Australia 7/31/20 Advertiser Online (Austl.) (Pg. Unavail. Online)
PETER ALLEN GREENBAUM
Musician
Born: October 29, 1946, London
Died: July 25, 2020, Essex
PETER Green is best known for being a founding member of band Fleetwood Mac, writing hits such as Black Magic Woman.
His blues credentials are outstanding, with legends such as B.B. King, John Mayall and Noel Gallagher all listing him as a major influence. Green ranks at No. 58 on Rolling Stone magazine's 100 greatest guitarists of all time.
Born into a Jewish family, Green was the youngest of postman Joe and Ann Greenbaum's four children. He started playing professionally at 15 after brother Michael introduced him to the guitar.
In late 1965, Green met drummer Mick Fleetwood while playing in the band Peter B's Looners.
That year, Green also replaced Eric Clapton in John Mayall's band Bluesbreakers, to strong acclaim.
In 1967, Green left that band to form his own blues outfit with Fleetwood on drums. It was called Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac Featuring Jeremy Spencer.
He eventually whittled the name down to Fleetwood Mac – an amalgamation of Mick Fleetwood and bass player John McVie's names. In 1968, Green's Black Magic Woman became a hit, and then a global sensation when Santana covered it in 1970.
The band made three albums before Green left in 1970, beginning a near-decade lay-off after he became disillusioned with the music industry.
Meanwhile, Fleetwood Mac, whose line-up was rebuilt with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, has become one of rock's greatest bands.
Green made an uncredited appearance on the album Tusk in 1979 and formed other lesser-known bands in later years.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, playing Black Magic Woman with fellow inductee Carlos Santana.
In 2009, he was the subject of the documentary Peter Green: Man of the World.
Green married Jane Samuels in January 1978 and they had a daughter, Rosebud. They divorced in 1979.
He is survived by Rosebud and Liam Firlej, his son from another relationship.
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