AceShowbiz - Danny Kirwan, former guitarist for Fleetwood Mac, has died at the age of 68.

The band confirmed the sad news in a Facebook post on Friday, June 08, with Mick Fleetwood leading the tributes to his former bandmate.

"Today was greeted by the sad news of the passing of Danny Kirwan in London, England. Danny was a huge force in our early years. His love for the Blues led him to being asked to join Fleetwood Mac in 1968, where he made his musical home for many years," Fleetwood wrote.

"Danny's true legacy, in my mind, will forever live on in the music he wrote and played so beautifully as a part of the foundation of Fleetwood Mac, that has now endured for over fifty years. Thank you, Danny Kirwan. You will forever be missed!"

Kirwan joined the band in 1968, aged just 18, and recorded five studio albums with the band: 1969's "Then Play On" and "Blues Jam at Chess" in 1969, "Kiln House" in 1970, "Future Games" in 1971 and "Bare Trees" in 1972.

Due to his battle with alcoholism, Kirwan was fired from Fleetwood Mac during their tour in 1972.

He went on to release four solo albums, but was reportedly suffering from mental health issues and in 1993, it was revealed he had been living in a homeless shelter after Mick Fleetwood reported him missing.

Kirwan's cause of death has not been announced.

In a rare interview in 1993, he told British newspaper the Independent that he couldn't handle being in the limelight with the band. "I've been through a bit of a rough patch but I'm not too bad. I get by and I suppose I am homeless, but then I've never really had a home since our early days on tour. I couldn't handle it all mentally and I had to get out. I can't settle," Kirwan said.

In 1998, he was among the eight members of Fleetwood Mac that were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Peter Green, John McVie, Christine McVie and Jeremy Spencer.