In a monumental deal that secures the legacy of one of rock’s most underappreciated icons, Primary Wave Music has acquired the publishing rights, recording royalties, and full catalog ownership of legendary guitarist and songwriter Peter Green.
The founder of Fleetwood Mac and one of the defining figures of British blues. The agreement, struck with Green’s estate, transfers control of his Rattlesnake music publishing catalog and a selection of early Fleetwood Mac recordings, solidifying the long-overdue recognition of his contribution to rock music.
The Roots of Mac: Green’s Era Before the Mainstream Shine
Long before the addition of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham turned Fleetwood Mac into a pop-rock powerhouse, the band was a raw, blues-driven machine led by Green himself — a London-born guitarist with a tone so expressive that B.B. King once confessed, “He was the only one who gave me cold sweats“.
“He was the only one who gave me cold sweats“
- BB King Regarding Peter Green
That early incarnation of Fleetwood Mac — with Mick Fleetwood on drums, John McVie on bass, and guitarist Jeremy Spencer — delivered a short but ferocious catalog of work that helped define the psychedelic blues sound of the late ’60s. During his brief but powerful tenure from 1967 to 1970, Green wrote and performed era-defining tracks such as:
- “Albatross” – a hauntingly ethereal instrumental that became the band’s first No. 1 UK single.
- “Oh Well” – a riff-heavy blues-rock stomper that showcased Green’s brilliance on both vocals and guitar.
- “Black Magic Woman” – later made globally famous by Santana, but originally a Green-penned Mac track from 1969.
- “Man of the World” – a melancholy, soul-baring tune that reflected Green’s internal struggles.
- “The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Crown)” – his final Fleetwood Mac song, dark and mysterious, often interpreted as a metaphor for his deteriorating mental state.
Now, with this new partnership, Primary Wave is entrusted with preserving and promoting this body of work for future generations.
A Deal Decades in the Making
The financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed, but the strategic value is clear. Primary Wave continues to expand its impressive portfolio — which already includes publishing rights to works by Whitney Houston, Bob Marley, Prince, and Stevie Nicks — by adding another key figure tied to Fleetwood Mac’s DNA.
Robin Godfrey-Cass of Primary Wave commented, “When I look at the definition of a musical genius, Peter Green ticks every box. As a musician, songwriter, and founder of Fleetwood Mac, he is an icon.” He added that the opportunity to carry Green’s legacy forward is “ecstatic” and “an honor.”
This move also brings Green’s music under the same umbrella as his bandmate Stevie Nicks, who sold a majority stake of her catalog to Primary Wave back in 2020. It opens the door for deeper brand cohesion, film/TV sync placements, remastered releases, biographical projects, and even potential tribute albums spotlighting the earliest days of Fleetwood Mac.
The Haunted Genius Behind the Sound
Born in 1946, Green’s journey through the music world was equal parts brilliance and heartbreak. After replacing Eric Clapton in John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers in 1967, Green formed Fleetwood Mac with fellow Bluesbreakers alums Mick Fleetwood and John McVie. His musical vision — one foot in tradition, the other in experimentation — quickly earned the group critical acclaim and commercial success across Europe.
But the pressures of fame and a fragile mental state took their toll. Diagnosed with schizophrenia and increasingly withdrawn, Green exited Fleetwood Mac in 1970. Though he later released solo material and re-emerged in the late ’90s with the Peter Green Splinter Group, his best-known contributions remained locked in the late ’60s.
Despite his relative absence from the spotlight in later decades, his impact never dimmed. In 1998, Green was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside his former bandmates, and in 2020, just months after his passing at age 73, Mick Fleetwood honored him with an all-star tribute concert featuring the likes of David Gilmour and Billy Gibbons.
“Without Peter Green, there would be no Fleetwood Mac,” Fleetwood has often reminded fans. And now, with this new deal, that truth will continue to echo.
Sources Cited:
- Billboard Staff. “Primary Wave Acquires Rights to Peter Green Catalog.” Billboard.com
- Rolling Stone. “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” 2015 Edition
- BBC. “Peter Green: The Enigmatic Genius Behind Fleetwood Mac.”
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Archives
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