The founder of Fleetwood Mac has died aged 73

A statement released by Peter Green's family said that he passed away "peacefully in his sleep" on Saturday 25 July in Essex. The musician was famed for founding the international rock band Fleetwood Mac.

Born Peter Allen Greenbaum in 1946, the influential guitarist and singer-songwriter grew up in a Jewish family in Peckham, south-east London. The youngest of four, he began playing guitar when his brother Michael taught him a few chords as a child. By age 15 he was playing professionally while working part-time.

In 1965 Green met drummer Mick Fleetwood, with whom he formed a band and soon after the pair persuaded bassist John McVie to join by naming themselves Fleetwood Mac. But by 1970, Green left the band, somewhat reducing his activity within the music industry due to mental illness and excessive drug use.

Next month (24 September) Fleetwood Mac will put out a self-titled boxset of remastered early releases, dated 1969 to 1974. It features eight CDs – the albums Then Play On (1969), Kiln House (1970), Future Games (1971), Bare Trees (1972), Penguin (1973), Mystery to Me (1973) and Heroes Are Hard to Find (1974), plus a previously unreleased recording of the band's 1974 concert at The Record Plant in Sausalito, California.

For further info on Fleetwood Mac: 1969-1974, visit the Rhino Records website.