Peter Green was one of the most influential British blues guitarists of the 1960s and the founding force behind the original incarnation of Members of Fleetwood Mac.
His emotive playing style and soulful tone set him apart from his contemporaries and earned him recognition as one of the greatest guitarists in rock history.
Born in London’s East End, Green transformed from a working-class Jewish boy into a blues virtuoso who could make his guitar sing with unprecedented emotional depth.
He founded Fleetwood Mac in 1967 and led the band through its most blues-oriented period, creating timeless classics that remain influential decades later.
His compositions like “Albatross,” “Black Magic Woman,” and “Oh Well” showcased a rare combination of technical mastery and raw emotional power.
Green’s career was tragically cut short by mental health struggles that forced him to leave the band he created at the height of its success.
Despite his departure from the spotlight, his influence on blues rock and his contributions to Fleetwood Mac’s foundation remain undeniable.
His legacy extends beyond his own recordings, as countless guitarists cite him as a primary influence on their playing and approach to the blues.
This is the complete story of a troubled genius whose brief but brilliant career left an indelible mark on rock music history.
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Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Peter Green was born Peter Allen Greenbaum on October 29, 1946, in Bethnal Green, London.
He grew up in a working-class Jewish family in the East End of London during the post-war years.
His parents were Joe and Ann Greenbaum, and he was one of several siblings in a modest household.
Green’s first instrument was a cheap guitar his brother Len brought home when Peter was around eleven years old.
He taught himself to play by listening to records and practicing obsessively in his bedroom.
His early influences included American blues artists like B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and Freddie King.
The British blues boom of the early 1960s provided the perfect environment for a young guitarist with Green’s talents to develop.
He was particularly drawn to the emotional expressiveness of blues guitar rather than mere technical showmanship.
Green left school at fifteen to work as a butcher’s delivery boy while pursuing music in his spare time.
He played in several local bands around London, gradually building a reputation in the city’s thriving blues scene.
By his late teens, Green had developed a distinctive playing style characterized by fluid phrasing and a warm, singing tone.
His ability to convey deep emotion through his guitar playing set him apart from other young British blues guitarists of the era.
More information about his early years can be found at Wikipedia.
First Major Band or Breakthrough
Green’s first significant professional opportunity came when he joined a band called Peter B’s Looners in the mid-1960s.
This group was led by bassist Peter Bardens and gave Green valuable experience playing in London clubs.
His big break came in 1966 when he was asked to fill in for Eric Clapton in John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers.
Clapton had left the Bluesbreakers to form Cream, creating an opening for a new guitarist.
John Mayall was impressed by Green’s playing and hired him as Clapton’s replacement.
This was a daunting position, as Clapton had just recorded the legendary “Beano” album with the Bluesbreakers.
Green not only filled Clapton’s shoes but established his own identity within the band.
He recorded the album “A Hard Road” with Mayall in 1967, which showcased his mature guitar style.
The album featured Green’s instrumental composition “The Stumble,” which became a showcase for his fluid, expressive playing.
His tone was warmer and more vocal-like than Clapton’s, with a distinctive sustain and vibrato.
Green used a 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard that became legendary for its unique sound.
This guitar, which he purchased from a Dublin guitarist, had its neck pickup wired out of phase, creating a distinctive tone.
During his time with the Bluesbreakers, Green also played alongside drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie.
These connections would prove crucial when Green decided to form his own band.
By mid-1967, Green felt ready to step out from Mayall’s shadow and create his own musical vision.
Peter Green Peak Era with Mick Fleetwood
In the summer of 1967, Peter Green left John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers to form his own band.
He recruited Mick Fleetwood on drums and named the new group Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, honoring the rhythm section.
The original lineup also included guitarist Jeremy Spencer, who specialized in Elmore James style slide guitar.
Bob Brunning played bass initially, but Green wanted John McVie from the Bluesbreakers.
McVie was reluctant to leave the security of Mayall’s established band for an unproven new group.
He eventually joined a few weeks after the band’s formation, completing the classic early lineup.
The band quickly established themselves on the British blues circuit with their powerful live performances.
Their debut album, covered in detail at Fleetwood Mac Debut Album 1968, showcased Green’s vision of electric blues.
The album featured a mix of original compositions and blues covers, all filtered through Green’s distinctive guitar sound.
Green’s songwriting abilities emerged strongly on tracks like “I Loved Another Woman” and “Long Grey Mare.”
His guitar work on these early recordings demonstrated both technical proficiency and deep emotional understanding of the blues.
The band’s first single, a cover of Elmore James‘ “Shake Your Moneymaker,” failed to chart.
However, their second single, “Black Magic Woman,” became a hit in the UK.
Green wrote “Black Magic Woman” as a slow, haunting blues that showcased his ability to create atmosphere.
The song would later become even more famous when Santana recorded a Latin rock version in 1970.
In 1968, Green added a third guitarist, Danny Kirwan, creating a unique three-guitar lineup.
Kirwan was only eighteen when he joined but brought a melodic sensibility that complemented Green’s blues foundation.
The expanded lineup recorded “Mr. Wonderful,” their second album, which continued their blues exploration.
Green’s most commercially successful composition came in late 1968 with the instrumental “Albatross.”
This dreamy, atmospheric piece was unlike anything else in the band’s catalog.
It featured Green’s guitar floating over a gentle rhythm, creating an almost ethereal soundscape.
“Albatross” reached number one on the UK Singles Chart in early 1969, becoming the band’s biggest hit.
The success of “Albatross” demonstrated Green’s versatility beyond traditional blues structures.
The album “Then Play On,” released in 1969, represented the artistic peak of Green’s tenure with Fleetwood Mac.
This album moved beyond pure blues into more experimental and progressive territory.
Green’s composition “Oh Well” became another major hit, showcasing both acoustic and electric dynamics.
The song featured a gentle acoustic introduction before exploding into a hard-rocking electric section.
“Oh Well” reached number two on the UK charts and demonstrated Green’s growing sophistication as a songwriter.
Another standout track from this period was “Man of the World,” a melancholic ballad that hinted at Green’s inner turmoil.
The lyrics spoke of having everything yet feeling empty, a theme that would become tragically prophetic.
“Man of the World” also became a top ten hit in the UK.
Green’s guitar tone during this period was characterized by smooth sustain and expressive vibrato.
He favored his neck pickup and played with his fingers rather than a pick for many passages.
His phrasing was vocal-like, with notes bending and crying in a way that conveyed deep emotion.
Fellow guitarists recognized Green’s exceptional talent, with some considering him superior to more famous contemporaries.
By 1970, Fleetwood Mac had become one of the most successful blues-based bands in Britain.
They toured extensively throughout Europe and began making inroads in the United States.
Green’s final major composition with the band was “The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown).”
This dark, heavy track was inspired by a disturbing dream Green had about money and greed.
The song featured a menacing riff and apocalyptic lyrics that reflected Green’s deteriorating mental state.
It became another UK hit but would be Green’s last significant contribution to the band.
Green’s playing on “The Green Manalishi” was fierce and aggressive, quite different from his earlier melodic work.
The track pointed toward the heavier direction rock music would take in the 1970s.
During this peak period, Green also produced sessions for other artists and contributed to various projects.
His reputation as a guitarist’s guitarist was firmly established within the music industry.
Green’s influence on the band’s sound was total during these years, as he was the primary songwriter and creative force.
The contrast between this blues-oriented era and what would later become of Fleetwood Mac is striking.
While later lineups would achieve even greater commercial success with albums like Rumours by Fleetwood Mac, the Green era represented a completely different musical direction.
The band’s evolution from blues purists to pop-rock superstars began only after Green’s departure.
Peter Green Career Challenges and Personal Struggles
By early 1970, those close to Peter Green noticed disturbing changes in his behavior and personality.
He began expressing anti-materialistic views and talked about giving away his money.
Green suggested that Fleetwood Mac should give away their earnings and play for free.
His bandmates were concerned but unsure how to respond to these increasingly erratic ideas.
A pivotal incident occurred during a European tour when the band played a party at a commune in Munich.
Green reportedly consumed LSD at this gathering, an experience that profoundly affected his mental state.
After this event, his behavior became even more unpredictable and his playing suffered.
He grew increasingly detached from the band and the music business in general.
In May 1970, Green announced he was leaving Fleetwood Mac, the band he had founded just three years earlier.
His departure shocked fans and the music industry, as he was leaving at the height of the band’s success.
Green’s final performance with Fleetwood Mac took place on May 20, 1970.
After leaving the band, Green attempted to continue his musical career with various projects.
He recorded a solo single, “Heavy Heart,” but it failed to chart.
He briefly formed a band called Peter Green’s Kolors, which reflected his new spiritual and communal ideals.
This group recorded one album, “The End of the Game,” which was largely improvised and experimental.
The album was a commercial failure and bore little resemblance to his earlier work.
Green’s mental health continued to deteriorate throughout the early 1970s.
He was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia and underwent treatment including electroconvulsive therapy.
He spent time in psychiatric hospitals and was placed on medication to manage his condition.
During the mid-1970s, Green largely withdrew from music and public life.
He lived with his family and worked odd jobs, including a period as a hospital porter and gravedigger.
His famous Les Paul guitar was sold during this period, though he later reacquired it.
Green grew his hair long and a beard, becoming almost unrecognizable from his 1960s appearance.
There were occasional reports of bizarre behavior, including an incident where he allegedly threatened his accountant with an air rifle.
These years represented a tragic fall from grace for one of Britain’s most talented guitarists.
The contrast between his peak years and his struggles became a cautionary tale about the pressures of fame and the dangers of drug use.
Later Career and Revival
In the late 1970s, Peter Green began a slow and tentative return to music.
He made occasional guest appearances with various bands, though his playing was inconsistent.
By the early 1980s, with proper medication and support, Green’s condition stabilized somewhat.
He recorded several solo albums during the 1980s, including “In the Skies” in 1979.
“In the Skies” marked his first proper album in nearly a decade and featured contributions from several musician friends.
While not reaching his earlier heights, the album showed flashes of his former brilliance.
He followed this with “Little Dreamer” in 1980 and several other albums throughout the decade.
These recordings were modest affairs that appealed primarily to dedicated fans and blues enthusiasts.
In 1996, Green formed the Peter Green Splinter Group, a blues band that allowed him to return to his roots.
The Splinter Group toured regularly and recorded several albums over the next few years.
This period represented Green’s most sustained musical activity since leaving Fleetwood Mac.
The band played small venues and blues festivals, reconnecting Green with audiences who remembered his glory days.
While his playing was no longer at the virtuosic level of the 1960s, he could still produce moments of genuine emotion.
The Splinter Group disbanded in 2004, after which Green largely retired from performing.
In 1998, Green was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Fleetwood Mac.
He attended the ceremony, marking a rare public appearance and acknowledgment of his legacy.
During his later years, Green lived quietly in England, largely out of the public eye.
He gave few interviews and made only occasional appearances at music events.
Various tribute concerts and albums celebrated his contributions to blues and rock music.
Musicians from multiple generations cited Green as a major influence on their own playing.
Peter Green passed away on July 25, 2020, at the age of 73.
His death prompted an outpouring of tributes from fellow musicians and fans worldwide.
Many noted that his influence far exceeded his relatively brief time in the spotlight.
More about his life and career can be found at the official Fleetwood Mac website.
Awards and Recognition
Peter Green received significant recognition for his contributions to music despite his abbreviated career.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 as a member of Fleetwood Mac.
This honor acknowledged his role in founding the band and shaping its early sound.
Green was ranked number 58 in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
This placement recognized his influence and technical abilities among the pantheon of great guitarists.
Fellow musicians consistently praised Green’s playing, with many considering him underrated compared to more famous contemporaries.
His compositions “Albatross,” “Black Magic Woman,” and “Oh Well” became blues-rock standards.
These songs have been covered by numerous artists across multiple genres.
Green’s influence extended beyond his own recordings to shape the sound of British blues rock.
His emotional approach to guitar playing inspired countless musicians to prioritize feeling over technical flash.
Several tribute albums have been released featuring artists interpreting Green’s compositions.
His legacy is particularly strong among blues guitarists who recognize his authentic connection to the genre.
The story of his rise and fall has been documented in books, articles, and documentaries.
His 1959 Les Paul guitar became one of the most famous instruments in rock history.
The guitar’s unique out-of-phase pickup configuration has been studied and replicated by guitar manufacturers.
Essential Discography
- Fleetwood Mac (1968) – The debut album that established the band’s blues credentials with Green’s powerful guitar work throughout.
- Mr. Wonderful (1968) – The second album featuring the expanded three-guitar lineup and deeper blues explorations.
- Then Play On (1969) – Green’s artistic peak with the band, featuring “Oh Well” and more experimental compositions.
- The End of the Game (1970) – Green’s first solo album, a largely improvised work that reflected his deteriorating mental state.
- In the Skies (1979) – His comeback album after years away from music, showing glimpses of his former talent.
- Little Dreamer (1980) – A follow-up solo effort that continued his gradual return to recording.
- Peter Green Splinter Group (1997) – The first album with his late-career blues band, returning to traditional blues forms.
Frequently Asked Questions About Peter Green
What happened to Peter Green from Fleetwood Mac?
Peter Green left Fleetwood Mac in 1970 due to deteriorating mental health, likely exacerbated by LSD use.
He was later diagnosed with schizophrenia and spent years in and out of psychiatric treatment.
Green eventually stabilized with medication and made a partial return to music in later decades.
He passed away in 2020 at the age of 73.
What guitar did Peter Green play?
Peter Green is most famous for playing a 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard.
This guitar had a unique sound due to its neck pickup being wired out of phase.
The instrument became legendary and was later owned by guitarist Gary Moore.
It is now owned by Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett.
Did Peter Green write Black Magic Woman?
Yes, Peter Green wrote “Black Magic Woman” in 1968.
Fleetwood Mac released it as a single, where it became a UK hit.
The song became even more famous when Santana recorded a Latin rock version in 1970.
Santana’s version reached number four on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Why is Peter Green considered a great guitarist?
Peter Green is considered great for his emotional expressiveness and tone rather than technical showmanship.
His playing had a vocal quality with smooth sustain and expressive vibrato.
He could convey deep feeling through his guitar in a way few others could match.
Many fellow guitarists, including contemporaries, considered him among the very best of his generation.
What songs did Peter Green write for Fleetwood Mac?
Peter Green wrote many of Fleetwood Mac’s early hits including “Albatross,” “Black Magic Woman,” and “Oh Well.”
He also wrote “Man of the World” and “The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown).”
These songs showcased his range from gentle instrumentals to hard-rocking blues.
His compositions remain among the most enduring from the band’s blues era.
The legacy of Peter Green endures through his recordings, his influence on subsequent generations of guitarists, and the foundation he laid for one of rock’s most successful bands.