Even though Gregg Allman had been off the road for a couple of years now, reports of his poor health have been frequent, news of his passing still felt like a shock and almost as if unexpected. Some artists are like touchstones, intertwining with your life as you grow, evolve and accumulate experiences throughout time. Even with Mr. Allman’s somewhat checkered past and reckless lifestyle, it felt like he would always be around, touring, performing the great Allman Brothers Band catalogue in some form or another, and bringing joy to a community of rock and roll fans.
The Fillmore East live concert album brought the band to the forefront of all of our consciousness at a time when the double live album flourished, and performing live in concert was where Gregg Allman thrived.
I’ve seen Gregg Allman so many times since the late 1970’s and there were so many memorable moments with the Allman Brothers Band and as a solo artist creating new songs and reinventing the classics.
I was at Central Park when Gregg joined Dickey Betts & Great Southern after the Allman Brothers had been broken up for awhile and New Years Eve at Nassau Coliseum with Molly Hatchet around the time Enlightened Rogues was released. Gregg performed as a solo act at My Father’s Place in Roslyn, more recently at an album release show at the Bowery Ballroom, and shows at the intimate City Winery in New York City. There was the appearance with Warren Haynes at the Love for Levon concert in New Jersey and The Speaking Clock Revue with Elton John, Leon Russell, T-Bone Burnett and Elvis Costello at the Beacon Theatre where the Allman Brothers Band played so many great concerts through the years.
The last time I saw Mr. Allman in concert was a couple of years ago at his Laid Back festival at Jones Beach. Surpringly, although frail, Gregg looked and sounded great and I expected that his health may have rebounded to the point that he would be around for some years to come. When City Winery postponed a string of shows, and then eventually canceled them altogether, you had the inkling his health had gone south. Rumors of his entering hospice apparently proved to be true.
There have been so many great recording artists who have passed on, particularly in the past few years, but this one stung deep. Gregg Allman was a one of a kind artist with an incredible soulful voice but also with demons and addictions that ultimately proved to be too much to overcome. Gregg Allman was a talent and a legend who will be missed but his incredible music will live on.
The Road Goes On Forever
Rest In Peace
Rock on!
GQ