John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Bob Welch, Christine McVie Circa 1970 (Image Source)
Bob Welch sang lead vocals on “Hypnotized” and “Silver Heels”: the two best Fleetwood Mac songs, ever, pre-Buckingham Nicks. And now he’s dead. Welch’s body was found by his wife in their home in Antioch, TN earlier today (June 7, 2012) with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. It is reported that he had been suffering from deteriorating health. Welch would have been 66 years old on July 31st.
Please enjoy this clip of Bob singing “Hypnotized” from the album Mystery to Me. RIP Bob Welch!
This comes as a particularly tragic shock as my girlfriend and I were talking about Bob Welch just this morning. For me, the circa 1970 version of Fleetwood Mac — Fleetwod, McVie, McVie and Welch — was the best line-up of the group’s incredible fifteen million-year career. And Welch’s first solo records, “French Kiss” and “Three Hearts” remain two of my all-time favorites.
Simply put, I’m completely bummed — especially given the reported circumstances.