Danny Boy

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Pictured is one of the most underrated guitar players I can think of. Taken in 1968, the photo shows a young Danny Kirwan, eighteen years old at the time of his joining Fleetwood Mac. He died at the same age as I am now, four years ago. Yesterday, I was mulling over his talent and his contribution to what I've always felt was the finest incarnation of the Mac, his musical synergy with Peter Green magical to hear on Then Play On: still one of my favourite albums, and on singles such as the much abused Albatross (how much advertising revenue has been culled from that slice of my generation's musical history?), Man Of The World, Green Manalishi & etc. Whilst never the improvisational or touch equal of Green - let's face it, the very best of the best as BB King testified to - Kirwan's string attack, timing, vibrato and musicality make him one of the very best guitarists of his generation. Check his stuff out if you've never heard of him.

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