Peter Green - A Tribute

By Pete Clemons

One of the most difficult musical careers to map must be that of John Mayall. It is an almost impossible jigsaw puzzle to complete. Its easy enough to create a family tree of who was in his various band line ups. Thats cast in stone as his album sleeves tell you who played what. But John Mayall's work load, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s was incredibly hectic. And occasionally some of the permanent band members would not be able to make a gig and, as such, a replacement would need to be drafted in. And this is how guitarist Peter Green first hooked up with John Mayall, filling the huge shoes of Eric Clapton when needed.

And when Eric Clapton served notice on the Bluesbreakers the quietly spoken Peter Green was the natural replacement. While the majority of the country was cheering England's football team on in the World Cup tournament, Peter Green was playing his first gig as an official member of the Bluesbreakers, during July 1966, at a date in Nottingham. Peter Green's playing was incisive and incendiary. And according to John Mayall, during the recording of the 'A Hard Road' album released February 1967, 'Peter was every bit as good in the studio as he was on the road'.

During 1967 John Mayall's band were touring as just John Mayall on organ, Mick Fleetwood on drums, John McVie bass and Peter Green on guitar. For 20 odd gigs over a three month period, those who witnessed this line up, confirmed that this particular line up was as good as anything the Bluesbreakers did with Eric Clapton. A couple of long known about bootlegs have recently been cleaned up and given official release. Sound wise they are far from perfect. But once over the initial, sharp intake of breath, stick with them as they are rather good and suck you in. Additionally, this line up paved the way for what became Fleetwood Mac.

June 1967 and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers are playing in Birmingham supported by the Levi Set who included slide guitarist Jeremy Spencer. It was clear that Peter's heart wasn't in the Bluesbreakers any more and wanted change. Both Peter and Jeremy discovered they each had an appreciation of Elmore James and B.B. King. After the gig the pair chatted more with Peter Green apparently saying to Jeremy 'It’s not the amount of notes you play. It’s what goes into the notes.' Days later Peter had quit the Bluesbreakers. Soon after, so had drummer Mick Fleetwood.

On the 14 August 1967 a new band named Fleetwood Mac made their debut at the National Jazz and Blues Festival, Windsor. (incidentally, future Indian Summer guitarist, Colin Williams, witnessed this gig). Along with Fleetwood and Green was Jeremy Spencer and bass player Bob Brunning. Despite the inclusion of Bob Brunning, behind the scenes, Peter Green was encouraging John McVie to join. By the end of August John was in, making his debut at a gig at The Marquee.

According to the band members those early day of the band were incredibly enjoyable. During gigs, yes mistakes were made, but Peter had this wonderful way of pulling the band back together again.

Early November 1967 saw the first single release by Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, 'I Believe My Time Ain’t Long'. And very soon after that came the bands first gig in the Coventry and Warwickshire area when Fleetwood Mac played the Benn Hall Rugby.

February 1968 saw the release of the first Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac album on the Blue Horizon label. It stayed in the UK charts for 37 weeks peaking at number 4. the album inspired a generation. Further visits to Coventry included gigs at the Lanchester Polytechnic that featured an impromptu performance with Jimmy Tarbuck, who was starring nearby in the annual pantomime at Coventry theatre, The Leofric Jazz Club and The Mercers Arms.

August 1968 saw the band extend itself by bringing in rhythm guitarist Danny Kirwan. And it was this line up that returned to the area toward the end of the year for a date at the Chesford Grange.

To my knowledge, the last visit to the area by Fleetwood Mac came toward the end of 1970 when the band visited Coventry Teachers Training College at Canley. However, by then Peter Green had left the band for well publicised reasons.

During his comeback years, between 1997 and 2010, Peter Green returned to perform in Birmingham several times. One particular memory I have was an unforgettable evening with one of Peter's own icon's, B.B. King at the NIA. But it was during May 2000, when the unbelievable pairing of John Mayall's band and Peter Green's Splinter Group appeared at Warwick Arts Centre, thrilled a sold out audience with a wonderful and unforgettable evening of nostalgia.

Peter Green's star shined for a relatively short period of time. Although what he left us will, I suspect, remain with us for a long time to come. Famously Peter was more interested in expressing emotion in his songs and not at all showing an audience how fast he could play. And that is certainly highlighted in his legacy.