Fleetwood Mac guitarist commits suicide

Bob Welch, the former guitarist for Fleetwood Mac, has been found dead in Nashville of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

66-year old Welch was in Fleetwood Mac from 1971 to 1974 and then went on to a successful solo career with the hits 'Sentimental Lady' in 1977 and 'Ebony Eyes' in 1978. OBITUARY

However, the hits dried up in the 80s.

Welch was the son of movie producer Robert L. Welch who worked with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby in the 1950s.

In 1971, he was invited to join Fleetwood Mac after the departure of Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer. Then when Danny Kirwan left in 1972, Welch took on main guitar duties.

His first album with Fleetwood Mac was 'Future Games'. It was also Christine McVie's first album with the band.

Bob recorded five albums as Fleetwood Mac's guitarist. He last being 'Heroes Are Hard To Find' in 1974. Fleetwood Mac's 1972 album 'Bare Trees' featured the first recorded version of 'Sentimental Lady'.

Bob's 21st recordings were the two albums 'His Fleetwood Mac Years & Beyond' Vol 1 (2003) and Vol 2 (2006). They contained songs written but not released for Fleetwood Mac and new songs.

Welch's wife found his body at their Nashville home at around 12.30pm (June 7, 2012). A suicide note was left.