Fleetwood Mac’s Peter Green’s Health Battle After LSD Spiral
Introduction
The late Peter Green, founder of the iconic rock group Fleetwood Mac, battled a number of health issues throughout his life. One of the major contributors to his declining mental health was his use of LSD, a hallucinogenic drug known as acid. Green’s bandmate, Mick Fleetwood, spoke about the toll it took on Green as early as 1968, describing him as a “skeleton without flesh.” Green’s mental health reached a breaking point in 1970 after taking a dose of LSD in Munich that he “never really came back from.”
The Impact of LSD on Green’s Mental Health
Taking large amounts of LSD had a profound impact on Green’s mental well-being. His bandmates witnessed his decline firsthand and felt helpless in finding a solution. They had heard about the damaging effects of bad trips and permanent LSD psychosis, but they had no idea how to help Green. This experience left them in tears and desperate for assistance. Green’s mental health deteriorated to the point where he eventually left the band in 1970.
Schizophrenia Diagnosis and Treatment
After leaving Fleetwood Mac, Green’s unpredictable behavior continued, leading to an incident with the police. Following this incident, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, a serious long-term mental health disorder characterized by hallucinations and delusions. Green spent time in various mental health hospitals and underwent electroconvulsive therapy in the mid-1970s. While in the hospital, he was given tranquilizers that left him struggling to stay awake and feeling disconnected from reality.
Continuing Mental Health Struggles
Although Green returned to music by the end of the 1970s, he acknowledged that he still had lingering mental health issues. He admitted to hearing voices in his head, specifically the voice of a woman he had met in the hospital. While he hadn’t heard her voice recently, he described her as “heavy” and mentioned the presence of other scary individuals in the hospital. Despite his ongoing struggles, Green continued to make music and formed the Peter Green Splinter Group in 1996, which released albums until 2003.
Legacy and Recognition
Despite his battles with mental health, Green’s impact on the music world cannot be overlooked. In 1998, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Rolling Stone ranked him at number 58 on its list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” His contributions to Fleetwood Mac, including songs like “Albatross” and “Black Magic Woman,” solidified his place in rock music history.
Conclusion
Peter Green’s struggle with mental health, exacerbated by his use of LSD, serves as a cautionary tale about the potential risks and consequences of substance abuse. It highlights the importance of seeking help and support when faced with mental health challenges. Green’s legacy as a talented musician will endure, but his story also serves as a reminder of the fragility of mental well-being and the need for compassion and understanding in dealing with mental health issues.
<< photo by Mario Dobelmann >>
The image is for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual situation.
