x
Breaking News
More () »

Fleetwood Mac blues guitarist Peter Green dies at 73

The law firm, Swan Turton said he had died in his sleep this weekend.
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
British rock and blues guitarist Peter Green, left, a founding member of Fleetwood Mac, performs with his own band, Peter Green's Splinter Group, at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill Saturday, April 7, 2001, in New York. Guitarist Peter Stroud is at right. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Peter Green, the dexterous blues guitarist who led the first incarnation of Fleetwood Mac in a career shortened by psychedelic drugs and mental illness, has died. He was 73.

The law firm, Swan Turton, announced the death in a statement Saturday. It said he died "peacefully in his sleep." A further statement will be provided in the coming days.

Green, to some listeners, was the best of the British blues guitarists of the 1960s. B.B. King once said Green "has the sweetest tone I ever heard. He was the only one who gave me the cold sweats."

Green also made a mark as a composer, with "Albatross," and as a songwriter, with "Oh Well" and "Black Magic Woman." 

Credit: AP
FILE - In this file photo dated Monday, Jan. 12, 1998 Members of Fleetwood Mac hold their awards after the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in New York. From left, are: Peter Green; John McVie; Stevie Nicks; Christine McVie; Mick Fleetwood; and Lindsey Buckingham. Lawyers representing the family of Peter Green, say in a statement Saturday July 25, 2020, that he has died, aged 73. (AP Photo/Adam Nadel, FILE)

RELATED: New book outlines Prince Harry's less-than-fond farewell

RELATED: Ciara welcomes newborn son Win into the world, with a song of course

He crashed out of the band in 1971. Even so, Mick Fleetwood said in an interview with The Associated Press in 2017 that Green deserves the lion's share of the credit for the band's success.

"Peter was asked why did he call the band Fleetwood Mac. He said, 'Well, you know I thought maybe I'd move on at some point and I wanted Mick and John (McVie) to have a band.' End of story, explaining how generous he was," said Fleetwood, who described Green as a standout in an era of great guitar work.

Indeed, Green was so fundamental to the band that in its early days it was called Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac.

Before You Leave, Check This Out