The legend of “Greeny”
Peter Green originally purchased “Greeny” in the late 1960s, reportedly for sixty guineas (roughly $6 USD), after joining John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. Green also used the guitar during his tenure with Fleetwood Mac, lending its unmistakable tone to such esteemed classics as “Black Magic Woman,” “Albatross,” and “The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown).” In January 1970, Green generously sold the guitar to his friend Gary Moore, reportedly for £100–£110 (roughly $120–$132 USD). It’s been said that Moore initially hesitated to buy the guitar as he didn’t think he could afford it, which is why Green sold it to him for such a paltry sum. Moore went on to record and perform with “Greeny” until the early aughts. For a tasty helping of Moore’s “Greeny”-wielding sound, check out “Parisienne Walkways” on his 1978 album, Back on the Streets. In 2006, during a period of financial hardship, Moore sold “Greeny” for around $750,000–$1.2 million, after which is was shuffled between numerous dealers and private collectors. Finally, in 2014, the guitar was purchased by Kirk Hammett for around $2 million, and it’s been his #1 instrument ever since.