Peter Green, the trailblazing blues-rock guitarist who helped form Fleetwood Mac in 1967 before parting ways with the band in 1970, has died at the age of 73, BBC reports.

The news on Saturday comes just two days day after Fleetwood Mac announced a forthcoming massive box set reissue of their first seven studio albums, some of which featured Green on guitar prior to the arrival of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks in 1975.

A statement shared on behalf of Green’s family on Saturday reads, “It is with great sadness that the family of Peter Green announces his death this weekend, peacefully in his sleep. A further statement will be provided in the coming days.”

Green and Fleetwood Mac parted ways after a performance in 1970. He reportedly struggled with mental health issues for the rest of his life, including an official diagnosis of schizophrenia in the mid-1970s. Green was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the rest of the band in 1998.

Scroll down to watch Green lead the band through a live performance of “Oh Well” during an appearance on BBC’s Monster Music Mash in 1969.

Fleetwood Mac – “Oh Well” – Monster Music Mash (1969)

[Video: EINYO]

Earlier this year prior to the shutdown of the live events from COVID-19, Green’s former bandmate and Fleetwood Mac co-founder Mick Fleetwood organized an all-star tribute performance to Green at The London Palladium. The one-night event featured performances from Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Bill Wyman (The Rolling Stones), John Mayall (John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers), Zak Starkey (Son of Ringo Starr), guitarist Jonny Lang, Pete Townshend (The Who), and Kirk Hammett (Metallica) to name a few.

“The concert is a celebration of those early blues days where we all began, and it’s important to recognize the profound impact Peter and the early Fleetwood Mac had on the world of music,” Fleetwood said about his friend during the show. “Peter was my greatest mentor and it gives me such joy to pay tribute to his incredible talent. I am honored to be sharing the stage with some of the many artists Peter has inspired over the years and who share my great respect for this remarkable musician.”

[H/T BBC]