Peter Green Has Died, July 25, 2020

[LesPaul7]

RIP Peter Green.

My wife and I had our first dance to “Need Your Love So Bad”.

I wish I could have shaken his hand and told him how much his music means to me.

[David]

What a visionary. Contributions and influence that will last.

[HomerMcvie]

Rest in peace, Peter.

[FuzzyPlum]

BBC News:

Fleetwood Mac co-founder and influential blues rock guitarist 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." Green, from Bethnal Green in east London, formed Fleetwood Mac with drummer Mick Fleetwood in 1967. They came together after Green's stint filling in for Eric Clapton in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Green and Fleetwood then convinced John McVie to join the band as bass guitarist, in part by naming the band Fleetwood Mac. He wrote the instantly recognisable instrumental track Albatross, which remains the band's only number one hit, plus two other early hits, Black Magic Woman and Oh Well. And it was under Green's direction that they produced their first three albums.

The band's debut album was released in 1968. Simply called Fleetwood Mac, but also known as Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, it gained widespread acclaim and reached number four in the charts. 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 married Jane Samuels in January 1978. They divorced in 1979 and share a daughter. Green 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.

The news of his death comes days after Fleetwood Mac announced they would release a retrospective box set documenting the band's early years between 1969 and 1974.

'One of the greats'
Musicians have led tributes to Green. David Coverdale, the lead singer of Whitesnake, said he 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"

Mumford and Sons guitarist Winston Marshall tweeted: "RIP Peter Green. #GOAT. Man of the world, oh well, albatross, need your love so bad. Some of my favourites songs and performances of all time. Thank you for the music."

Actor David Morrissey praised Green's "fantastic soulful voice" while Black Sabbath's Geezer Butler described Green as "one of the greats". And Scottish musician Midge Ure tweeted: "One of the great ones gone. You taught me well."

Peter Green was one of the greatest Blues guitarists Britain ever produced. His shape-shifting riffs and long, improvisational excursions made Fleetwood Mac one of the most exciting live bands of the 1960s Blues explosion. He first picked up a hand-me-down guitar at the age of 10 and, like many of his peers, began to devour the import vinyl that trickled into the UK from the US. He studied the greats - Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy and BB King - combining their tensely coiled playing style with the shimmering vibrato of The Shadows' Hank Marvin.

But he actually started his professional career as a bassist, until an encounter with Eric Clapton persuaded him to ditch the instrument.
"I decided to go back on lead guitar after seeing him with the Bluesbreakers. He had a Les Paul, his fingers were marvellous. The guy knew how to do a bit of evil, I guess."

He later had the seemingly impossible task of taking over from Clapton in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Fans were unconvinced at first, but after a handful of incendiary performances, he won them over, earning the nickname "The Green God".

The singer-songwriter Cat Stevens, also known as Yusuf Islam, tweeted: "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."

In February this year, artists including Fleetwood, Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and guitarists Jonny Lang and Andy Fairweather Low performed at the London Palladium in a gig celebrating the early years of Fleetwood Mac.

Rolling Stone magazine ranked Green at number 58 in its all-time list of the 100 greatest guitarists, describing him as "Britain's most progressive blues guitarist" in his heyday.

[jbrownsjr]

RIP Peter Green. You are truly a legend. <3

[Steviegirl]

May he rest in peace. I saw this news and came straight to The Ledge to confirm it. A sad day for music.

[Street_Dreamer]

So incredibly sad to hear this news. Rest in peace Peter and thank you for all of the joy you've brought to my life directly and indirectly. I will always be eternally grateful to you.

[bombaysaffires]

will be interesting to see what, if any, public statement comes from the band, and in particular Mick and John.

[lovethemac1]

The man who started it all. Thank you Peter. You will be missed, but you earned your rest. Rest In Peace.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by LesPaul7

I wish I could have shaken his hand and told him how much his music means to me.

Eh, I did that. He didn’t appreciate it.

[FuzzyPlum]

Mick Fleetwood statement
Daily Mail online

'My dearest friend': Mick Fleetwood declares Fleetwood Mac co-founder Peter Green 'blazed one hell of a musical road for so many to enjoy' as he dies aged 73
Fleetwood Mac co-founder Peter Green has died in his sleep, a statement from solicitors confirmed
The influential blues rock guitarist from Bethnal Green, London co-founded band Fleetwood Mac in 1967
Green quit after a final performance in 1970 as he struggled with his mental health and drug abuse issues
By JACK WRIGHT and RYAN FAHEY FOR MAILONLINE


Mick Fleetwood has today paid tribute to his band co-founder, calling Peter Green 'my dearest friend' and said they 'trail blazed one hell of a musical road for so many to enjoy'.

Fleetwood and Green formed the influential group in London in 1967, alongside John McVie and Jeremy Spencer. Green, who has died at the age of 73, later left the band after struggling with his mental health.

In a statement today, 73-year-old Fleetwood said: 'For me, and every past and present member of Fleetwood Mac, losing Peter Green is monumental. Peter was the man who started the band Fleetwood Mac along with myself, John McVie, and Jeremy Spencer. No one has ever stepped into the ranks of Fleetwood Mac without a reverence for Peter Green and his talent, and to the fact that music should shine bright and always be delivered with uncompromising passion. Fleetwood added: 'Peter, I will miss you, but rest easy your music lives on. I thank you for asking me to be your drummer all those years ago. We did good, and trail blazed one hell of a musical road for so many to enjoy. God speed to you, my dearest friend....... Love Mick Fleetwood.'

[jmn3]

An underrated legend. No matter what era(s) of Fleetwood Mac you love, without Peter, none of it would have existed. Rest In Peace, Peter.

[LesPaul7]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

Eh, I did that. He didn’t appreciate it.

Sorry you had that experience. Giving people praise can be a slippery slope.