Letter from Peter Green to his manager, Clifford Adams/David, £2000 at Hansons.
Mick Fleetwood and John McVie were there, but this first slice of blues-inspired music also involved Danny Kirwan, Jeremy Spencer, Bob Brunning (briefly) and a certain Peter Green (1946-2020). The band’s founder in 1967, Green left just three years later and became something of a recluse.
However, he is revered by many music fans. When memorabilia amassed by the band’s former manager decades ago came up at Hansons’ (26% buyer’s premium) sale in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, on November 21, two Green-linked lots proved sought after.
Rise to fame
Peter Green (left) and Clifford Adams.
Photo: Clifford Adams.
The 14-lot selection documenting the band’s rise to fame included more than 300 contracts relating to tours, venues, radio and TV work, gold and platinum discs. All belonged to 81-year-old Clifford Adams (known as Clifford Davis in the music industry), Fleetwood Mac’s manager, agent and co-songwriter from 1967- 74, who was the vendor here.
Sold for £2000, five times low estimate, was a letter Green sent to Adams from Hawaii which he had kept for 50 years. It detailed his decision to shun wealth and live a simple life on the Pacific island. A quirkier offering, the musician’s driving licence, given to Adams on a whim, was snapped up for £460 (estimate £80-120).
One of the Fleetwood Mac booking sheets sold for £4400 at Hansons.
Paperwork relating to concerts and TV appearances was in particular demand. The top lot was a set of Fleetwood Mac booking sheets which sold for £4400 (estimate £400-600). In addition, performance contracts hammered at £4000 (est £1500-2000) and TV and radio appearance contracts sold for £2500 (est £500-800).
Two gold discs with guides of £100-150 were taken to four figures. A gold award for Albatross in recognition of sales exceeding a million made £1700, while a gold disc marking sales exceeding a million for single Oh Well realised £1300.
Adams said: “The early contracts specify ‘Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac’, the original name of the band which Peter founded in 1967. He later dropped his name because he wanted Fleetwood Mac to become a brand, and they did. Over the years there have been more than 40 different members of the band.
“You sometimes see fan forums asking for information about a particular gig that took place decades ago. It was all here - contracts from the band’s first gig through to 1973. You can see how much they earned, where they played, what TV shows they appeared on - everything.”
Adams said Green was the “superstar of Fleetwood Mac. Fans call him the Green God. He’s regarded as the number one blues guitarist of all time, admired by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and BB King.
“In 1967 I went to see Fleetwood Mac, fell in love with them and became their agent. A couple of weeks later Peter asked me to be their manager. I said, ‘I’m not a manager, I’m an agent’. Peter said, ‘You are now’. He trusted me. We became really good friends.
“Pete and I chose all the singles to be released including Albatross which is the only Fleetwood Mac single to reach number one in the UK charts. It sold over a million copies in 1968-69. It was re-released in 1973 and sold over a million copies again. From 1963-68 The Beatles were the top-selling-single artists. In 1969 Fleetwood Mac took that crown.”
Peter Green’s driving licence, £460 at Hansons.
Lyrics struggle
Several of the lots at Bonhams’ Rock, Pop & Film auction on November 29 featured original handwritten Fleetwood Mac song lyrics by Green, including Man of the World and Rattlesnake Shake. However, most failed to get away on the day.
Jerry Dammers’ handwritten lyrics for the song Too Much Too Young by The Specials, 1979, did make £3800 (estimate £2000-3000).
