Former Fleetwood Mac guitarist and solo hitmaker (Sentimental Lady, Ebony Eyes) Bob Welch is dead at the age of 66.
Bob Welch
His body was found by his wife in their home in Antioch, TN with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. It is reported that he had been suffering from deteriorating health.
Bob Welch was born to an entertainment family in Los Angeles, initially playing clarinet and, in his early teens, switching to guitar.
In 1964, he joined the L.A. area band The Seven Souls whose early career included losing battle of the bands for a Capitol recording contract to Sly and the Family Stone. A 1967 single, I Still Love You, has gone on to become a Northern Soul classic in the U.K.
After the breakup of The Seven Souls in 1969, Welch spent two years in Paris which led to meetings with the established group Fleetwood Mac who had recently lost both Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer. Welch was hired in 1971 as a rhythm guitarist behind Danny Kirwin but the two had a strained relationship, one that came to a head in August 1972 when Kirwin refused to go on stage with the group. Mick Fleetwood fired him, sending the group into a period of rotating members.
During Welch’s time in Fleetwood Mac, the group released Future Games, Bare Trees, Penguin and Mystery to Me which contained the U.S. progressive radio hit Hypnotized and Heroes Are Hard to Find. It was during the tour for the last album that Welch decided the constant changes and pressure were too much and, in December 1974, he left the group. He was replaced by Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.
Welch went on to a successful recording career in the late-70’s with regular help from his former Fleetwood Mac bandmates. In 1977, he released French Kiss which contained three hits, Sentimental Lady (an old Mac song) (1977/#8), Ebony Eyes (1978/#14) and Hot Love, Cold World (1978/#31). He followed in 1979 with Three Hearts which contained Precious Love (1979/#19).
Further releases in the 1980’s quickly faded from the charts and Welch was burdened by a growing heroin addiction. After cleaning up in 1986, he concentrated on songwriting and didn’t go back to the recording studio until 1999’s Bob Welch Looks at Bop.
One of the great disappointments of Welch’s life was when Fleetwood Mac was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His predecessors in the group along with the now classic lineup were named to the hall but Welch was left out.
Welch is survived by his wife of 26 years, Wendy.
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