Obit: Danny Kirwan (1950-2018)-Fleetwood Mac

Subject: RIP Danny Kirwan
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 10 Jun 18 - 11:14 AM

RIP Danny Kirwan of Fleetwood Mac.

Died 8th June 2018, aged 68.

His contribution to the "Real" Fleetwood Mac is often overshadowed by Peter Green's, but Peter Green himself said: "I never would have done Albatross if it wasn't for Danny".

One of my favourite Fleetwood Mac tracks is Jigsaw Puzzle Blues, where Danny played all the guitar parts, and which I've struggled to play even half competently for several years.

He obviously had "demons", had a bad relationship with alcohol,and lived rough on the streets of London for a while. I still love listening to his playing during his "golden" years.

Subject: RE: RIP Danny Kirwan
From: Will Fly
Date: 10 Jun 18 - 11:25 AM

That's sad news, Rob. I always thought he was a superb player. My son bought me the whole box set - every recording and take - of the Peter Green Fleetwood Mac recordings. I loved Peter Green very much, but never cared for Jeremy Spence's playing. Too Elmore James for me.

Jeremy Spence surfaced in Brighton about 15 years ago. He walked into a pub where the soul band I was playing with had just finished the evening set and was packing up. He came up to me and said, "Can I do a number on your guitar?" I said no, and he then said, "But I'm Jeremy Spence". Made no difference - the answer was still no. Another sad case.

Subject: RE: RIP Danny Kirwan
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 10 Jun 18 - 01:10 PM

I think Danny learned his style from Peter Green's playing when a Bluesbreaker, which has never been surpassed.

Peter Green in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers 1967

On Fleetwood Mac live recordings I have heard with Danny in the band, it's sometimes difficult to know whether it was Peter or Danny playing the guitar solo, because by that time Peter took more of a back seat.

Subject: RE: RIP Danny Kirwan
From: Mooh
Date: 12 Jun 18 - 02:40 PM

It's my favourite era of Fleetwood Mac by a long shot. I've always loved Future Games especially, but Bare Trees and Kiln House also invoke the feelings I had at that time. What a lovely player he was, and what a sad end.

May he find peace.

Subject: RE: RIP Danny Kirwan
From: David Carter (UK)
Date: 12 Jun 18 - 04:00 PM

Fabulous guitarist, quite decent songwriter. He kept the Fleetwood Mac flame alive for a couple of years after Peter Green left, but his own struggles with mental health issues and addiction took their toll. His later years were sad indeed.

Subject: RE: Obit: Danny Kirwan (1950-2018)-Fleetwood Mac
From: keberoxu
Date: 13 Jun 18 - 01:07 PM

Just observing that Danny Kirwan is not the first
Fleetwood Mac alumnus, of any length, to pass away.

Was his name Bob Welsh?
Guitarist just after the Green era.
Did he not take his own life?

Subject: RE: Obit: Danny Kirwan (1950-2018)-Fleetwood Mac
From: Will Fly
Date: 13 Jun 18 - 02:11 PM

Bob Welch was in FM from 1971-1974 - not the best period in the band's history. He shot himself in 2012, suffering from a spinal injury.

Subject: RE: Obit: Danny Kirwan (1950-2018)-Fleetwood Mac
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 13 Jun 18 - 02:27 PM

The Fleetwood Mac output in the early seventies
may not be to everyone's taste.

The song 'Hypnotized' was the
first Fleetwood Mac tune I ever heard broadcast on the radio.

Welch was hugely important, I think,
for the internal workings of the group;
for John McVie, Christine McVie, and Mick Fleetwood
he was a sane guitarist,
which they hadn't had in a while,
and he tided them over
while they made a difficult transition
from the UK to the US.

Subject: RE: Obit: Danny Kirwan (1950-2018)-Fleetwood Mac
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 13 Jun 18 - 02:48 PM

My favorite Danny song-Like it This Way
I was in a blues band in Texas back in the early '80's that did a lot more practicing than gigging and this was our main jamming vehicle, sans vocals. We would converse with each other for more than an hour on this one at times, with the aid of crank and pot.
We also played his slow blues "I'm So Lonely" I think it was called. He was a real talent.

Subject: RE: Obit: Danny Kirwan (1950-2018)-Fleetwood Mac
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Jun 18 - 03:26 PM

Not I'm So Lonely but Without You.

We also did Danny's One Sunny Day, a real fun one, which involved my first and last attempt to play electric slide.

Subject: RE: Obit: Danny Kirwan (1950-2018)-Fleetwood Mac
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Jun 18 - 03:27 PM

gillymor above

Subject: RE: Obit: Danny Kirwan (1950-2018)-Fleetwood Mac
From: David Carter (UK)
Date: 14 Jun 18 - 04:13 AM

Sadly, GUEST, those videos appear to be blocked in the UK.