Danny Kirwan, an English musician best known as a guitarist for Fleetwood Mac from 1968 until 1972, has passed away at the age of 68.

Taking to Facebook yesterday, band co-founder Mick Fleetwood broke the news that Kirwan had passed away on Friday and expressed his grief at the loss of the talented musician. “Today was greeted by the sad news of the passing of Danny Kirwan in London, England,” Fleetwood wrote.

“Danny was a huge force in our early years. His love for the Blues led him to being asked to join Fleetwood Mac in 1968, where he made his musical home for many years.”

“Danny’s true legacy, in my mind, will forever live on in the music he wrote and played so beautifully as a part of the foundation of Fleetwood Mac, that has now endured for over fifty years,” he concluded. “Thank you, Danny Kirwan. You will forever be missed!”

Danny Kirwan first joined Fleetwood Mac in 1968 at the age of 18, following the breakup of his previous band Boilerhouse, who had previously supported Fleetwood Mac and caught the eye of Peter Green. Kirwan’s first contribution to the group was his aiding in the completion of ‘Albatross’, an instrumental number which was the group’s first international hit and their only track to reach #1 on the UK charts.

Performing on the albums Then Play On, Blues Jam At Chess?, Kiln House, Future Games?, and Bare Trees?, Kirwan was fired from the group in the early ’70s due to alcoholism during a period of time which saw the group also lose founding members Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer.

While Danny Kirwan would record a series of solo albums later in the decade, his musical talents would not be utilised on a wide scale again, with reports stating that he had been left homeless in the ’80s and ’90s, though a 2014 interview with Jeremy Spencer revealed that by the early ’00s, Kirwan was in a much better position.

Kirwan was also notably absent from Fleetwood Mac’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, which also saw him inducted as a member of the group.

Danny Kirwan is survived by his son, Dominic.

Check out Danny Kirwan’s talents on Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Albatross’:

The article was originally published on Tone Deaf