"Danny was a huge force in our early years": Tributes paid following death of Fleetwood Mac‘s Danny Kirwan

Danny Kirwan

Tributes have been paid to former Fleetwood Mac member Danny Kirwan whose death was announced late last week.

The guitarist, who played on five of the band’s albums, died on Friday (June 8).

“Danny was a huge force in our early years,” Mick Fleetwood wrote on the band’s Facebook page. “His love for the Blues led him to being asked to join Fleetwood Mac in 1968, where he made his musical home for many years. Danny’s true legacy, in my mind, will forever live on in the music he wrote and played so beautifully as a part of the foundation of Fleetwood Mac, that has now endured for over 50 years.”

Kirwan played on albums Then Play On, Blues Jam At Chess, Kiln House, Future Games and Bare Trees for Fleetwood Mac having made his debut with the band, aged 18, on No.1 single Albatross.

He departed the band in 1972 following issues with alcoholism and subsequently released four solo albums before dropping out of the music industry. It was reported Kirwan experinced a series of mental health issues and endured a period of homelessness after dropping out of public view.

Kirwan was officially inducted into the Rock’n’Roll Hall Of Fame with the rest of Fleetwood Mac in 1998 but did not attend the ceremony.

A host of artists, fans and the Hall Of Fame joined Mick Fleetwood in paying tribute to Kirwan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



For more stories like this, and to keep up to date with all our market leading news, features and analysis, sign up to receive our daily Morning Briefing newsletter

subscribe link free-trial link

follow us...