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Bob Welch Found Dead

Bob Welch, the guitarist who helped shape Fleetwood Mac’s infamous sound, died Thursday is in his Nashville.

According to Don Aaron, a police spokesperson, Welch was discovered be his wife, Wendy Armistead Welch, at 12:15 p.m. Welch was 65 years old

The guitarist died form a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. The police reported that Welch left a suicide note. Aaron noted that he had multiple health issues, but didn’t go into further detail.

Bart Herbison, a close friend, reveled that Welch underwent spinal surgery a few months ago and had failed to recover. The guitarist’s fear of becoming dependant on his wife was the alleged reason behind his suicide.

“It had become apparent to Bob that he was not going to recover, that he was going to become an invalid,” Herbison said. “He had seen his father become an invalid and watched his mother care for him for many years. In the letter he left, he told (his wife) Wendy, ‘I’m not going to do this to you.’ ”

Welch was a guitarist and vocalist for the band from 1971 until 1974. His arrival marked Fleetwood Mac’s shift toward a more melodic and pop-oriented direction.

After his career with the band, Welch pursued a solo career with the hits “Sentimental Lady” in 1977 and “Ebony Eyes” in 1978.

Photo Courtesy: The Sun

"He was a huge part of our history which sometimes gets forgotten. Mostly his legacy would be his songwriting abilities that he brought to Fleetwood Mac, which will survive all of us," said Mick Fleetwood, drummer of the band. "If you look into our musical history, you'll see a huge period that was completely ensconced in Bob's work."

Fleetwood said to Reuters that Welch’s suicide was  “incredibly out of character.”

"He was a very, very profoundly intelligent human being and always in good humor, which is why this is so unbelievably shocking," he continued.

Stevie Nicks, who joined the band a year after Welch’s departure as a vocalist, released a statement saying, "He was an amazing guitar player - he was funny, sweet - and he was smart - I'm so very sorry for his family and for the family of Fleetwood Mac - so, so sad.”

Welch is the second member of the band to die this year. Bob Weston, another guitarist, died in London in January from a gastrointestinal hemorrhage at the age of 64.

Main Photo Courtesy: bobwelch.com 

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