After Peter Green left the band, someone had to step up to fill the void, but it didn't happen overnight. Mr. Kirwan seemed tentative at first, but one can hear on BARE TREES (1972) his growing confidence, maturity, and leadership not just in his guitar work, but his skills as a songwriter (I think it's as far as he got in terms of both). He really shines, even though Christine was her typical dusky self and Bob Welch stepped up with "Sentimental Lady," that album's best remembered track (and shoulda been hit). In the end, Danny was often underrated and obscured by Welch and McVie, but really, for TREES he was the glue that held it together.
RIP....
ED