Friday, June 8, 2012

Fleetwood Mac guitarist kills self

  • Welch's wife found his body in their Nashville home Thursday afternoon, police say
  • "All indications are that it was a suicide," a police spokesman says
  • Welch played guitar with Fleetwood Mac from 1971 until late 1974
  • His biggest hits solo hits were "Sentimental Lady" and "Ebony Eyes"

(CNN) -- Bob Welch, a guitarist who played with Fleetwood Mac before launching a solo career, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest, Nashville, Tennessee, police said Thursday. He was 66.

Welch's wife found his body in their Nashville home about 12:15 p.m., Nashville Police spokesman Don Aaron said.

"All indications are that it was a suicide," Aaron said. A suicide note was found, he said.

Welch played guitar with Fleetwood Mac starting in 1971. He left the group in late 1974, just before Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined the group.

His biggest hits, "Sentimental Lady" and "Ebony Eyes," came from his debut solo album "French Kiss," released in November 1977.

CNN's Douglas Hyde contributed to this report.