Forgotten guitar great Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac

Peter Green and Fleetwood Mac

Peter Green (born Peter Allen Greenbaum, 29 October 1946, in Bethnal Green, London) was the founder of the band Fleetwood Mac.

Green inspired B. B. King to say, “He has the sweetest tone I ever heard; he was the only one who gave me the cold sweats.”

In 1967, Green decided to leave Mayall’s Bluesbreakers after appearing on just one album (just as Clapton had done) and form his own blues band.

He was a heavy blues player, adored by his fans, who saw Fleetwood Mac as more edgy and faithful to the blues than The Rolling Stones.

Their self-titled debut album was a huge success in the UK and reached #4 in the charts. It also featured hit single “Black Magic Woman”, written by Green. The song was later covered by Santana and became a worldwide smash.

He could offer more than the blues: “Albatross” (Fleetwood Mac’s first number one hit), “The Green Manalishi” (almost heavy metal), “Man of the World” (although when Green sings “I wish I never was born” you believe him) and “Oh Well” (a riff to die for).

Peter Green was very uncomfortable with all the acclaim and as his mental stability deteriorated. He quit Fleetwood Mac in 1970 and faded into obscurity, taking on a succession of menial jobs and selling his trademark 1959 Sunburst Gibson Les Paul Standard to Irish guitarist Gary Moore.

Green was diagnosed with schizophrenia in the mid 70s and he spent time in psychiatric hospitals undergoing electroconvulsive therapy.

There was a resurgence in the late 70s and early 80s but then suffered a relapse in 1984 a lived a tramp like existence for a further 6 years until being rescued by his brother.

Green has appeared on stage as recently as 2003 but now lives in Sweden where he has said that the medication he takes to treat his psychological problems makes it hard for him to concentrate and saps his desire to pick up a guitar.

Blues guitar hero. Not forgotten.