Bob Welch (former guitarist for Fleetwood Mac) dead at 65

[mc1962]

Former Fleetwood Mac member Bob Welch found dead
June 7, 2012, 3:58 PM EST
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Bob Welch, a former member of Fleetwood Mac who also had a solo career, died Thursday of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said. He was 65.

Police spokesman Don Aaron said Welch's wife found him with a chest wound at their south Nashville home around 12:15 p.m.

Bing: More on Bob Welch

Welch was a guitarist and vocalist for Fleetwood Mac from 1971 to 1974. He formed the British rock group Paris in 1976 and had hits including "Sentimental Lady" in 1977 and "Ebony Eyes" in 1978. Fleetwood Mac's Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham did backing vocals on "Sentimental Lady."

Aaron said Welch apparently had had health issues recently. He said a suicide note was left.

Fleetwood Mac's career took off in the mid-1970s after Welch left the band. "Dreams" was a No. 1 hit in 1977 and "Don't Stop" the same year. "Don't Stop" later became the anthem for Bill Clinton's presidential campaign. "Hold Me" was a hit in 1982, as was "Little Lies" in 1987.

Welch, a native of Los Angeles, scored his biggest hit with "Sentimental Lady," which reached No. 8.

R.I.P. Bob, thanks for the gift of music. 

[brendy1990]

Ahh how sad,, , I love Fleetwood Mac

[dbreidenbach]

RIP, Bob, you will be missed.  You never know how fame affects people, just goes to show he roamed far from his famous days.

[dauna]

I liked both his solo hits.  Again, played them on the radio back in the day.  Man--I am hating this.   

[BaudLight]

Sentimental Lady was one of my favorite songs when it came out.  I also like Hypnotized, a song he did when he was with Fleetwood Mac.

[Warhol04]

My father listened to Fleetwood Mac, so I have a passing interest in them.  I'm not that familiar with Bob Welch outside of the fact that he played on Fleetwood Mac's cover of "For Your Love".  Looking more into his death, it seems he had spinal surgery three months earlier and doctors told him he wouldn't get better.