Peter Allen Greenbaum

Peter Allen Greenbaum, better known as Peter Green, was a British musician who rose to fame as the co-founder of Fleetwood Mac, one of the most successful rock bands of all time. He was born on 29 October 1946 in Bethnal Green, London, to a Jewish family of actors and artists. He developed a passion for music at an early age and taught himself to play guitar on a cheap instrument that his brother bought him. He was influenced by the blues legends such as BB King, Freddie King, Otis Rush, and John Lee Hooker. He started his professional career as a bassist in various bands, but switched to lead guitar after being inspired by Eric Clapton. He joined John Mayall's Bluesbreakers in 1966 as Clapton's replacement and soon earned a reputation as a brilliant blues guitarist. He also wrote and sang some of the songs on the Bluesbreakers' album A Hard Road, such as The Supernatural and The Same Way. In 1967, he left the Bluesbreakers and formed his own band with drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie, naming it Fleetwood Mac after them. He later recruited guitarist Jeremy Spencer and guitarist Danny Kirwan to complete the line-up. Fleetwood Mac quickly became one of the most popular blues rock bands in Britain and Europe, with Green as the main songwriter and vocalist. He penned some of the band's classic hits, such as Albatross, Black Magic Woman, Oh Well, Man of the World, and The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown). He also showcased his distinctive guitar style, which combined soulful bends, vibrato, sustain, and tone. He was praised by his peers and critics as one of the greatest guitarists of his generation, and was nicknamed "The Green God" by his fans. He was also known for his generosity and humility, often giving away his money and possessions to charity or to other musicians. However, his success came at a price, as he struggled with drug abuse and mental health issues. He became increasingly erratic and paranoid, especially after taking LSD at a party in Munich in 1970. He began to hear voices in his head and became obsessed with religion and spirituality. He also grew disillusioned with the music industry and felt guilty about his wealth and fame. He left Fleetwood Mac in 1970 after a final performance at the Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music. He then embarked on a solo career, but his mental state deteriorated further. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia and spent time in psychiatric hospitals in the mid-1970s. He underwent electroconvulsive therapy, which he later said damaged his memory and personality. He also lost interest in music and disappeared from the public eye for many years. He occasionally resurfaced with some solo albums or collaborations with other artists, but none of them matched his earlier success or acclaim. In 1998, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with the other members of Fleetwood Mac, but he did not attend the ceremony. In the late 1990s, he formed a new band called Peter Green Splinter Group with guitarist Nigel Watson and drummer Cozy Powell. They recorded several albums of blues covers and originals, and toured extensively until 2004. Green then retired from music again, citing health problems and personal issues. He lived a reclusive life in Canvey Island, Essex, until his death on 25 July 2020, at the age of 73. He died peacefully in his sleep from respiratory failure and heart failure, according to a statement from his family. He is survived by his daughter, Rosebud, from his brief marriage to Jane Samuels. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and original musicians of all time, and his legacy lives on in his songs and guitar playing. ¹²³⁴