Posted on 06/07/2012 4:02:15 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache
Early Fleetwood Mac guitarist Bob Welch was found dead Thursday afternoon (June 7) from what police are describing as a self-inflicted gun shot wound. According to the Associated Press, the 65-year-old Welch shot himself in the chest inside his Nashville-area home.
The rocker was a part of the group from 1971 to 1974, before the band really took off with the ‘Fleetwood Mac’ and ‘Rumours’ albums. He was a part of ‘Future Games (1971), ‘Bare Trees (1972)’ and ‘Mystery to Me (1973).’ Those weren’t immediate commercial successes, but they went on to achieve Gold or Platinum certification in the U.S. After recording ‘Heroes Are Hard to Find’ he was replaced by Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.
After leaving Fleetwood Mac he formed a rock band called Paris before beginning a solo career. His 1977 album ‘French Kiss’ was his most successful project, featuring the song ‘Sentimental Lady,’ which was originally recorded as a Fleetwood Mac song in 1972. He continued to write and record music of different styles until his death.
Controversy arose when Welch was not included among the members of Fleetwood Mac inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. He told the Cleveland Plain Dealer, “It was an important period in the history of the band. Mick Fleetwood dedicated a whole chapter of his biography to my era of the band and credited me with ‘saving Fleetwood Mac.’ Now they want to write me out of the history of the group. It hurts.”
The AP reports that Bob Welch was found dead by his wife around 12:15PM. He had been suffering from health issues and left a suicide note.
People better step up with the hall of fame..a lot of rockers are dropping like crazy that should have been inducted years if not decades ago. A total disgrace that Welch did not get in. RIP.
You Hank Jr, one of the absolute best country stars ever is not in the Hall of Fame either. complete garbage who gets in and who doesn’t and these instances just go to prove it takes a lot of politicking and brown nosing to get in.
Ebony Eye’s.
Idiot.
That’s too bad. I had the 45 of Ebony Eyes when it came out. Sentimental Lady and Precious Love were great songs as well.
R.I.P.
With Jann Wenner involved it helps a lot if the artists are fags. I love that pre Buckingham-Nicks stuff.
eh? I was sympathizing that the guy hadn’t gotten into the hall of fame. What is your problem
Obama Fault.
RIP bro.
Obama’s fault.
Yeah, well Hank Jr isn’t gay, and wrote that “Dinosaur” song about not wanting to hear a song about the guitarist making love to his drummer.......maybe this Fleetwood Mac guy was too straight
I just heard this on the radio news break...how awful. Bob Welch was part of a wonderful, underrated era of Fleetwood Mac that was sadly forgotten upon the arrival of Buckingham/Nicks. He wrote and sang some truly beautiful songs...some spiritual, some rockin’...and they all took the listener someplace else, someplace good.
RIP
“Hypnotized” was his best, IMO.
What a snub that was! Particularly since other former Mac members WERE inducted! WTF?
RIP
‘“Hypnotized” was his best, IMO.’
Ditto!
You beat me to it. I bought a WHOLE CD just to hear that song! Haunting. RIP Mr. Welch
If you’re a true musician- you should play your instrument or compose music for the sheer joy of it. If you’re in it for the “awards”, then you’re a hack.
I Enjoyed his Era of Fleetwood Mac. And I Enjoyed his Solo Career. It said he had health problems. If he was looking at a dreadful ending via disease I can understand his choice of Suicide. I’ve had friends and family die horrible deaths hooked up to machines and living in constant pain. Hopefully he is at peace.
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