Peter Allen Greenbaum è morto all’età di 73 anni. Un gigante assoluto. Uno dei più grandi chitarristi di sempre, secondo (forse) solo a Jimi Hendrix, scrive a caratteri cubitali il suo nome nella storia della musica non solo alla voce “british blues” e Fleetwood Mac. Nel 1966 fa parte dei Peter B’s Looners (con il futuro Camel Peter Bardens) che presto evolveranno negli Shotgun Express con un giovanissimo Rod Stewart alla voce. Un’epopea senza precedenti. Qualche mese dopo Green sostituisce Eric Clapton nei John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, un solo album e la fondazione dei Fleetwood Mac assieme a Mick Fleetwood. Una storia unica, un sound totale che mette in luce e lancia nello stardom un fuoriclasse impressionante come il 21enne di Bethnal Green. Come spesso accade in questi casi di genialità totale, anche Peter Green ha vissuto momenti di estrema fragilità, situazioni borderline, stati emozionali precari, demoni personali. Nel 1970 lascia i Fleetwood Mac e gli effetti devastanti dell’LSD si fanno sentire velocemente su una personalità già minata all’interno come quella di Green. Un album solista e una breve reunion con i Mac sono il preludio a sei anni di “problemi”. “Green was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia and spent time in psychiatric hospitals undergoing electroconvulsive therapy during the mid-1970s”. Dopo aver subito anche un arresto nel 1977 (“for threatening his accountant David Simmons with a shotgun…”) nel 1979 riemerge miracolosamente con l’album ‘In The Skies’. Nei primi anni ’90 poi lo ritroviamo alla guida dello Splinter Group (nove album tra il 1997 e il 2004) e nel 2009 è ancora in tour come Peter Green and Friends. Influente, seminale, fondamentale. Peter Green è spirato nel sonno.
Mick Fleetwood: For me, and every past and present member of Fleetwood Mac, losing Peter Green is monumental. Peter was the man who started the band Fleetwood Mac along with myself, John McVie, and Jeremy Spencer. No one has ever stepped into the ranks of Fleetwood Mac without a reverence for Peter Green and his talent, and to the fact that music should shine bright and always be delivered with uncompromising passion!!!
R.I.P Peter Green. A unique artist and a beautiful guitar player. pic.twitter.com/UeyzpUKlCP
— Johnny Marr (@Johnny_Marr) July 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/doctorloz/status/1287297470918275072?s=20
Farewell, Peter Green x x pic.twitter.com/FFsaT5v1dA
— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) July 25, 2020
God bless the ineffable Peter Green, one of the unsung heroes of musical integrity, innovation and spirit. When I heard he left Fleetwood Mac in 1970 to get a real life and donate his wealth to charity, he became something of a model for me.
'#PeterGreen pic.twitter.com/9TfRJFOc64
— Yusuf / Cat Stevens (@YusufCatStevens) July 25, 2020
Most sadly have lost one of the most tasteful guitar players ever I have always been a huge admirer of the great Peter Green may he rest in peace.
— Peter Frampton (@peterframpton) July 25, 2020
Sad to hear of Peter Green passing- one of the greats. RIP. pic.twitter.com/OUHg3KwnNy
— Geezer Butler (@geezerbutler) July 25, 2020
An Artist I Truly Loved & Admired…From The First Time I Heard Him…I Supported The Original Fleetwood Mac At Redcar Jazz Club When I Was In A Local Band…He Was A Breathtaking Singer, Guitarist & Composer…
I know Who I Will Be Listening To Today…RIP https://t.co/VvkGaY6ZMf— David Coverdale (@davidcoverdale) July 25, 2020
Peter Green – thank you for everything. pic.twitter.com/0dRpM4Luj9
— Bernie Marsden (@Bernie_Marsden) July 25, 2020
othank-you to the unbound spirit of the incomparable #PeterGreen. r i phttps://t.co/sfSO1kfly2
— mark stewart (@_markstewart) July 25, 2020
😢Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac – "Oh Well", Live@ Music Mash 1969 https://t.co/DIxFAS9DiL via
— graham coxon (@grahamcoxon) July 25, 2020
Damn I didn’t know he’d passed. Met him once. He’d just come offstage and I said “I hope you had a great time up there.” Peter said “I hope I did, too.” Peace to the god. https://t.co/53tU6CeIko
— Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) July 25, 2020
Sad loss: RIP Peter Allen Greenbaum, better known as Peter Green. https://t.co/V4CwRfWEOT pic.twitter.com/jG7kOFOzJV
— Alex Skolnick (@AlexSkolnick) July 25, 2020
The phenomenon Peter Green. RIP. pic.twitter.com/loQjeomK79
— The Coral (@thecoralband) July 25, 2020
Thanks, Peter.
Fleetwood Mac – Oh Well – 1969 https://t.co/TRlV26aJig via @YouTube
— Scott McCaughey (@ScottMcMinus5) July 25, 2020
Rest easy Peter Green 💜 pic.twitter.com/ZxTrCBgrcF
— simone marie (@simonemarie4) July 25, 2020
Rest easy, Peter Green. https://t.co/W6nA2AMiAx
— Sleaford Mods (@sleafordmods) July 25, 2020
Peter Green – End of The Game – Bottoms up https://t.co/94rg4U6q1b
— Ryley walker (@ryleywalker) July 25, 2020
RIP Peter Green. He played the sweetest, saddest blues guitar ever. Truly touched in his time. Fly on, Albatross. https://t.co/zo8b6KVxl5
— marc maron (@marcmaron) July 25, 2020
https://twitter.com/fieldmusicmusic/status/1287072792685481992?s=20
1946-2020 pic.twitter.com/cB9A8PwMvH
— HEALTH (@_HEALTH_) July 25, 2020