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ab
First Oteil's denial that he's leaving to join Zac Brown, now this. Bummer. This lineup will have had a 14-year run, by far the longest they've ever had.
But how long can you hold on to the younger members of the band when there's been no new studio album in 11 years and only a few new originals in the live setlist in the last 10 years? Nearly all the recent new songs in their live setlist have been covers of older contemporaries (The Band, Van Morrison, Neil Young, etc.).
With most of the band heavily involved in other projects (Tedeschi-Trucks, Mule, and Warren's, Gregg's and Jaimoe's solo bands), the Allman Brothers Band has been a secondary concern for a while. They only played about 25 shows last year. So this may be the end of the line.
I can't imagine Dickey returning. I saw his guest spot with Tedeschi-Trucks in September. He was terrible, in a league with 2007 Keith Richards. He couldn't keep up with Derek on the guitar harmony part of Elizabeth Reed, even after Derek slowed tempo for him. It was pretty tough to watch.
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mighty stork
I was joking about the Dickey Betts return. That would never happen for many reasons.
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stonehearted
I find it mildly amusing at how people are so broken up over the departure of those who aren't even original members let alone Allman brothers. If Gregg could replace Duane and Dicky Betts and all the rest, then I'm sure he'll find new non-original members to keep the Allman Brother Band going.
And to think, The Who get criticized for having just two original members.
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ab
The Allman Brothers Band has three original members (Gregg, Butch Trucks and Jaimoe) and relies in large part on their first five albums in the live setlists. Over the years, they've operated more like a jazz band where there's core original members and a changing cast of youngsters, who have major roles for a while and then go off to do other things (first Chuck, then Warren and Woody, now Warren, Oteil and Derek).
Although the band bears Gregg's surname, Gregg was never the bandleader. Duane formed the band and led it until he died. It remains the Allman Brothers Band largely to honor Duane Allman's memory.
Then, with Gregg grieving and dazed, Dickey jumped into the void and took over, until Gregg, Butch and Jaimoe got sick of his act in 2000. Butch has also had a significant behind the scenes role.
Warren has mostly led the band since his return in 2001. He also had a significant role in his 1989-97 tenure, to the extent Dickey would give him one.
Derek exerts his influence as well. Their version of Afro Blue has Derek's fingerprints all over it.
What's been lost in the shuffle here is that just last week, Gregg said in a Rolling Stone interview that he thought that they had lost Oteil to Zac Brown, but Oteil said the next day that he was committed to the Allman Brothers Band through the end of the year. Oteil's failure to commit beyond this year would seem to indicate that he's headed out the door as well at the end of the year.
Gregg also said a few days prior to Warren's and Derek's announcement that he hoped to make another ABB studio album soon. His recent statements give the impression that Gregg doesn't know what's going on within his own band!
Although playing in the ABB has been great exposure (not to mention a great learning experience) for Warren, Derek and Oteil, they all seem to think that they've benefited enough from their time with the ABB (25, 15 and 17 years respectively) and that it's time to move on.
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mr edward
01.08.14 WARREN HAYNES AND DEREK TRUCKS TO DEPART ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND AT END OF 2014
Does Gregg know about this?
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ab
yeah you can tell dickey betts is no longer in the band. easy way to tell? they have only release 1 studio album in 14 years since he was fired. after duanes death betts wrote or co-wrote about 80% of the material the band released until he was fired in 2000.
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ab
yeah you can tell dickey betts is no longer in the band. easy way to tell? they have only release 1 studio album in 14 years since he was fired. after duanes death betts wrote or co-wrote about 80% of the material the band released until he was fired in 2000.