02 November 2011
VVN Music
Bob Brunning, Original Fleetwood Mac Bassist, Passes Away at 68
Bob Brunning, the original bassist for Fleetwood Mac, passed away last week at his home from a heart attack at the age of 68.
Brunning started out in the mid-60's with a band called Five's Company and was later recruited by Peter Green for a new band with Mick Fleetwood and, eventually, Jeremy Spencer. Green, who had just left John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, wanted that group's bassist, John McVie, for Fleetwood Mac but John wanted to stay with the established band, so he brought on Brunning.
It was only a matter of weeks before McVie changed his mind, but it was enough time for Brunning to lay down the bass part for the track Long Grey Mare which would appear on the group's debut album.
Brunning went on to join Savoy Brown, taking over for original bassist Ray Chappell, where he would stay until mid-1968. At that point, Bob followed his love of teaching which he did for the next thirty years while continuing to play in bands on the side including The Brunning Sunflower Blues Band (with ex-Savoy Brown pianist Bob Hall), Tramp (with Mick Fleetwood and Danny Kirwin) and the DeLuxe Blues Band with which he remained until his passing.
According to Brunning's website, he also played or recorded with the likes of J.B. Hutto, Johnny Mars, Whisperin' Smith, Jimmy Rodgers, Lightnin' Slim, Chuck Berry, Memphis Slim, Jimmy Witherspoon, Charlie Musselwhite and many more.
Brunning was also an author with a number penned about Fleetwood Mac and Blues: The British Connection.
He is survived by his wife, Halina, two sons, one daughter and six grandchildren.
