Former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Bob Welch has been found dead at his Nashville home. He was 66.
According to police, the musician died of an apparent suicide. Local news network WKRN reports that Welch’s wife found him dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest at 12.15pm local time on June 7.
Police spokesperson Don Aaron said that a suicide note was recovered and added that Welch had recently been suffering from ‘health issues’.
Born in Los Angeles in 1945, Welch [far left in the picture] joined Fleetwood Mac in 1971, leading them through their transition period between the departure of founder Peter Green and the arrival of Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks in 1974. He played on five Fleetwood Mac albums, including Future Games and Kiln House.
Welch formed the band Paris in 1975 and released two albums with the group, before going on to release his first solo record, French Kiss, in 1977. The album featured a version of the song “Sentimental Lady”, which had originally been recorded for Fleetwood Mac’s 1972 album, Bare Trees.
He went on to release a host more solo albums, his last being 1999’s Bob Welch Looks At Bop.
Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks told Associated Press of her sadness at Welch’s death. “I had many great times with him after Lindsey and I joined Fleetwood Mac,” she said. “He was an amazing guitar player, he was funny, sweet and he was smart. I am so very sorry for his family and for the family of Fleetwood Mac.”
Watch Bob Welch perform “Sentimental Lady” with Christine McVie and Mick Fleetwood below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn4Kuv9LyDE