Pubdate: Mon, 27 May 2002
Source: Australian, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2002 News Limited
Contact:  http://www.theaustralian.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/35
Author: Iain Shedden
Note: Peter Green plays in Sydney on May 29 and June 1 and in Melbourne May 
30 and May 31.

FLEETWOOD'S AXEMAN RETURNS

IT all went horribly wrong for Peter Green in 1969.

At that point he was one of the most respected guitarists in the world, 
revered by the likes of Eric Clapton and B. B. King for his original blues 
style.

His band Fleetwood Mac had had a string of hits such as Albatross, Man of 
the World and Need Your Love So Bad. He was young, wealthy and famous.

The London-born guitarist's downfall was the drug LSD. Green became one of 
many '60s acid casualties, in the process renouncing his fame and fortune, 
giving most of his money away and urging other band members to do the same.

It was the beginning of a 26-year career hiatus. After quitting the group 
in 1970 he spent many of the following years in psychiatric care - often 
receiving intensive drug treatment or electro-shock therapy. When not in 
hospitals, he lived with his mother, where watching television was the 
extent of his association with the entertainment world.

"A mouse had a better time than I was having," is one of his more colourful 
recollections of his lost years.

Since 1995, however, Green has been back playing guitar with his band the 
Splinter Group, and while by no means enjoying the level of success he once 
had, he is able to show audiences once again just why he is rated so highly.

The band has released seven albums in as many years, with music that 
combines blues, R&B and rock.

Fellow band member Nigel Watson describes his once-famous colleague as 
someone with "a genius feel".

"Over half of my life I've listened to him and he never ceases to amaze 
me," he says.

In some ways Green is a shadow of his former self. He talks in short 
nervous bursts that are sometimes difficult to decipher. His enthusiasm for 
playing, however, is obvious.

"It's getting there," he says. "I'm getting to enjoy it. My playing has 
improved because I've put a lot of time and hard work into it."

Green, 55, is about to show audiences in Sydney and Melbourne the fruits of 
that hard work.

He admits, however, that he has - quite literally - trouble with being in 
the spotlight, one of the lingering symptoms of his post-LSD condition.

"I do actually feel pressure from the lights. Spotlights I could do 
without, but it is fun to be playing again.

"It's hard to imagine when you start playing guitar that you would ever 
stop, but that's what I did," he says. "I'm very grateful for the ability 
to learn again."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom