Peter Green
Before Fleetwood Mac was putting out classic pop rock hits and hugely successful albums such as Rumours, they were a rather different band with a rather different lineup. They were originally formed as a British blues band, drawing inspiration from the timeless Chicago sound hailing from Chess Records. At the front and center of the original lineup was lead guitarist and vocalist, Peter Green. Green’s abilities as a guitarist were unparalleled in his prime, with such a driving, yet delicate touch on the instruments, he was able to able to move even the likes of blues legend B.B. King.
Peter Green emerged out of the burgeoning London blues music scene in the mid 1960s when he had the opportunity to fill in for Eric Clapton as the lead guitarist of John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. Filling the shoes of Clapton at the time would have been as tall of an order that one could imagine at the time. Green effortlessly assumed the role, and (in my honest opinion), proved an even worthier student of the blues. In 1967, Green went on to found his own group along with drummer Mick Fleetwood, bassist John McVie, and slide guitarist Jeremy Spencer, whose immense contributions to the early sound of the band are often, tragically, overlooked.
While Green was clearly the voice and face of the group, he was always hesitant to be a typical “frontman.” The name of the band itself in proof of his shyness. By blending the names of McVie and Fleetwood, he subtly passed the proverbial torch into the hands of his rhythm section. As Fleetwood Mac grew increasingly popular, even releasing a number one hit in “Albatross,” Green’s mentality towards life and the music industry began to change noticeably. Following the release of the masterpiece album Then Play On, featuring the added guitar work of the virtuosic Danny Kirwain, Green’s appearance began to change; he was sporting a very long beard, and was often seen wearing robes and a large crucifix. His bandmates became increasingly concerned with his aversion to accumulating wealth, and his desire to donate the majority of his royalties and other income to various charitable causes. Green was obviously becoming highly disillusioned with the music industry, and believed in a cause greater than himself.
An incident at a commune in Munich in 1970 has been cited as a key moment in the decline of Peter Green’s mental health. Large amounts of LSD were taken by the partygoers, including Green, and the rest of the band was informed that Green had no intention of leaving the commune to return to their tour, and their lives. Green himself, however, voiced fond memories of the entire evening, telling Jeremy Spencer at the time, “That's the most spiritual music I've ever recorded in my life."
Green spent the rest of the 70s in relative isolation and obscurity, and was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia and admitted to various psychiatric hospitals. He made a professional re-emergence in 1979 with the beautiful solo album In The Skies, and would continue to release solo work, and a string of blues albums with the Peter Green Splinter Group. Green passed peacefully away in his sleep on July 25, 2020. While his music career is intertwined with many tall tales of drugs and delusion, his catalog speaks for itself.
During his brief time as the face of Fleetwood Mac, Peter Green blessed us with his masterful guitar playing abilities, his soulful vocal delivery, and a bevy of beautiful songs. He began to break out of the blues mold as his career progressed, and some of his and fellow guitarist Danny Kirwan’s best work can be heard on the monumental 1969 album Then Play On. This small collection of songs can’t even begin to encapsulate the genius of Peter Green and the original Fleetwood Mac, but hopefully serves as an introduction.
