The 66-year-old former Fleetwood Mac guitarist and musician Bob Welch has been found dead in his Nashville home aged 66, in what is suspected to be a suicide. Ex-Fleetwood Mac artist, who also had a solo career, was found by his wife at 12:15pm last night (June 7th) after apparently shooting himself in the chest. At the same time, a suicide note was found nearby.

According to the police spokesperson Don Aaron, Welch died from self-inflicted gunshot wound, and are treating the death as a suicide. He also added that the star had been suffering from health issues prior to the incident, possibly referring to the spinal surgery Welch underwent three months ago, which doctors told him he wouldn't recover from.

Born in Los Angeles in 1945, Welch was a member of Fleetwood Mac from 1971 to 1974, playing on five albums with the group. When he left the band, he was replaced by Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.

Welch formed the band Paris in 1975 and released two albums with the group, before going on to release his first solo record, 'French Kiss', in 1977. The album featured a version of the song 'Sentimental Lady', which had originally been recorded for Fleetwood Mac's 1972 album, 'Bare Trees'. He went on to release a host more solo albums, his last being 1999's 'Bob Welch Looks At Bop'.

Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks has spoken of her sadness following his death, and said: "The death of Bob Welch is devastating... I had many great times with him after Lindsey and I joined Fleetwood Mac. He was an amazing guitar player - he was funny, sweet - and he was smart. I am so very sorry for his family and for the family of Fleetwood Mac - so, so sad."