Peter Green, Fleetwood Mac Co-Founder and Guitarist, Dead at 73

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Peter Green died at the age of 73. He passed away "peacefully in his sleep," according to a family statement shared with BBC News.

The world of music has lost a legend.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Peter Green has died at the age of 73. According to BBC News, the music icon passed away this weekend.

"It is with great sadness that the family of Peter Green announce his death this weekend, peacefully in his sleep," Green's family shared through lawyers, per the publication. "A further statement will be provided in the coming days."

At this time, it's unknown what the musician's cause of death was. E! News has reached out to Green's representatives for comment and has yet to receive a response.

The 73-year-old star was an acclaimed blues and rock guitarist. He's best-known for co-founding Fleetwood Mac with drummer Mick Fleetwood in 1967. He and Mick were two of eight members in the band, which also included Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, John McVie, Christine McVie, Danny Kirwan and Jeremy Spencer.

"Albatross," "Black Magic Woman" and "Oh Well" were just a few famous hits produced by Green.

In 1970, Green left the band after struggling with his mental health. He was later diagnosed with schizophrenia and spent time in hospital in the mid-70s, BBC News reports. In 1998, Green and the other Fleetwood Mac members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

 

Fans and fellow musicians have taken to social media to share their heartache over Green's passing.

Mick Fleetwood told E! News in a statement, "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."

"Peter, I will miss you, but rest easy your music lives on. I thank you for asking me to be your drummer all those years ago. We did good, and trail blazed one hell of a musical road for so many to enjoy," his statement continued. "Godspeed to you, my dearest friend."

"Sad to hear of Peter Green passing- one of the greats. RIP," Black Sabbath's Geezer Butler wrote.

Peter Frampton expressed, "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."

"R.I.P Peter Green. A unique artist and a beautiful guitar player," Johnny Marr said on Twitter.

News of Green's death comes only a few days after Fleetwood Mac announced the upcoming release of its retrospective box-set that documents the band's early days.