Bob Welch has died

[Almost Simon]

Gutted.

Horrible news. I love Future Games and the whole middle period Mac era so much.

I have a lovely promo poster from the 1971 Future Games era with Bob, Mick, John, Christine and Danny ready to put up on my music room wall. Bob has a huge smile in that photo. A huge shame to see his life end if this way.

R.I.P.

[bluefox4000]

that........is absolutely terrible. holy god. I don't know what to say.

He was part of my fav period of the Mac. Damn.

RIP Bob

[britt0308]

Absolutely shocked to just see the news on twitter. Although I am fond of his work, I actually just listened to Mystery to Me all the way through for the first time this afternoon. Then to come online and see this..

Condolences to his family, friends the FM community. RIP Bob Welch.

[louielouie2000]

What shocking news to come home to. Bob has always been my very favorite former Mac member. I feel so grateful to have been able to interact with him some through the Ledge. He was a real class act, and brought such magic to Fleetwood Mac's legacy. What a terrible tragedy... my thoughts are with Bob's wife & family.

[wondergirl9847]

How horribly sad. I saw his name number 1 on Yahoo, and clicked on the name fearing the worst.

FRICK.

I hate to read that he committed suicide, but he must have been in lots of pain, which makes it that much sadder.

Can't believe we've lost 3 members in just a couple of years. I don't like this trend at all.

RIP Bob and thank you for your awesome music.

[Richard B]

What a big, sad BUMMER.
So thankful your music lives on and I'm glad the pain is gone for you.

Will play your music all night.

ON EDIT:
Any band members commented/quoted yet?

[chriskisn]

Oh my god, only just heard this as it is only 7am over here. Such a terrible tragedy. Bob's era is my favourite FM era, and he wrote some of the best songs that FM ever produced.

[moon]

Can't belive it. Very sad news.

I'm so afraid now, people...

R.I.P Bob

[bluefox4000]

Reminds us that these people who create music that enriches. our lives.....are people. mortal flesh and blood people. Hard reminder.

Mick

[Johnny Stew]

My best buddy just called and told me this. I'm gutted.
Rest in peace, Mr Welch. Thank you for all of the amazing music. You will be sorely missed.

[jannieC]

How terribly sad for all who knew and loved him. RIP Bob Welch.

[Lee]

How truly sad. I love that song Hypnotized. My condolences to his wife, family & friends.

Lee

[WelshWitchPMD]

A coworker in another branch called to tell me "some guitar player from Fleetwood Mac died" my heart sank. She said it was Bob Welch and I was in total shock. I just hope he finds peace and my condolences go out to his wife and family.

[mikephxaz]

The loss of Welch brings to a close a part of Fleetwood Mac...God Bless

[SummerlongBoots]

Originally Posted by Richard B

ON EDIT:
Any band members commented/quoted yet?

Nicks released a statement, calling Welch's death "devastating."

"He was an amazing guitar player - he was funny, sweet - and he was smart - I'm so very sorry for his family and for the family of Fleetwood Mac - so, so sad," Nicks said.

------------------------


Ex-Fleetwood Mac member Bob Welch dead


Bob Welch (June 7, 2012)

Bob Welch of Fleetwood Mac dies at 66


LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Bob Welch, an early member of rock band Fleetwood Mac who enjoyed a successful solo career with hits such as "Ebony Eyes," died on Thursday of an apparent suicide at home in Nashville. He was 66.

Police said Welch's body was found by his wife with a single gunshot wound to the chest, and he had left a suicide note. Welch suffered from health problems, but police did not disclose what those issues were.

"The police are investigating it as a suicide, and there was no evidence of foul play," Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron told Reuters.

Welch was born on August 31, 1945 in Los Angeles to movie producer father Robert L. Welch and actress mother Templeton Fox. He moved to Paris to study French at the Sorbonne, then returned to Los Angeles in the early 1970s.

He was invited to join Fleetwood Mac after the departure of founding members Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer. He played guitar and was a vocalist with the band from 1971 to 1974, working on five of their early albums including 1971's "Future Games," 1972's "Bare Trees" and 1973's "Mystery to Me."

It was after Welch's departure from the band in 1975 that Fleetwood Mac went on to find its largest measure of fame on albums such as 1977's "Rumours" with the addition of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks to the band's lineup.

Nicks released a statement, calling Welch's death "devastating."

"He was an amazing guitar player - he was funny, sweet - and he was smart - I'm so very sorry for his family and for the family of Fleetwood Mac - so, so sad," Nicks said.

Welch fell out with his former band mates after suing the group in 1994 for unpaid royalties, which led to his exclusion from the group's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1998.

The singer and guitarist formed a hard rock group called Paris in 1975, releasing two albums, "Paris" and "Hunt Sales," before disbanding the group a few years later and embarking on a solo career.

His debut solo record, the pop-driven "French Kiss" in 1977, went platinum and produced the hits "Sentimental Lady," "Ebony Eyes" and "Hot Love, Cold World." Welch followed up with 1979's "Three Hearts," and four more albums throughout the early 1980s, none of which emulated the same success as "French Kiss."

He moved to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1987 and formed a short-lived group called Avenue M, before moving to Nashville in the late 1990s, working on a songwriting career and releasing a tribute to bebop music, "Bob Welch Looks At Bop," in 1999.

His most recent albums, 2003's "His Fleetwood Mac Years and Beyond" and 2006's "His Fleetwood Mac Years and Beyond 2," had previously unreleased material as well as new compositions.

Welch is the second member of Fleetwood Mac to die this year. In January, another former guitarist for the band, Bob Weston, died in London from a gastrointestinal hemorrhage, at age 64.

(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy and Bob Tourtellotte; Editing by Bernard Orr and Vicki Allen)



http://www.chicagotribune.com/entert...,1770444.story