Fleetwood Mac co-founder Peter Green dies aged 73

Peter Green, co-founder of Fleetwood Mac, has died at the age of 73, his solicitor has confirmed.

The statement from a spokesperson at Swan Turton Solicitors said, "It is with great sadness that the family of Peter Green announce his death this weekend, peacefully in his sleep."

"A further statement will be provided in the coming days."

Born in Bethnal Green, London, Green formed Fleetwood Mac in 1967 with drummer Mick Fleetwood, guitarist Jeremy Spencer, and bassist John McVie reports the Independent.

The previous year, he had replaced Eric Clapton in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Mayall told his producer, who was scandalised at losing Clapton: "He might not be better [than Clapton] now. But you wait… he's going to be the best."

Regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, Green was the songwriter behind classic Fleetwood Mac hits including "Albatross", "Black Magic Woman", and "Oh Well".

He left the band after a final show in 1970 due to his struggles with mental health reports the Independent.

He was later diagnosed with schizophrenia and underwent electro-convulsive therapy in hospitals during the mid-Seventies.

Green was one of the eight members of the band – along with Fleetwood, McVie, Spencer, Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie and Danny Kirwan – to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.