Peter Green

Part of the great explosion of British R&B music in the 1960s, Peter Green – born in Bethnal Green, London on October 29, 1946 - became recognized as one of the great electric blues guitarists of his era. Raised in the East End of London, he taught himself to play on an old Spanish guitar that one of his brothers brought home, before joining several local bands and replacing Eric Clapton in legendary blues rock act John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. Forming Fleetwood Mac with Mick Fleetwood (drums) and John McVie (bass) in 1967, Green's talent was captured on the classic Number 1 single “Albatross”. With the band on the verge of superstardom, he struggled with drug and mental problems and left Fleetwood Mac in 1970. He released his debut solo album The End of the Game (1970) to poor reviews. Green spent long periods in psychiatric hospitals suffering from schizophrenia before re-emerging with In the Skies (1979), Little Dreamer (1980) and Whatcha Gonna Do? (1981). It wasn't until the late 1990s, though, that he really returned to form with The Peter Green Splinter Group, releasing acclaimed albums The Robert Johnson Songbook (1998), Destiny Road (1999), Time Traders (2001), and Reaching the Cold 100 (2003). Green performed a memorable version of “Black Magic Woman” with Carlos Santana (Green was the composer of the song) as he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Green's signature warm, atmospheric guitar tone and languid style proved a lasting influence on the likes of Gary Moore, Joe Perry and generations of guitarists. Peter Green died peacefully in his sleep on July 25, 2020 at the age of 73.