Former Fleetwood Mac Guitarist Bob Weston Dead at 64

Former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Bob Weston has died at the age of 64. His body was discovered Tuesday (Jan. 3) in his London home by police after a concerned call from neighbors. The causes of death were gastric intestinal hemorrhage, cirrhosis of the liver and throat problems, an autopsy has revealed.

Weston joined Mac in 1972 and played on two albums — ‘Penguin’ and ‘Mystery to Me,’ both from ’73 – before parting ways with the band when it was discovered he was having an affair with Mick Fleetwood’s wife, Jenny Boyd.

Weston was sacked immediately after the discovery, and the remaining Mac members decided not to finish the tour. This led to the so-called ”Bogus Fleetwood Mac” affair, in which manager Clifford Davis hired a completely new band that tried to pass themselves off as Fleetwood Mac and complete the tour. The resultant lawsuit from irate fans kept the band tangled up in court for years.

Weston went on to perform with the British singer Murray Head, an outfit called the All-Stars Band and several other musicians along with pursuing a solo career, releasing three albums over the next several decades. His website reported that he was recording more solo material as of January 2008, but that has yet to surface.

There is no word yet on when services will be held.

A post on Westwood’s official website from the site’s webmaster and close friend Steve Fairhead reads:

It is with great pain that I must announce that Bob Weston has died. He was found dead at home in his London flat in the evening of the 3rd January, by police making a forced entry. Local friends had become concerned at the lack of response, having not seen him for a couple of days. Cause of death has been attributed to a gastrointestinal haemorrhage. He was found in his bed/armchair [checking] in front of the TV; it is presumed he was asleep and didn’t suffer…

I spoke to Bob just a few days before Xmas; we had discussed him spending Xmas with us, but he had some gigs to do in London. Instead we made plans for a visit early in the New Year. He was in fine spirits, and was involved in several new projects. He also seemed to be very fit…

My family and I have lost a dear friend; the world has lost an enormously talented musician, with unfinished business…