PETER GREEN,
1946-2020
Peter Green, the celebrated British blues-rock guitarist who co-founded Fleetwood Mac with Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, has died at the age of 73.
He died “peacefully in his sleep” this weekend, according to a statement from his family. Swan Turton solicitors said a further statement is forthcoming.
Green, who dropped in and out of the music scene over the course of six decades, battled schizophrenia and drug abuse, went through eras when he was a devout Christian and then a devout Jew, and late in life became a steadfast interpreter of the music of Robert Johnson. In 1996, Mojo magazine listed him at #3 among the world’s Top 100 guitarists of all time.
Inspired by Chicago blues guitarists such as Otis Rush and the Texas-born Freddie King, Green blossomed in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers where he replaced Eric Clapton at the age of 20. There he met McVie and Fleetwood and after a single album with Mayall, left to former Fleetwood Mac.
Contributing more than half the originals on Fleetwood Mac's first four albums, Green expanded the Mac’s repertoire beyond blues covers with three songs that hit the Top 10 in England and have come to be classic rock standards: the instrumental “Albatross,” which the current edition of Fleetwood Mac still performs; “Oh Well,” which has been covered by Tom Petty and others; and 1970’s “The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown),” his final single with the band. Santana’s version of Green’s composition “Black Magic Woman” would become a Top 30 hit in 1970.
“Manalishi,” Green would say, referred to money and he was intent on abandoning all signs of materialism from his life as he started a solo career. After a single solo album for Reprise, The End of the Game, Green developed psychiatric problems and was treated with electroconvulsive therapy. While Green would later perform with Fleetwood Mac on 1973’s Penguin and 1979’s Tusk, his return to recording and performing under his own name began in 1979 and lasted until the mid-1980s before he went into seclusion.
Green re-emerged in 1997 with The Splinter Group and their 1998 album, The Robert Johnson Songbook, won the WC Handy Award for Best Comeback Album. While he shied away from writing, Green continued to perform as an electric and acoustic guitarist for more than a decade.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 as a member of Fleetwood Mac.
In February, Fleetwood staged a tribute to Green at the London Palladium that featured performances by the guitarists David Gilmour, Kirk Hammett, Neil Finn, Billy Gibbons, Pete Townshend and Green’s former bandmate Jeremy Spencer.
God bless the ineffable Peter Green, one of the unsung heroes of musical integrity, innovation and spirit. When I heard he left Fleetwood Mac in 1970 to get a real life and donate his wealth to charity, he became something of a model for me.
— Yusuf / Cat Stevens (@YusufCatStevens) July 25, 2020
'#PeterGreen pic.twitter.com/9TfRJFOc64
Sad to hear of Peter Green passing- one of the greats. RIP. pic.twitter.com/OUHg3KwnNy
— Geezer Butler (@geezerbutler) July 25, 2020
Most sadly have lost one of the most tasteful guitar players ever I have always been a huge admirer of the great Peter Green may he rest in peace.
— Peter Frampton (@peterframpton) July 25, 2020
R.I.P Peter Green. A unique artist and a beautiful guitar player. pic.twitter.com/UeyzpUKlCP
— Johnny Marr (@Johnny_Marr) July 25, 2020
I mourn the passing and celebrate the life of Peter Green. Alumnus of John Mayall, founder of Fleetwood Mac, Green took blues guitar out of the fire and into the opaque depths of the soul. Thank you for your work, Peter - travel on 🙏♏️🙏
— Robyn Hitchcock (@RobynHitchcock) July 25, 2020
Peter Green was my first guitar hero. I adored his passionate playing, singing, note selection and elegant phrasing. BB King adored him too and that’s all you need to know. #RIPPeterGreen pic.twitter.com/GgupM7EVfN
— Brian Ray (@brianrayguitar) July 25, 2020
— Stevie Nicks (@StevieNicks) July 26, 2020
Another great loss. Just learned of Peter Green’s death. He was my favourite of all the amazing guitarists that came through the John Mayall blues school. His sweet & sad touch was unique & his writing full of an extraordinary & soulful inventiveness - pghttps://t.co/VockWZwHBs
— Peter Gabriel (@itspetergabriel) July 27, 2020
Inductee Peter Green co-founded @fleetwoodmac & shaped their sound w/ his fluid blues guitar, gravelly vocals & evocative songwriting on hits like “Oh Well” & “Black Magic Woman.” His impact has endured, inspiring many Inductees from B.B. King to Eric Clapton to Kirk Hammett. pic.twitter.com/kt6ZZbD58E
— Rock Hall (@rockhall) July 26, 2020
This pic speaks volumes , literally...!
— Kirk Hammett (@KirkHammett) July 25, 2020
📸Pic by Finz@alohapoolboy #greeny #petergreen 🖤 RIP Peter Green pic.twitter.com/0rBaeKhdBy
Peter Green, composer of the most incredibly beautiful haunting songs has passed on from this world.
— Annie Lennox (@AnnieLennox) July 26, 2020
He couldn’t handle the intensity of the music industry & left the band before they rocketed to global super stardom.
What a beautiful legacy of songs he’s left behind..
RIP sir. pic.twitter.com/XEzfWB3lDo
