Ode to Danny Kirwan

Thank you to Peter Green (RIP) for recognizing the wonderful talent of an 18-year-old Danny Kirwan — and to writer Richard Barrett and the Guitar World editors for remembering his contributions to the great blues giants, the pre-Buckingham/Nicks Fleetwood Mac [lesson feature, September 2021]. Once again, you’ve shown why GW is the best of the many guitar magazines offered.

Danny Kirwan was my favorite member of that band; with his many personal challenges, [his playing] was instantly identifiable when we dropped the stylus on the most memorable of FM’s most creative compositions. I encourage all young blues enthusiasts to seek him out and listen to his excellent sense of melody and emotion. We will remember his sad ending on the streets of London, but it’s more worthwhile by far to revisit his contributions to the best music our generation has to offer.

— Bill Keenom, co-author, Michael Bloomfield: If You Love These Blues