The Allman Brothers

When the Allman Brothers Band (ABB) walk on stage this Saturday at Boyne Mountain, they bring with them their “second generation” of guitarists in Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks. When the band formed in 1969, founding guitarists Duane Allman and Dickey Betts created a two-guitar attack that led Rolling Stone to write in 1971, “the ABB are the greatest rock and roll band formed in the past five years.”
The ABB has the unique distinction of having four guitarists make Rolling Stones’ Top 100 Guitarists of All Time list with Duane Allman #2, Warren Haynes #23, Dickey Betts #58 and Derek Trucks (was 23 when the list was created) #81.
While Allman and Betts might very well go down as the greatest guitar duo of all time, Haynes and Trucks are holding their own. Allman died in 1971 in a motorcycle crash, leaving Betts (who wrote half of the ABB hits) to carry the torch. Betts was dismissed from the band in 2000; few words have been said by either party about his departure. What Betts (who played this year’s National Cherry Festival) has said is, “I won’t be coming back, ever.”
Haynes is making his second run with the band; he was previously a member, joining in 1989. Haynes had been a member of Betts’ solo project, The Dickey Betts Band, during the ‘80s, and Betts suggested that he join the ABB when they reformed. Haynes left the ABB in the mid ‘90s to focus on his band, Gov’t Mule. He rejoined the ABB after Betts left in 2000. The year prior, at the age of 20, Derek Trucks had joined the band. Trucks is the nephew of founding member and drummer Butch Trucks.
Now integral parts of one of rock and roll’s all-time great bands, Trucks and Haynes took time out of their busy schedules to talk to the Express. When not touring and recording with ABB, both have their solo projects: Trucks will tour this fall with the Derek Trucks Band, plus Trucks is a member of Eric Clapton’s touring band; Haynes will lead Gov’t Mule on a tour of the Midwest.

NE: You guys have created your own dynamic on stage with the ABB,. You have brought your own styles, versus trying to duplicate Allman/Betts. Are you able to do this because the music of ABB lends itself to this?
Haynes: When I joined the ABB the first time I thought a lot about this, because I was essentially coming into the Duane Allman slot. I had played with Dickey in his band, so I wasn’t overwhelmed, but instead challenged with how to sound like myself and still sound like a member of the ABB. They were not looking for a clone of Duane -- after all, there will only be one Duane -- but I wanted to pay homage to Duane and still be myself, and feel fortunate that the fans have accepted me.
Trucks: Warren and I do have our own dynamic and it is working. We do our thing and I think that is what the fans want as well. They don’t want us to be Duane Allman and Dickey Betts; they expect us to be ourselves and put our stamp on these songs.

NE: You both came into the ABB from different directions. Derek, your connection is obvious with your uncle in the band, but how about you Warren?
Haynes: I was a member of David Allen Coe’s band in the early ‘80s, and one day we were in the studio in Nashville, and Coe was trying to impress us with how he was a friend of the ABB. So he sent his limo over to the studio where they were at, and Greg Allman, Dickey Betts, Don Johnson and Guy Clarke came over. The next thing I know I am jamming all night on acoustic guitars with Dickey and Guy.
A couple of years later I landed a backing vocal gig with Betts for a country album he was making. He was shocked to see me in the studio. He didn’t like the direction of the album and scrapped the project, and called me later and said he wanted to do a rock album, and would I join his band and write songs with him. During my time with him, every so often an ABB reunion would be discussed. Dickey would always respond, “it’s never going to happen.” Well it did happen, and he asked me to be a part of it, and the rest is history.

NE: Well, not really history. It had to be a challenge because Dickey and Greg didn’t get along at times.
Haynes: Yeah, I played the role of peacemaker. When they were not on speaking terms with each other, they would communicate through me. It was definitely an interesting eight years for me. Though I tend to focus on the positive, and I learned a lot about playing the slide guitar.

NE: Derek, you have been described by Rolling Stone as part of “the new generation of guitar gods.” You must feel fortunate to tour with one of the great guitar gods of all time, Eric Clapton. What have you learned from Clapton?
Trucks: With a guy like Clapton, you learn from him both on and off the stage. Having toured the world with him and hearing his stories, it helps because longevity in this business is tough, and he has managed to have that. His generosity is unbelievable. I am constantly amazed that he allows me and Doyle Bramhall guitar solos. To be on stage at an Eric Clapton concert and have the master allow me to go off on a solo is truly unbelievable.

NE: Both of you guys seem to go 24/7 -- what do you do when you take a break from it all?
Haynes: Sleep.
Trucks: I have two young kids; there are no breaks for me.

Trucks and Haynes will lead the guitar attack this weekend for the ABB as they perform an arsenal of hits that include “Statesboro Blues,” “Midnight Rider” “Dreams” “Whipping Post,” “Jessica,” Ramblin’ Man” and “In Memory of Elizabeth Read” Original and founding members of the ABB, Greg Allman on keyboards and vocals, and drummers Butch Trucks and Jamoie will join them. The concert is general admission with gates opening at 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 25, with the Larry McCray Band taking the stage at 6 p.m., followed by the Robert Randolph Band prior to the ABB. For tickets and additional information check out www.boyne.com View On Our Website