Danny Kirwan already had simmering psychological problems the day he joined FM -- as a 16-year-old kiddo guitar prodigy that once impressed the hell out of Jimi Hendrix when Jimi saw him playing live at a club months before he joined FM. He was an introvert with fears of foreigners and flying, and had a bit of a compulsive disorder. He was not a substance abuser then, like he would be later (i.e. -- mainly alcohol), but he did have psychological problems. His problems got worse over time with forced touring and introduction to substance abuse. Things got a lot worse for Danny (psychologically) when Fleetwood hired Bob Wel
ch in 1971. Suddenly, Danny had some competition.
Still, Danny was a top-of-the-heap guitarist and a pretty good composer and singer as well throughout his tenure with FM. Danny's phrasing and vibrato technique on the guitar was as good as anybody's then or now. Unfortunately, Danny's deterioration increased during the two FM albums with Bob Welch in the group and Mick eventually had to can him after a pretty serious fit of rage just before a show in late 1972, where he smashed his lovely Goldtop P90 Les Paul into pieces, the electric guitar that he made so many great recording with, after getting into a fight with Bob Welch about getting in tune with with the rest of the band during the sound check.
Danny did release three solo albums after FM, but only the first two are worth having.
Danny on right side, after joining FM in 1968... he's the kiddo hanging out with the 4 men
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