Ebony Eyes Cover

This week’s “Remake of a Classic” is Bob Welch’s 1978 tune, “Ebony Eyes”. This time, instead of staying true to the original I decided to change it up a little in that I upped the tempo a bit and went with a much heavier sound. The result is more hard rock than pop. Still, the bones of the original are there.

For those who are unaware, Welch was in Fleetwood Mac from 1971 until the end of 1974. During that time he wrote 22 tunes that appeared on five albums. At the time of his departure, Welch was suffering with personal and professional issues: his marriage was failing, and he felt he had exhausted his creativity with the band. After he resigned he was replaced by Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. Despite the fact that the Fleetwood Mac albums on which he appeared had sold millions of copies, Welch wasn’t invited to participate in the band’s 1998 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Original band members Peter Green (who Welch replaced), Jeremy Spencer, Danny Kirwan, Mick Fleetwood, and John McVie were inducted, as were Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, and Stevie Nicks, but Welch was left out. Welch felt the snub stemmed from a 1994 lawsuit he filed against Fleetwood, the McVies, attorney Michael Shapiro and Warner Bros. for breach of contract over royalties. In 1978, Welch and the band had signed a contract with Warner Bros., agreeing to an equal share of all royalties from the albums they did together. Welch claimed the members later made a new deal with Warner for higher royalties, and Welch wasn’t informed. The suit was settled in 1996, and in 2003 Welch and Fleetwood Mac reconciled; apparently the snub came from the RRHOF and not the band.

In 1976, Welch went on to form and record two albums with Paris, a power trio in the vein of Led Zeppelin (search Youtube for ‘Paris Welch’ and you’ll find them…they’re actually pretty damn good). Sales weren’t up to snuff, so the band called it quits and Welch started a solo career. In September 1977 he released his first solo album, French Kiss. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA, peaking at number 12 on Billboard’s 1978 chart. It yielded three hit singles: “Sentimental Lady” (which went to number 8 and was produced by Buckingham and McVie), “Ebony Eyes” (featuring Juice Newton on backing vocals) that went to number 14, and “Hot Love, Cold World” which only went to number 31. Between 1979 and 1999 Welch recorded six more solo albums; none of which were major successes.

In the mid-80s, his career slump drove him to a life of addiction; mostly cocaine and heroin. In the spring of 1985, he was hospitalized for detox, after which he was sober for the rest of his life. In the 90s he and his second wife, Wendy, moved to Nashville. He continued to write, and several of his songs were recorded by Kenny Rogers, Sammy Hagar and the Pointer Sisters.

In early 2012 Welch had spinal surgery. Sadly, doctors told him his prognosis for recovery was poor, and he would eventually become an invalid. Still in considerable pain, and not wishing to become a burden on his wife, Welch committed suicide on June 7, 2012, by shooting himself in the chest. He was 66.

A sad ending for a brilliant songwriter and decent guitarist. Who knows what might have happened had Welch not stepped in to take over for Peter Green…Fleetwood Mac might have ended right then and there.