Peter Green British blues-rock guitarist, founder of Fleetwood Mac. Date of Birth: 29.10.1946 Country: Great Britain

Biography of Peter Green

Peter Allen Greenbaum, known as Peter Green, was a British blues-rock guitarist and the founder of the band Fleetwood Mac. He was born on October 29, 1946, in a working-class family in London's West End. At the age of 10, Peter developed an interest in music when one of his brothers brought home a cheap Spanish guitar. He became serious about learning the instrument and was influenced by artists such as Hank Marvin of "The Shadows", Muddy Waters, and B.B. King. He also listened to old Jewish songs, which influenced his musical taste.

At the age of 15, Peter shortened his surname to "Green" and started playing bass in various amateur bands. In 1966, he received an offer to become the lead guitarist in Peter Bardens' project called "Peter B's Looners". It was during this time that the 19-year-old musician met drummer Mick Fleetwood. After three months with Bardens, Green joined "John Mayall's Bluesbreakers". As a big fan of Eric Clapton, Peter asked Mayall for the opportunity to replace his idol when he decided to take a break. However, when Clapton permanently left the Bluesbreakers, Green was dismissed. But soon after, John invited Peter back into his band.

Fans of Clapton were initially skeptical of the new guitarist, but they soon realized that Green had exceptional talent and they embraced him. While still a member of the Bluesbreakers, Green became close friends with John McVie and Mick Fleetwood. It's no surprise that when he decided to form his own band in 1967, he invited these musicians to join him. With Fleetwood Mac, Peter's talent flourished. Albums such as "Mr. Wonderful", "English Rose", and "Then Play On" became classics of English blues-rock. His instrumental composition "Albatross" brought Fleetwood Mac their first number one hit in the UK charts, and his song "Black Magic Woman" became a worldwide hit when covered by Santana.

However, as Fleetwood Mac was on the path to success, something went wrong with their leader. Peter became heavily involved in drugs, and his behavior became erratic. After a concert in Germany, he went on a three-day LSD trip, from which he claimed to never fully return. Fame and success were no longer important to him, and he became very religious. Green demanded that his bandmates engage in charitable activities, but when they didn't agree, he left the group. His final contribution to Fleetwood Mac was the composition "Green Manalishi", in which he documented his descent into madness.

In 1970, Peter released his first solo album, and his life became tumultuous. He occasionally made appearances with Fleetwood Mac, but most of the 1970s passed without much exposure to the public eye. Finally, in 1979, Green returned to the stage and released a series of controversial but high-quality albums for his fans. He also made an appearance on Mick Fleetwood's solo album, "The Visitor". In 1983, the unpredictable musician once again interrupted his career and retreated with his family away from the public eye. However, his restless nature didn't allow him to stay hidden for long, and he sporadically returned to music. In the late 90s and early 2000s, Green performed with his project "Peter Green Splinter Group" and contributed to albums by artists such as Peter Gabriel and John Mayall.