Fleetwood Mac star Peter Green dies at 73
FLEETWOOD Mac co-founder Peter Green has died aged 73.
The London-born musician, who started the band with drummer Mick Fleetwood in 1967, passed away peacefully in his sleep.
Peter wrote the popular songs Black Magic Woman and Albatross.
Novelist Linda Grant paid tribute to him tweeting: “I’m so sorry to learn of the death of Peter Green aged only 73. He had so much soul. I loved him.”
Whitesnake founder David Coverdale added: “An artist I truly loved & admired from the first time I heard him.
“I supported the original Fleetwood Mac at Redcar Jazz Club when I was in a local band.
“He was a breathtaking singer, guitarist & composer. I know who I will be listening to today… RIP”
US music historian Eddie Trunk revealed that the musician had been looking to produce new work.
He tweeted: “RIP Peter Green co founder and super influential guitarist to the original
Fleetwood Mac. Really sad news given Peter was working on a new album that @Kirkhammett and others were guesting on. @judaspriest Green Manalishi was his era & song. Big loss. RIP.”
Film director Edgarwright added: “RIP Fleetwood Mac co founder and original lead singer Peter Green. What a belter this is. ‘Oh Well’
(Live 1969).”
The star left the band, which was
Peter, circled, with originally called Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac featuring Jeremy Spencer, as he was struggling with mental health difficulties after a final performance in 1970.
He went on to be diagnosed with schizophrenia and spent time in hospitals undergoing electro-convulsive therapy during the mid-70s.
Peter was among the eight members of the band – along with Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, John Mcvie, Christine Mcvie, Danny Kirwan and Jeremy Spencer – who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1998. Earlier this year, artists including Fleetwood, Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, Zztop’s Billy Gibbons and guitarists Jonny Lang and Andy Fairweather Low performed at the London Palladium at during a gig celebrating the early years of Fleetwood Mac.
In a statement issued from Swan Turton solicitors on behalf of his family, they said: “It is with great sadness that the family of Peter Green announce his death this weekend, peacefully in his sleep. “A further statement will be provided in the coming days.”