Peter Green, Fleetwood Mac Founder has died at 73

Blues guitarist Peter Green, a co-founder of the band Fleetwood Mac, has died at the age of 73.

Representatives from the firm Swan Turton released a statement from Green's family on Saturday saying, "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."

Green was known for his blues guitar sound even prior to the forming of Fleetwood Mac. He replaced Eric Clapton in John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers in 1965. Just a couple years later in 1967, Green and fellow Bluesbreakers members, drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie, formed Fleetwood Mac, along with guitarist Jeremy Spencer.

Mick Fleetwood released a statement on Saturday noting Green's fundamental place in the band's history.

"For me, and every past and present member of Fleetwood Mac, losing Peter Green is monumental! Peter was the man who started the band Fleetwood Mac along with myself, John McVie, and Jeremy Spencer. No one has ever stepped into the ranks of Fleetwood Mac without a reverence for Peter Green and his talent, and to the fact that music should shine bright and always be delivered with uncompromising passion!!!

Peter,

I will miss you, but rest easy your music lives on. I thank you for asking me to be your drummer all those years ago. We did good, and trail blazed one hell of a musical road for so many to enjoy.

God speed to you, my dearest friend.......

Love Mick Fleetwood"

Green's direction can be heard on the group's early albums including their self-titled debut in 1968. He wrote "Albatross," the group's only No. 1 hit on the United Kingdom's singles chart. Green was also behind "Oh Well," "Man of the World," and "Black Magic Woman," the last of which Santana popularized with a cover version.

Green left the band in 1970 following a period of erratic behavior and drug use. His behavior was later diagnosed as schizophrenia and he was hospitalized for some time. Green returned to music in the late '70s, composing and recording albums on his own.

Green was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, alongside seven other members of Fleetwood Mac.

In February, before the coronavirus shut down large scale gatherings, Mick Fleetwood held a tribute concert for Green in London, featuring a lineup of artists who were influenced by Green's work.

Fleetwood told Rolling Stone that he put the tribute concert together because "I wanted people to know that I did not form this band — Peter Green did. And I wanted to celebrate those early years of Fleetwood Mac, which started this massive ball that went down the road over the last 50 years."

Wynne Davis - NPR

Statement from Stevie Nicks

Mick Fleetwood Will Host Concert Honoring Peter Green and Early Fleetwood Mac

Mick Fleetwood Announces Concert to Honor Peter Green and Early Fleetwood Mac

Mick Fleetwood will host a one-of-a-kind concert honoring the early years of Fleetwood Mac and its co-founder Peter Green on February 25th at the London Palladium.

Fleetwood has enlisted an all-star cast of musicians to perform, including Billy Gibbons, David Gilmour, Jonny Lang, John Mayall, Christine McVie, Zak Starkey, Steven Tyler and Bill Wyman.

“The concert is a celebration of those early blues days where we all began, and it’s important to recognize the profound impact Peter and the early Fleetwood Mac had on the world of music,” Fleetwood said in a statement. “Peter was my greatest mentor and it gives me such joy to pay tribute to his incredible talent. I am honored to be sharing the stage with some of the many artists Peter has inspired over the years and who share my great respect for this remarkable musician.”

Fleetwood will act as the house band alongside Andy Fairweather Low, Dave Bronze and Ricky Peterson, and producer Glyn Johns will be the executive sound producer for the concert. The event will be filmed for eventual release and directed by Martyn Atkins.

Exclusive pre-sale tickets go on sale Wednesday November 13th at 10 a.m. GMT while public tickets go on sale Friday November 15th at 10 a.m. GMT via Ticketmaster. A donation from the event will go to Teenage Cancer Trust, a U.K. charity dedicated to providing specialist nursing and emotional support to young people with cancer.

Green co-founded Fleetwood Mac in 1967 alongside Fleetwood, John McVie, Jeremy Spencer and Danny Kirwan. Fleetwood told Rolling Stone in 2017 that there was little possibility of the original lineup of the band reforming down the road.

“I went there many years ago,” he said. “We got into it and we were going to put a whole thing together at the [Royal] Albert Hall. This is years and years and years ago. Probably about 15 years ago. And right at the last minute, Peter, in the world that he lives in, just suddenly pulled out. … Suddenly it was not a good idea. And we had put a whole bunch of things together, I had even booked the venue. So I would never do that again.”

Video: Check this out "Melody Maker Awards (1969)" Christine McVie, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood & Peter Green

Footage of Christine McVie accepting her award for Top Girl Singer at the 1969 Melody Maker Awards.  John McVie, Mick Fleetwood and Peter Green are shown talking at the reception... Cool to see!

Another Fleetwood Mac Album That's 'Worth A Damn'

This year saw the reissue of two vintage albums by Fleetwood Mac: the hugely popular Rumours,and the last

Then Play On Re-issue
Available at Amazon

album to feature the band's founder, Peter Green, called Then Play On.

"I think it's one of the most beautiful records and exciting records ever made," Rolling Stone senior writer David Fricke says. He wrote the liner notes for the reissue.

"I think as a statement of searching — within blues, within rock, within the possibilities of the electric guitar — like I said, I think it's one of the best records ever made," Fricke says. "I've got three copies of it — I wouldn't be caught with anything less."

Then Play On was recorded in the spring and summer of 1969, and the story of the album is the story of a band at a turning point. The previous fall, Fleetwood Mac added 17-year-old guitarist and singer Danny Kirwan, giving the band a powerful three-man front.

"You had Peter Green playing the B.B. King-style Chicago blues, mainly; Danny Kirwan with his more melodic rock, as it turned into; and then Jeremy Spencer doing these remarkable Elmore James impersonations is what they were, really," says Peter Green's biographer, Martin Celmins. "And for all that package to be in one band was a huge draw. And the response they got from the audience was wild. You know, they were just the top live band."

Continue to the full article at NPR by Tom Cole

"When people ask me in interviews to this day what's the most favorite album, I say, 'Well, I can't pick one album but I'll pick two. And one is Then Play On, and two is the Tusk album because they were really pushing the envelope," Fleetwood says. "And that is part and parcel of why bands keep going. And certainly can look back on their work and say, 'We did something that was worth a damn.' And Then Play On was worth a damn."

NEW Blues Magazine #10 features unseen photos and new interviews on early Fleetwood Mac / Peter Green

Cover Feature: Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac

After stealing Eric Clapton’s thunder with a stunning turn in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Peter Green formed Fleetwood Mac to cut the ultimate British blues album. With unseen photos and new interviews we tell the story of Greeny’s hard road to ‘Dog & Dustbin’.

The Blues Magazine Issue 10 is on sale now at newsstands and via MyFavouriteMagazines.co.uk.

The Modern Blues Fan’s Bible
The Blues Magazine is brought to you by the great team behind Classic Rock Magazine. Blues Magazine is a mix of old and new; cult and mainstream - and celebrates 75 years of great blues music.

Happy Birthday to the man that gave us Fleetwood Mac... Mr. Peter Green! (Oct 29)

Fleetwood Mac Founder Guitarist

Peter Green Turns 67 Today Oct 29th

Happy Birthday Peter!

Back in 1967 it was Peter that started the group. Peter, John and Mick were all in the band John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers when Peter, John and Mick recorded an instrumental and called it "Fleetwood Mac" named after the rhythm section. Shortly there after, Peter decided to form his own band and asked Mick and John to join.  Mick joined right away, but John was reluctant instead sticking with John Mayall for the steady income.  Peter named the new group Fleetwood Mac in the hopes that John would later join. The initial line-up included Peter, Mick, Jeremy Spencer and Bob Brunning on bass.  John within the same year the group was formed joined the group replacing Bob Brunning... and the rest is history.

NEW Fleetwood Mac 3CD Live in Boston 1970 Available October 28th

The live recordings on this new three-CD set feature the classic blues line-up of Fleetwood Mac (Mick

Fleetwood, Peter Green, Danny Kirwan, John McVie and Jeremy Spencer) and date from February 1970 when they played three nights at the Boston Tea Party venue.

3 CD Set in round box remastered vintage live recordings of Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac. Earlier this year the current incarnation of Fleetwood Mac embarked on a massive world tour. Dates in North America are being followed by gigs around Europe, Australia and New Zealand. These dates will see the band playing sold-out shows to huge arena crowds and are sure to create another surge of interest in this much-loved band. Boston is a 3CD set which collects live recordings from an earlier era of the band's colourful history. The set features the classic blues line-up of Mick Fleetwood, Peter Green, Danny Kirwan, John McVie and Jeremy Spencer. Originally recorded at the Boston Tea Party venue over three nights in February 1970, for a planned release later the same year, these recordings were left in the can, unissued, following leader Peter Green's sudden decision to leave the band a few weeks after the dates. Tracks from the shows were eventually released in various forms in the mid-80s but these releases were blighted by poor sound sources. The discovery of the original 8-track tapes and a number of previously unreleased tracks in the late 90s allowed the material to be re-mixed, re-mastered, and substantially overhauled for release on 3 separate CD volumes. This new set brings together all of these re-mastered recordings a 3CD set to present a complete document of these historic shows. 

The set is packaged in a round box with a 24 page book and 5 beer mats. The booklet contains new sleeve-notes and reworked artwork.

Super Delux Edition

Peter Green Featured in the August, 2013 Guitar and Bass Magazine #FleetwoodMac

PETER GREEN'S LES PAUL

Discover the truth about the British blues legend and his mystical guitar 

Guitar and Bass

TO THE MAN WHO STARTED IT ALL... Happy Birthday to Fleetwood Mac Founder Peter Green

Fleetwood Mac Founder Guitarist

Peter Green Turns 66 Today Oct 29th

 Happy Birthday Peter!

Fleetwood Mac Weekend on BBC 4: "Don't Stop" & "Man of The World" Documentaries

Two Documentaries will be running back to back over the next couple of days on BBC 4 in the UK.  PLUS Classic Albums: Rumours will air on Dutch Ned3 Feb 5th at 21:05.

Peter Green: "Man of the World"

Friday, 4th Feb 2011 - 21:00 - BBC Four

Saturday, 5th Feb 2011 - 01:30 - BBC Four

Sunday, 6th Feb 2011 - 23:40 - BBC Four

Fleetwood Mac - "Don't Stop"

Friday, 4th Feb 2011 - 22:30 - BBC Four

Saturday, 5th Feb 2011 - 03:00 - BBC Four

Sunday, 6th Feb 2011 - 22:40 - BBC Four

If you miss the show, the full show can be watched here

Also... Fleetwood Mac's Classic Albums: Rumours will be airing on Dutch Ned3 tomorrow at 21:05h.  I looked for a link online for more details, or times but couldn't see anything. [Thanks @JPVDW]

THE MAN WHO STARTED IT ALL...

Fleetwood Mac Founder Guitarist

Peter Green Turns 64 Today

 Happy Birthday Peter!

RETURN OF THE MAC LEGEND

Return of the Mac legend:

AFTER several years out of the public eye, the legend that is Peter Green is back with a new band and a gig at Falmouth's Princess Pavilion on Friday, May 28.

Now seated centre stage, what is obvious is that the show revolves around him, and that he is in the company of notably simpatico musicians.

Peter Green and Friends is about the man himself enjoying the performance experience – this is not a Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac greatest hits band. Naturally, no Peter Green appearance would be complete without a few of his classic compositions, but now the focus is on fresh renditions of Peter's personal blues, R&B and soul favourites.

Tickets are 20 in advance from 01326 211222.

THREE FLEETWOOD MAC DOCUMENTARIES ON THIS WEEK - BBC FOUR

Triple
FLEETWOOD MAC
Feature
this Friday and Saturday
November 6/7th

on BBC Four

Friday:
21:00 - Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop Documentary
22:00 - Rock Family Trees - Documentary

Saturday:
00:45 - Peter Green: Man of the World - Documentary
02:25 - Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop - Documentary

PETER GREEN AT BELFAST'S SPRING & AIRBRAKE.

Green will be rocking and rolling in Belfast
Belfast Telegraph
Rock and Roll hall of famer Peter Green has announced an intimate show at Belfast’s Spring & Airbrake on Wednesday, October 21.

Along with current members Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, Peter Green was one of the founders of the original Fleetwood Mac.

Peter began redefining rock and pop music with a succession of outstanding songs that cemented the band as one of the most popular groups of the sixties.

Tracks such as Black Magic Woman and the number one hit Albatross remain to this day in many people’s top songs of all time.

Tickets are £18.

FLEETWOOD MAC FOUNDER PETER GREEN PRESENTED WITH "MILLION-AIR" CERTIFICATE

Donovan, Natasha Bedingfield and More Honored at 2009 BMI London Awards

BMI.COM

BMI lauded the UK and Europe’s premier songwriters, composers and music publishers tonight during its annual BMI London Awards. The ceremony was hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant; BMI Senior Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Phil Graham; and Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations, Europe & Asia Brandon Bakshi. Staged in London’s Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, the event honored the past year’s most-performed songs on U.S. radio and television. BMI is a United States-based performing right organization that collects and distributes monies for the public performance of music on outlets including radio, television, the Internet and the top-grossing tours in the U.S. British citizens honored at the event are members of the UK performing right society PRS for Music (PRS) and are represented in the U.S. by BMI.

BMI “Million-Air” certificates were also presented throughout the evening in recognition of songs that have achieved more than three million U.S. radio and television performances—the equivalent of more than 17 years of continuous airplay.

Songs honored for generating more than five million performances included “Black Magic Woman,” written by Fleetwood Mac founder Peter Green.

Mac legend to grace Aldershot stage

FLEETWOOD Mac legend Peter Green will be playing the West End Centre in Aldershot.

He is touring to play the band’s classic hits and will appear at the West End Centre on September 3.

gethampshire.co.uk

He played with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and, most famously, Fleetwood Mac.

Raised in the East End of London, Peter was playing bass in several amateur bands before he met drummer Mick Fleetwood during a brief stint playing lead guitar with Peter B’s Looners.

He left the Looners to replace Eric Clapton as guitarist in the John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.

Taking Clapton’s place was never going to be easy but it didn’t take too long for Peter to prove his worth and become the new ‘darling’ of the blues scene.

After Peter joined them the Bluesbreakers recorded their seminal Hard Road album, which included his major instrumental masterpiece The Supernatural.

Having collaborated on just the one album, Peter left the Bluesbreakers to start his own band, with Mick Fleetwood on drums and John McVie on bass, and Fleetwood Mac was born.

The band released their first album in 1968 to rave reviews, and Green’s classic tracks Black Magic Woman and the number one hit Albatross cemented the band’s success.

Drugs took their toll on Peter’s mental health and he decided to leave Fleetwood Mac in 1970.

He recorded a solo album but then faded into obscurity.

He made guest appearances on albums by ex-band mates and friends before recording more albums in the late 70s and early 80s.

In 1998 he and the rest of Fleetwood Mac were inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

At the time, Mick Fleetwood said of Green: “He’s back in the studio, he’s actually playing again, which is why he’s here on this planet. I do seriously believe he has a magic touch. I think you will never see Pete back out in the showbiz sense of the word but I think you will hear some more music from Peter Green and I hope I’m part of that. I hope that comes to pass.”

Westy employee Nicci Hewett said: “We’re delighted Peter has chosen to play at the Westy, because you really never know when you will get another chance to see this legend, who played such a large part in shaping contemporary music.”

Tickets cost £18 (£16 concessions) and the event is standing.

Available from www3.hants.gov.uk/westendcentre or through the box office on 01252 330040.

(ON UK TV) THE FLEETWOOD MAC STORY

THE FLEETWOOD MAC STORY

BBC FOUR

MAY 2nd - 11pm

A series that takes a fresh look at the last 30 years of pop history, using family trees compiled by music journalist Pete Frame to explore the dramas that lie behind some of the best-known bands.

Fleetwood Mac, formed in 1967, has survived many different line-ups, but band members have paid a high price for their success. Key figures such as Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and Stevie Nicks tell the band's story.

PETER GREEN: MAN OF THE WORLD

BBC FOUR

MAY 8th - 9:30pm

MAY 9th - 1:35am

Legendary blues guitarist BB King named Peter Green as one of the greatest exponents of the blues, and the 'only guitar player to make me sweat'. If Green had only written Black Magic Woman, his name would still have a place in blues rock history forever.

His three short years leading Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac saw the band established as one of the biggest-selling groups of the 1960s. Yet at the height of their fame Green left the group, with his life spiralling into turmoil as drug-induced mental health issues took control. Rumours of his demise began to spread, and sightings of him became notorious.

After years battling his mental illness, Green is writing and recording again. Featuring archive performances and interviews with Carlos Santana, Noel Gallagher, founding members of Fleetwood Mac and Green himself, this film tells the story of one of blues rock's living legends.