Peter Green, one of the founding members of British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac has passed away. The news was confirmed by family solicitors, who, in a statement, said that the Rock and Roll icon died in his sleep this weekend. Green was 73 at the time of his passing:
It is with great sadness that the family of Peter Green announce his death this weekend, peacefully in his sleep.
In the statement which was given to the BBC, the solicitors also said that a longer message will be released in the coming days.
Born in London, Peter Green began playing the guitar early and was already performing in a professionally by the age of 15. He would eventually become a full-time member of John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers in 1966 after initially serving as a fill-in for Eric Clapton.
In 1967, Green, along with former Bluesbreakers Mick Fleetwood, would form the band that would eventually be known as Fleetwood Mac. The group would also bring in Jeremy Spencer, Bob Brunning and John Mcvie.
Green’s direction would prove to be invaluable to the band’s success. Under his leadership, the group produced three successful albums: Fleetwood Mac, Mr. Wonderful and Then Play On. These albums would deliver more than a few successful singles like “Albatross,” “Oh Well” and “Man of the World.”
Unfortunately, Peter Green would eventually leave the band in 1970. His departure from the successful band came shortly after an incident in Europe during which Green took LSD while partying at a commune in Munich. Many would later attribute this as a major contributor to Green’s mental decline. Green would later be diagnosed with schizophrenia and would be admitted to psychiatric hospitals during the ‘70s.
Despite his struggles with his mental health, Green would eventually return to music with the Peter Green Splinter Group. From 1997 to 2004, he and the group would record nine albums before Green left the group. In 2009, Green would also begin performing again with Peter Green and Friends.
Over the years, Peter Green has been hailed by critics and fans for his skills on the guitar. Rolling Stone previously ranked him number 58 on its list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” He, along with seven fellow members Fleetwood Mac like Danny Kirwan and Stevie Nicks, were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
Following his death, some musicians have already taken to social media to pay tribute to Peter Green. This includes Whitesnake’s David Coverdale, who hailed Green as an artist he “truly loved & admired.” Check out his sweet tweet below:
Peter Green leaves an indelible mark on the world of music, and it’s hard not to think of him when listening to any of Fleetwood Mac’s earlier work. Still, fans can take comfort in knowing that his work will live on.
Peter Green is survived by his daughter, Rosebud, and son Liam. We here at CinemaBlend extend our thoughts to the loved ones of Peter Green at this time.
