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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFormer Fleetwood Mac member Bob Welch commits suicide in Nashville
(Former) Fleetwood Mac member Bob Welch was found dead inside his South Nashville home Thursday, Metro Police said.
Officers were called to Welch's home on West oak Highland Drive at 12:18 p.m. after the musicians wife discovered his body, said spokesman Don Aaron.
"He died from an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound to the chest," Aaron said. "A suicide note was found in the residence."
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."
According to family members, Welch had been suffering from health issues recently, Aaron said.
http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2012/06/07/former-fleetwood-mac-member-bob-welch-commits-suicide-in-nashville/
RIP
Edit explained: The original article called Bob Welch a founding member. This is not true. He joined the band after it's formation. It is corrected here, but the mistake is that of the journalist who originally wrote this.
msongs
(67,509 posts)we can do it
(12,224 posts)He said he wanted to just kill himself and get it over with instead of enduring more pain and becoming further incapacitated. What a shame we allow a dignified exit for our pets, but not our loved ones.
robinlynne
(15,481 posts)SammyWinstonJack
(44,130 posts)Profit over dignity.
exboyfil
(17,867 posts)it would just end. In hindsight I should have helped him make that happen. After my dad's death his friend found out he had cancer as well. He committed suicide (probably because he saw what my dad went through). I have already had this talk with my mom, and I think arrangements will be made if necessary.
Unless you are around someone who dies from cancer, you cannot understand what this means. I did not know until I saw my dad. I miss him.
Sorry for your loss.
Warpy
(111,480 posts)I didn't know it at the time, but my dad had placed a lethal dose of benzodiazepines within my mother's reach. I just knew that she'd stopped begging us to help her die.
She never chose to use them. I found them after her death and my dad fessed up.
I thanked him. I think knowing they were there was a huge comfort to her.
ProfessionalLeftist
(4,982 posts)Exactly. This is something I'll never understand.
I have a relative that recently passed away, he had been diagnosed with cancer and he went out on his own terms. When they found him, he had 17 fentanyl patches on his body. He went gently, drifted off to sleep in an opioid fog. I imagine it was a good way to go, rather than having his life prolonged with chemo with very little quality left.
Response to msongs (Reply #1)
devilgrrl This message was self-deleted by its author.
RetroLounge
(37,250 posts)That's the best you can come up with?
RL
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)My guess is you have never had a close family member die a lingering death from cancer.
Response to msongs (Reply #1)
sunnystarr This message was self-deleted by its author.
cynatnite
(31,011 posts)This sounds like it should be private and for family and close friends only.
fascisthunter
(29,381 posts)just imagine the pain and agony. His wife would probably have felt more watching him die this way.
surrealAmerican
(11,370 posts)He was suffering from a fatal illness. His family likely understood that.
wendylaroux
(2,925 posts)And the horror that goes along with it as it progresses.
CreekDog
(46,192 posts)how does it feel?
easttexaslefty
(1,554 posts)or cancer? Maybe you're unaware that 95% of suicides have mental illness?
Gregorian
(23,867 posts)It was my first thought. I've seen my share of physical suffering. And there have been times when I was ready to end it.
Damn. I loved the music he made.
HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)Fleetwood Mac was originally a British Blues band in the later 60s... I think it was several years later that Bob Welch joined the band, after Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer left.
cynatnite
(31,011 posts)I'll edit with an explanation since that mistake is the fault of the journalist.
Zen Democrat
(5,901 posts)The group was founded by 1967 by the great guitarist Peter Green, and he named the group after his drummer and bass player. For a while they were known as Peter Green and Fleetwood Mac. The 1969 classic, Oh Well, was with Peter Green, before he completely flipped out on acid overdoses. He would return checks from the record company because he thought money was evil. They institutionalized him for that -- and other things.
I love Sentimental Lady. One of the Mac's best tunes.
spanone
(135,958 posts)NC_Nurse
(11,646 posts)sunnystarr
(2,638 posts)lumberjack_jeff
(33,224 posts)DianaForRussFeingold
(2,552 posts)Last edited Fri Jun 8, 2012, 01:11 AM - Edit history (1)
"Seems Like A Dream!" I grew up in the 70s..Growing up his music brought a great deal of joy to my life! We loved and appreciated his music..I hope it's a comfort to his family!He was truly a great song writer and musician.. IMO, The best Fleetwood Mac song, Thank You so much for posting it!
Ferretherder
(1,446 posts)Goodbye, Bob.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)"Future Games" in his memory. He was a key part of some great, and very underappreciated, Mac records. My favorite cover of all time was Mac's "For Your Love" on Mystery to Me. Bob sang lead on it.
panader0
(25,816 posts)pacalo
(24,722 posts)I adore his music, his voice. I still love listening to his "Three Hearts" album.
Hissyspit
(45,788 posts)Sad that he was so ill.
pacalo
(24,722 posts)I have both the album & the CD (for my car), I loved it so much.
bluesbassman
(19,387 posts)Just continues to be a tough year for musicians.
Peace and comfort to your family and safe passage to you Bob. Rest In Peace.
Bake
(21,977 posts)Earl, Doc, Doug Dillard, Whitney (helluva singer!), Bob ...
Tough year.
Bake
ellie
(6,929 posts)KamaAina
(78,249 posts)Response to cynatnite (Original post)
sunnystarr This message was self-deleted by its author.
fascisthunter
(29,381 posts)I wish his family and friends well... sorry for your(our) loss.
HangOnKids
(4,291 posts)I was hooked on everything Mac did in those days, and explored their earlier work as well. The band lost me when Buckingham Nicks joined. Bob was the BEST. What a terribly sad, sad day.
eowyn_of_rohan
(5,858 posts)barbtries
(28,824 posts)how many of us loved his music.
DianaForRussFeingold
(2,552 posts)eowyn_of_rohan
(5,858 posts)I love his music with Fleetwood...........
slackmaster
(60,567 posts)MerryBlooms
(11,778 posts)EFerrari
(163,986 posts)Pool Hall Ace
(5,849 posts)I loved his work with Fleetwood Mac, and his solo stuff. I still listen to it to this day!
Good thoughts going out to those who were closest to him.
Strelnikov_
(7,772 posts)Paris (yes, Paris, even Big Towne), Welch's early solo albums, and Be-Bop Deluxe were the notable exceptions to my otherwise hard-rock leaning collection in the day. They were different, but good.
Maybe it was the pot.
barbtries
(28,824 posts)one of my favorite songs for ever
DesertRat
(27,995 posts)I love it and haven't heard it in many years.
barbtries
(28,824 posts)it has not been far from me for all these years. it's in my car even now.
His poor wife, finding him like that.
DesertRat
(27,995 posts)Thanks for the music and rest in peace, Bob.
Swede
(33,334 posts)It's been a bad year for musicians passing.
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL19D0E061F711CE11
&feature=related
bob welch's songs always seemed kind of eerie and mysterious
i saw them at the end of the welch era shortly before they hit it big on a small stage in the back of beyond (u of idaho, moscow idaho).
ManyShadesOf
(639 posts)cascadiance
(19,537 posts)EnviroBat
(5,290 posts)I never realized how much Welch influenced Steve Miller. The similarities are uncanny...
NoGOPZone
(2,971 posts)the pain of a terminal illness is something I can only imagine.
Without Bob's contribution during that critical middle period of Fleetwood Mac, the group may never have reached the level of commercial success it did later on. For this, he was 'rewarded' by not be included when the band was inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame. However, I'm sure Heaven is appreciates what they now have.
Uncle Joe
(58,596 posts)Thanks for the thread, cynatnite.