Better Than God graffiti pictures?
 

I get the feeling this is something Mick dreamed up for his books but does anyone know if any (actual, not Photoshopped) pictures exist of the "Peter Green is better than God" graffiti spoken of? Naturally we've all seen the Clapton is God ones but wanted to see if we could put this to bed once and for all. If anyone has any, please post them here. Thanks in advance. :)

John

Actually I would hate to see that. And I guess Peter would too.

Is the "Peter Green is God" graffiti pic that is floating around the net fake or real?

Where is it? Never seen it (seen the Clapton ones, but...).

I agree Wouter, I don't want it to exist either, maybe this why I decided to start this thread as I have a feeling this is something Mick made up and it has been eating at me and with no proof of its existence seemingly around, I guess I do feel better now that it doesn't. :)

John

This could get very confusing -it's gives a whole new (possible ) interpretaton of Peter's :

"When I talk to God I know that He understands .."

the only one i've ever seen is this here:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/569916527816428368/
and - as is widely known - this is NOT original. the photo credits of the 4-cd box "the anthology", where it can be seen on the inner spread, reads: "genova, italy 1996, not london 1966".

That looks fake to me, but that's JMHO. Thanks for posting. :)

John

. . . er, . . . that's what i said - it was shot in 1996 in genova, italy! :confused: i didn't claim it to be the real thing, and as far as i know there isn't any other.
martin

Yes, meaning, I agreed with you. :)

John

I was going to post a new thread about this topic, since the search tool of The Ledge didn't find anything with the words God or better. Well it's not the first time this tool doesn't work well.

Fortunately I found this thread in Google, so I return to the question. Is there any other Green graffiti picture besides the pinterest one linked in this thread, which has raised doubts about whether it is authentic?

Here's the Clapton graffiti, which I believe there is no doubt about its authenticity.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...5K0oLmhFo40Q&s

DeepSeek
 

The question:

"Is there an original photograph showing the text "Peter Green is God" written on the wall, or is it just a rumor?"

DeepSeek's answer to the question:

The phrase "Peter Green is God"—a reference to the legendary Fleetwood Mac guitarist—was indeed famously graffitied on a wall in London during the late 1960s. However, whether an original photograph of this exact graffiti exists is unclear.

While the slogan is well-documented in rock lore and often cited by fans and biographers, no widely verified original photograph has surfaced. Many images circulating online are either recreations or artistic representations rather than period photographs.

If an original photo does exist, it would likely be a rare and valuable piece of rock history. For now, the graffiti remains more of a legendary anecdote than a definitively captured moment.

I've only heard Mick mention the graffiti in the tube stations etc but have never seen an actual picture...

--Lis

Yes. I don't know how many times he talked about the graffiti. But in Mick's book, he mentioned the "CLAPTON IS GOD, declared graffiti writers in the London underground. " Then a couple of pages later he wrote "Soon there was new graffiti on the wall: PETER GREEN IS BETTER THAN GOD."

DeepSeek's follow-up response
 

The graffiti "Peter Green is better than God" does not compare Green to the real God, but to the graffiti "Eric Clapton is God" made about another guitarist, Eric Clapton.

Ah, that makes perfect sense! You're referencing the famous "Clapton is God" graffiti that appeared in London in the late 1960s, which became a defining slogan of Eric Clapton's early career. In that context, "Peter Green is better than God" is a clever, tongue-in-cheek rebuttal—implying that Green surpassed even the deified status Clapton had been given.

Why the Comparison?
Both were blues-rock guitar icons of the same era (late '60s/early '70s).

Clapton's worship stemmed from his work with Cream and Bluesbreakers, while Green's Fleetwood Mac (the original blues version) and his haunting playing style ("Albatross," "Oh Well," "The Green Manalishi") earned him a cult following.

Many critics and fans argue that Green’s emotional depth, tone, and improvisational brilliance rivaled or exceeded Clapton’s at their peaks.

The Deeper Rivalry
The graffiti isn’t just about skill—it’s a playful jab at the hierarchy of guitar heroes. Clapton was the mainstream "god," but Green (along with contemporaries like Hendrix, Beck, and Page) had a raw, mystical quality that some considered more profound. Even Clapton himself reportedly said Peter Green was "the only guitarist who ever made me sweat."

Legacy of the Phrase
The "better than God" line captures the fervor of an era when guitarists were debated like mythical figures. It’s a testament to Green’s enduring influence, especially among blues purists who felt he never got the same recognition as Clapton.

Would you say Green was "better," or is it more about their different styles? Either way, it’s a fantastic piece of music lore!