Quote:
Originally Posted by snoot
I'll give you that, the main thrust of the article, but Green's FM constitution without Kirwan is like ABB without Betts. Or of another vein, Lennon without McCartney. Still good, but nowhere near complete. That was my main point. It could also be argued - very easily IMO - that Kirwan's guitar pulse shone every bit as bright as Green's in the blues-rock Fleetwood Mac. Then Play On is proof of that, beyond their late stage appearances where Kirwan really took flight. Spencer should not even be mentioned here. Great stage presence, but not a guitar master.
BTW why bring up DK's alcoholism when Green's mental deterioration was even more abrupt, one likewise fueled by drugs and booze. Best to keep an even hand here.
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Green was writing great songs with John Mayall and Fleetwood Mac before Kirwan joined. I don't think it's the same as Lennon/McCartney or Allman/Betts. Green was more like a big brother to Kirwan who took tutelage. As a songwriter, Kirwan was a quick study, and became an incredible songwriter. His contributions to "Then Play On" are essential. But it was more like "Peter, I've written a song, do you like it?" Green would respond: "As long as you think it's good, go for it." (paraphrasing)
Kirwan would seek Green's approval, and Green would try to build Kirwan's confidence.
As a guitarist, he was by no means close to Peter Green. We are talking about arguably the greatest british guitarist ever. Kirwan's vibrato technique is almost unrivaled, but in an improvisational role he wasn't in Green's league.
I only mentioned Kirwan's alcohol problem to point out that he had difficulty taking a leadership role after Green left the band. Green left a void that FM didn't recover from until Buckingham/Nicks, by then a much different band.
I'm not trying to put Kirwan down, just look at my avatar. I love his work through Bare Trees. It's just that we're talking about Peter Green.