“There’s no coming back”: the Fleetwood Mac song Mick Fleetwood thought they couldn’t top
Anyone interested in legendary music gear will likely have something to say about the coveted Gibson Les Paul. Although there are several models, including the popular 1959 version, this instrumental weapon has landed in the hands of many big names, from Jeff Beck to Jimmy Page and Joe Walsh. However, you could say that the Les Paul origin story begins and ends with original Fleetwood Mac founder Peter Green.
Although typically, in today’s conversational discourse, we view Fleetwood Mac’s success as a product of the joint talents of primarily Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, it’s safe to say that the name wouldn’t have gotten anywhere in those crucial early years were it not for Green. While he generated many of their earliest hits, from ‘Albatross’ to Black Magic Woman’, Green was a maestro of the blues-inspired folk-rock fusion, earning praise from several originators, including the likes of BB King.
King, who once described Green’s guitar playing as “the sweetest tone I ever heard,” was referring to a sound he perfected using his Les Paul, an instrument that became a significant facet of his identity. Using the instrument, he was able to coax out warm, intricate tunes, earning him a reputation as one of the greatest blues players of all time. However, the instrument soon landed among other names, including Thin Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore, who then sold it to Green superfan Kirk Hammett.
Although primarily known within metal spaces burgeoning from Metallica’s legendary reputation, Hammett has always been a huge blues fan and regards Green as one of the very best. “I just love Peter Green. I love his playing. If there wasn’t a Peter Green, there might not have been a Carlos Santana. I see a direct correlation – there’s a direct influence there,” Hammett told MusicRadar in 2021. Hammett would enjoy a full-circle moment in 2020 when he performed using the guitar alongside Mick Fleetwood in celebration of the early years of the band following the death of Green a few months prior.
Fleetwood and Hammett, along with Dave Bronze, Jonny Lang, Andy Fairweather Low, Ricky Peterson, and Rick Vito, performed a rendition of ‘The Green Manalishi (With the Two Pronged Crown)’ in tribute, signalling a special moment not just for the band but for the history of Green’s special guitar. Opening up about the emotional moment during an interview with Louder, Fleetwood recalled the moment he realised he hadn’t occupied the same space as the guitar for decades and how Hammett “played his fucking ass off” to make it the perfect celebration of Green’s life.
“Kirk Hammett bought that guitar of Peter’s about two years ago,” he said, saying that he uses it “as a work guitar.” His nephew then brought it to his attention that he hadn’t “been on a stage with that guitar for way over 50 years,” which added another layer of poignancy to the entire evening. “It was so synonymous with Peter, and that guitar is so famous, and the tone of Peter Green,” he said.
Concluding: “And Kirk, I have to say, played his fucking ass off. We decided in rehearsals that his performance of ‘The Green Manalishi’ with Billy Gibbons should finish up the show. There’s no coming back from that song, y’know?”
Although Fleetwood Mac’s story spans decades and numerous iterations, with most often referring to the tumultuous Rumours period as a significant touchpoint, there’s no denying that their journey began with Green and his famed guitar, “Greeny”. For one fleeting moment unlike no other, Fleetwood was able to join Hammett and his team on stage to celebrate the life of a true blues icon.
