to today. RIP…”

17 Responses

  1. RIP Peter. I’ve been a fan of Fleetwood Mac from the beginning (thanks to 2 older brothers and an older sister) and all eras. Will definitely be listening to alot of Fleetwood Mac this weekend.

    1. He co-wrote Green Manilishi (With A Two Pronged Crown) that Judas Priest covered on Hell Bent For Leather.

      Supposedly, they were a much different band when he was in the lineup. Who knows, maybe I would actually find that version tolerable?

      D 🙂

    2. dana, your comment inspired me to check out original “green manalishi.” it’s awesome! i’m guessing you’d still prefer the priest version, but what a great, relatively unknown era of fleetwood mac…a heavy dose of rockin’ blues!…like if sabbath were a little lighter, but bluesier. enjoy!

    3. Elliot,

      Based on your review, maybe I will listen to it?

      Okay, I listened, not my cup of tea, but Priest did a great job making it so much better. 🙂

      D 🙂

    4. I know that now!! Love that Priest song, that’s what I get for not reading the liner notes. Lol, I just learned that yesterday after this article you’d posted and reading up on him. I even went as far as looking into the Munich Commune-K1. Interesting, odd stuff going on there. I had no idea Fleetwood Mac had so many albums and such a varied line-up. John must be a bugger to work with at times.

    5. Maybe Judas Priest can do a remake of “Dreams” and/or “Don’t Stop” 🙂

    6. I’m as big of a fan of Judas Priest as anybody, but nobody, NOBODY touches “Dreams,” or “Don’t Stop,” not even The Metal God & the mighty Priest!

    7. …Nor would I ever want to hear Nicks “baaaah” her way through Delivering The Goods or Bloodstone. LOL!

  2. God no Danam don’t even joke about it.

    Like a lot of people in middle school, back in the day, I listened to Fleetwood Mac I preferred the songs sung by Christine McVie. I listen every now and then, but still 90 Hard Rock/ Metal

  3. I wasn’t too familiar with Peter Green but I knew he was very highly revered by fellow musicians. He had almost cult like immortality. I know that Gary Moore bought his Les Paul back in the early 70s for $500 and played it until 3 years before his death. He sold it for almost $1m. Kirk Hammett owns it now.
    I hate to go off course but I couldn’t help but notice that Bob Welch wasn’t included on the list when Mac received thier HOF nomination. He was just as an integral part of the band as all the others. He was also a great musician who died in 2010. So this post saddens me and sickens me at the same time!

Leave a Reply