Peter Green Has Died, July 25, 2020
 

Such sad news! Many UK news outlets are reporting this and all confirm that a more comprehensive statement is forthcoming.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.exp...ath-latets/amp

Apparently, he passed away peacefully in his sleep:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dai...y-concern.html

truly one of the greatest. the end of an era.

Fleetwood Mac founder and one of the best guitarists and songwriters ever, man who wrote Black Magic Woman, Albatross, Oh Well, Man of the World... Peter Green passed on.

RIP #FleetwoodMac

Fleetwood Mac - "Oh Well", Live@ Music Mash 1969 https://t.co/ST8FSFsXBQ via @YouTube

— elle (@ellellew) July 25, 2020

Oh no.
Died peacefully in his sleep. That's good to know.
RIP Peter; great man and legend.

Farewell, Peter, and thank you.

It's hard not to feel utterly bereft at this news.

The very reason I listened to Fleetwood mac all those years ago...Peter Green
and his fabulous guitar playing,
Listened to them since 1967.
RIP Peter.

RIP and God speed. I hope he has found peace and beauty.

Also my heart goes out to Mick. I can only imagine the pain he is feeling.

RIP Peter Green

We would not have Fleetwood Mac without you

I hope he’s finally at peace.

I’m also glad he got to see how much he meant to so many earlier this year. Whether or not he got anything out of it is another matter.

Rest in peace, Peter.

Thank you for the music.

RIP Peter Green.

My wife and I had our first dance to “Need Your Love So Bad”.

I wish I could have shaken his hand and told him how much his music means to me.

What a visionary. Contributions and influence that will last.

Rest in peace, Peter.

BBC News:

Fleetwood Mac co-founder and influential blues rock guitarist Peter Green has died aged 73.

Solicitors acting on behalf of his family said in a statement: "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, from Bethnal Green in east London, formed Fleetwood Mac with drummer Mick Fleetwood in 1967. They came together after Green's stint filling in for Eric Clapton in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Green and Fleetwood then convinced John McVie to join the band as bass guitarist, in part by naming the band Fleetwood Mac. He wrote the instantly recognisable instrumental track Albatross, which remains the band's only number one hit, plus two other early hits, Black Magic Woman and Oh Well. And it was under Green's direction that they produced their first three albums.

The band's debut album was released in 1968. Simply called Fleetwood Mac, but also known as Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, it gained widespread acclaim and reached number four in the charts. Green left the band after a last performance in 1970 as he struggled with his mental health. He was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia and spent time in hospital in the mid-70s. He married Jane Samuels in January 1978. They divorced in 1979 and share a daughter. Green 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.

The news of his death comes days after Fleetwood Mac announced they would release a retrospective box set documenting the band's early years between 1969 and 1974.

'One of the greats'
Musicians have led tributes to Green. David Coverdale, the lead singer of Whitesnake, said he was an artist he "truly loved and admired". In a tweet, he said: "I supported the original Fleetwood Mac at Redcar Jazz Club when I was in a local band... he was a breathtaking singer, guitarist and composer. I know who I will be listening to today. RIP"

Mumford and Sons guitarist Winston Marshall tweeted: "RIP Peter Green. #GOAT. Man of the world, oh well, albatross, need your love so bad. Some of my favourites songs and performances of all time. Thank you for the music."

Actor David Morrissey praised Green's "fantastic soulful voice" while Black Sabbath's Geezer Butler described Green as "one of the greats". And Scottish musician Midge Ure tweeted: "One of the great ones gone. You taught me well."

Peter Green was one of the greatest Blues guitarists Britain ever produced. His shape-shifting riffs and long, improvisational excursions made Fleetwood Mac one of the most exciting live bands of the 1960s Blues explosion. He first picked up a hand-me-down guitar at the age of 10 and, like many of his peers, began to devour the import vinyl that trickled into the UK from the US. He studied the greats - Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy and BB King - combining their tensely coiled playing style with the shimmering vibrato of The Shadows' Hank Marvin.

But he actually started his professional career as a bassist, until an encounter with Eric Clapton persuaded him to ditch the instrument.
"I decided to go back on lead guitar after seeing him with the Bluesbreakers. He had a Les Paul, his fingers were marvellous. The guy knew how to do a bit of evil, I guess."

He later had the seemingly impossible task of taking over from Clapton in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Fans were unconvinced at first, but after a handful of incendiary performances, he won them over, earning the nickname "The Green God".

The singer-songwriter Cat Stevens, also known as Yusuf Islam, tweeted: "God bless the ineffable Peter Green, one of the unsung heroes of musical integrity, innovation and spirit. When I heard he left Fleetwood Mac in 1970 to get a real life and donate his wealth to charity, he became something of a model for me."

In February this year, artists including Fleetwood, Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and guitarists Jonny Lang and Andy Fairweather Low performed at the London Palladium in a gig celebrating the early years of Fleetwood Mac.

Rolling Stone magazine ranked Green at number 58 in its all-time list of the 100 greatest guitarists, describing him as "Britain's most progressive blues guitarist" in his heyday.

RIP Peter Green. You are truly a legend. <3

May he rest in peace. I saw this news and came straight to The Ledge to confirm it. A sad day for music.

So incredibly sad to hear this news. Rest in peace Peter and thank you for all of the joy you've brought to my life directly and indirectly. I will always be eternally grateful to you.

will be interesting to see what, if any, public statement comes from the band, and in particular Mick and John.

There's a lovely tribute from Bernie Marsden of Whitesnake here, together with a photo of Peter in February

https://twitter.com/Bernie_Marsden/s...n-dies-aged-73

BBC News 24 ran a lovely tribute to Peter that included an interview with Bernie Marsden. It sounds as if they were very friendly in recent years.
Here's a picture from last year. Peter certainly looks very happy.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Guitars/L...DE3A1E6-X3.jpg

I'm very saddened by this, Peter was only 74 years old; however I am also relieved that he died peacefully while sleeping. This truly feels like I'm starting to get old.

Rest in peace Peter.
Another legend moves on into the next realm.
Safe journey.

I just can't believe it...I can't believe it!!!
The founder of our band, a true mentor for some people, a great guitar player and writer. Of course, for me, a bit underrated, just like EVERY Fleetwood Mac guitarist.
He had a very intense life, and then searched for peace and a solitary mood. He rediscovered (maybe?) his love for music in the recent days, but he left us on his own sleep.
The Man Of The World is gone...
Rest In Peace, dear PETER GREEN!!

I don't believe in death.

I won't believe in her even when she will come for me.

RIP Peter Green.

You have been, and will always be with us!

Eh, I did that. He didn’t appreciate it.

Mick Fleetwood statement
Daily Mail online

'My dearest friend': Mick Fleetwood declares Fleetwood Mac co-founder Peter Green 'blazed one hell of a musical road for so many to enjoy' as he dies aged 73
Fleetwood Mac co-founder Peter Green has died in his sleep, a statement from solicitors confirmed
The influential blues rock guitarist from Bethnal Green, London co-founded band Fleetwood Mac in 1967
Green quit after a final performance in 1970 as he struggled with his mental health and drug abuse issues
By JACK WRIGHT and RYAN FAHEY FOR MAILONLINE


Mick Fleetwood has today paid tribute to his band co-founder, calling Peter Green 'my dearest friend' and said they 'trail blazed one hell of a musical road for so many to enjoy'.

Fleetwood and Green formed the influential group in London in 1967, alongside John McVie and Jeremy Spencer. Green, who has died at the age of 73, later left the band after struggling with his mental health.

In a statement today, 73-year-old Fleetwood said: '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. Fleetwood added: '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.'

An underrated legend. No matter what era(s) of Fleetwood Mac you love, without Peter, none of it would have existed. Rest In Peace, Peter.

RIP Peter, you set the path and others followed

Sea Of Tranquility Tribute
 

Pete Pardo, Sea Of Tranquility – "Tribute To Peter Green" (10 min): https://www.amazon.com/Most-Dangerou.../dp/145075063X

I know he's off with some minor details such as calling Danny an original member, but still a nice tribute. I'm surprised he didn't mention Live At The Boston Tea Party (my introduction to Green), but he does cover the remainder of Green's work with FM as well as his work with John Mayall and on his solo album The End Of The Game. He also covers some of the technical aspects of his guitar work and really gets into what makes it so great.

Pete recently did a "Deep Cut Dive" show on Fleetwood Mac that covers some of his (and his co-host's) favorite lesser-known FM songs; including from the Green, Welch, and Buckingham-Nicks eras. As it covers most of the FM catalog I don't know in what forum to post it (perhaps both Early Years and Rumours), but fow now I'll post it here (skip first 3:34 and after 23:45 to skip the more or less generic intro and the closing plug for the music of co-host Jeff Young; skip 11:45-14:10 to skip the tangent about Bob Welch's band Paris): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKjsCnvzZI0

Ray Lindsey just wrote this, about Peter recording on Brown Eyes.
------------
Ray Lindsey - I was in the studio with Mick and Christine the night Peter recorded this. He had randomly appeared to hang out and listen to some new music. LB was not there and Mick told me to get a guitar out for Mr. Green. I selected a 59 Les Paul and ran it through an old tweed Bassman. I knew this was a winning combination and got Peter to start playing. While Mick, Peter and lucky me jammed, Christine had the boys put her track up. Twenty minutes later Chris coaxed Greenie into the control room. We dialed in some God worthy reverb and Peter played for half an hour to “Brown Eyes” blasting through the control room monitors. Every note was recorded but only the tag at the end made to the final mix.
Rest well Pete. It was a hard road but damn you were good.

That's such a great story!

The man who started it all. Thank you Peter. You will be missed, but you earned your rest. Rest In Peace.

Well played, Ray. Well played.

thank you for sharing this. love having Ray in Real Savage Like, and his tidbits are always so interesting.

Every note was recorded. I hope all 30 minutes were saved and exist somewhere today.

74? I did not know his age.

I always hoped that Peter might one day have made made another contribution to another Mac song after Brown Eyes although admittedly it's hard to think of one quite as bluesy that it might have worked on. Those couple of dozen notes that did make the final album cut had an ethereal, magical quality that resolved the song in a perfect moment. Having the fuller version in the last Tusk re-issue was a real pleasure...

I was at Peter's London gig in 1996. There was still a spark there and some guitar licks that touched the soul. A memory to treasure.

terribly sad news. I got to know his music and guitar playing when I became a fan in 1976. Listening and collecting Fleetwood Mac memoriblia you got to listen to the old Mac sound. He was a genius. His music and guitar playing and his voice was so beautiful. It is so sad what his life became. I hope he was happy and productive. It's a shame the world didn't become aware of his greatness. He was so humble. We can all hope to go in our sleep like he did. RIP Green God.

Peter Green
 

So very sad.....listened today to 'The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac '2002 and- not for the first time- was struck by the almost mystical guitar 'thread' that resonates through the collection, even though they are from very different incarnations and styles of music.
The last time I saw Peter in concert was that same year, 2002 on the double bill with John Mayall. I still have mixed feelings about the whole Splinter Group/ Nigel Watson thing: while it was great to see Peter on stage, he was actually playing very little and subsequent reports/events have certainly called into question Watson's motives.
I happened to be staying in the same hotel as both bands, and we all checked out together the next morning.It was some time before they were leaving and my abiding memory as we left ,was seeing the solitary figure of Peter strolling up the street in front of us:thankfully, nobody bothered him - I'm sure he was not even recognized- as he strolled and took in the sights around him. He was almost like a child, with no worries or pressures. Yes, there was something sad about it as well.....but the main thing was that he appeared to be content,and, by all accounts , his final years brought him some of the peace of mind that he so richly deserved.

Just to check: does anyone know if: E. Clapton, Page, Mick Taylor, Keith Richards, have officially declared something, or nothing at all?