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b. Peter Allen
Greenbaum, 29 October 1946, Bethnal Green, London, England. Having served
an apprenticeship in various semi-professional groups, including the
Muskrats and the Tridents, Peter Green became one of several guitarists
who joined John Mayall's Bluesbreakers as a temporary substitute for Eric
Clapton during the latter's late 1965 sabbatical. When Mayall's preferred
choice returned to the fold, Green joined Peter Bardens (organ), Dave
Ambrose (bass) and Mick Fleetwood (drums) in a short-lived club band, the
Peter B's Looners. The quartet completed one single for Columbia Records :
"If You Wanna Be Happy"/"Jodrell Blues" in February 1966. The b-side, an
instrumental, showcased Green's already distinctive style. The entire unit
subsequently formed the instrumental core to the Shotgun Express, backing
singers Rod Stewart and Beryl Marsden, but the guitarist found this role
too restrictive and left after a matter of weeks. Green rejoined Mayall in
July 1966 when Clapton left to form Cream. Over the next 12 months Green
made several telling contributions to the Bluesbreakers' recordings, most
notably on their third album, A Hard Road. This powerful release featured
two of the guitarist's compositions, of which "The Supernatural", a
riveting instrumental, anticipated the style he would forge later in the
decade. The seeds of Green's own band were sown during several sessions
without Mayall and a Bluesbreakers "solo" single, "Curly", was released in
March 1967. Two months later Green left to form his own band with drummer
Mick Fleetwood. The two musicians added a second guitarist, Jeremy
Spencer, to form Fleetwood Mac, whose line-up was eventually completed by
another former Mayall sideman, John McVie. Fleetwood Mac became one of the
most popular acts of the era, developing blues-based origins into an
exciting, experimental unit. Green's personality, however, grew
increasingly unstable and he became estranged from his colleagues. "Pete
should never have taken acid," Fleetwood later recalled. "He was charming,
amusing, just a wonderful person (but) off he went and never came
back."Green has followed an erratic course since leaving the band in May
1970. His solo debut, The End Of The Game, was a perplexing collection,
consisting of six instrumentals, all of which were little more than jams.
An atmospheric single, "Heavy Heart", followed in June 1971, while a
collaboration with Nigel Watson, "Beasts Of Burden", was issued the
following year. Green also made sporadic session appearances but following
a cameo role on Fleetwood Mac's Penguin, the guitarist dropped out of
music altogether. The mid-70s proved particularly harrowing; this
tormented individual was committed to two mental institutions in the wake
of his unsettled behaviour. Green returned to active recording in 1979
with In The Skies, a light but optimistic collection that showed traces of
his erstwhile fire and included a version of "A Fool No More", first
recorded by Fleetwood Mac. A second album, Little Dreamer, offered a more
blues-based perspective while two further releases attempted to
consolidate the artist's position. In 1982, Green, now calling himself
Greenbaum, began touring with a band named Kolors, but the results were
unsatisfactory. A hastily concocted album consisting of out-takes and
unfinished demos was issued, the last to bear the guitarist's name as
leader. A collaboration with former Mungo Jerry singer Ray Dorset aside,
this once-skilful musician again abandoned music. Nicknamed the "Wizard"
by local children, Green lived a hermit-like existence, shunning any links
with his past. Rumours frequently circulated about his return to the music
business, but most were instigated by tabloid journalists pining for his
reappearance. In 1995, Gary Moore recorded an album of Peter Green tracks,
Blues For Greeny. In 1996, rumours were confirmed that Green was becoming
active again. He had purchased a guitar, was keen to play some old blues
material, showed up onstage at a Gary Moore gig and best of all played
live in May 1996. In August he played with the Splinter Group, Cozy Powell
(drums), Nigel Watson (guitar) and Neil Murray (bass) at the Guildford
Blues Festival. Although shaky on some numbers, he excelled on two
familiar Freddie King songs, "The Stumble" and "Going Down". His new
manager Stuart Taylor stated about Green's future, back in music; "I am
cautiously optimistic". An album from the Splinter group was released in
June 1997, and although flawed, it demonstrated Green's commitment to
regaining the crown he never sought in the first place - as the UK's
finest ever white blues guitarist. He then released The Robert Johnson
Songbook, his first full studio album in almost two decades. Further
albums have followed in a short time demonstrating clearly that Green and
his Splinter Group are serious about their music, and in particular
Green's rediscovery of his pure blues roots. The way back is slow, but
most definitely in the right direction.
Discography
The End Of The Game (Reprise 1970)**, In The Skies (PVK 1979)***,
Little Dreamer (PVK 1980)***, Whatcha Gonna Do (PVK 1981)**, Blue Guitar
(Creole 1981)**, White Sky (Headline 1982)**, Kolors (Headline 1983)**,
Legend (Creole 1988)**, tribute album Rattlesnake Guitar: The Music Of
Peter Green (Coast To Coast 1995)***, Peter Green Splinter Group (Red
Snapper 1997)**, with Nigel Watson The Robert Johnson Songbook
(Artisan/Snapper 1998)***, with the Splinter Group Soho Session
(Artisan/Snapper 1999)***, with the Splinter Group Destiny Road
(Artisan/Snapper 1999)****, with the Splinter Group Hot Foot Powder
(Artisan/Snapper 2000)***.
Compilations
Backtrackin' (Backtrackin' 1990)***, The Best Of Peter Green 1977-1981
(Music Collection 1996)***.
Bibliography
Peter Green: The Biography (updated as Peter Green: Founder Of
Fleetwood Mac ), Martin Celmins.
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