The Allman Brothers Band Celebrate 40 Years

They’ve been called the Grateful Dead of the South. They’ve been called the "principal architects of Southern rock." In 1971, Rolling Stone Magazine called them "the best damn rock and roll band" of "the past five years."

Whatever ever accolade you wish to use one thing is for certain, the Allman Brothers Band have been jamming for 40 years.

This past March, ABB celebrated their fourth decade together with a 15-show run at the famed Beacon Theatre in New York city.

During their historic stint, the band played over 100 songs and mixed it up with the likes of Buddy Guy, Phish’s Try Anastasio and Page McConnell, Boz Scaggs, John Hammond, Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow.

Tickets to see the Allman Brothers Band for March 19th and the 20th were simply priceless. That’s when they had their first-ever onstage meeting with Eric Clapton. Besides jamming to some old blues standards, Clapton and the band performed “Layla.”

Incidentally, the late Duane Allman played guitar on the 1970 Derek and the Dominos’ recording of “Layla.” Clapton once called Allman "the ideal recording man."

On the band’s official 40th anniversary, March 26th, they performed their first two studio albums, The Allman Brothers Band and Idelwild South, in their entirety. They had no visitors on stage that night.

Since that memorable fortnight the band has toured extensively throughout the spring and summer. You catch ABB on the road this fall as they continue to celebrate 40 years as the South’s preeminent rock band.

Look for The Allman Brothers Band in Chicago in the first of September.

After a few shows in the Windy City, ABB travels to Colorado for a concert at Red Rocks on Sept. 5.

Only three of the original members remain, Gregg Allman (vocals, organ, and piano), Butch Trucks (drums) and Jaimoe Johanson (drums and percussion).

They’re joined by Warren Haynes (guitar), Marc Quiñones (drums, percussion), Oteil Burbridge (bass) and Derek Trucks (Butch’s nephew and slide guitarist).

Two of the original six members of the band are deceased, bassist Berry Oakley and the aforementioned Duane Allman.

Oakley passed away a little over a year after Allman. Both died as a result of injuries suffered in motorcycle accidents. Their respective crashes occurred just three blocks apart.

The third absent member, guitarist Dickey Betts, was asked to leave the band for personal and professional reasons in 2000.

Despite 40 long years, more tragedy then one band should have to endure and too much self indulgence, ABB continues to sounds great. Gregg Allman’s 61-year old voice still holds up and Trucks and Johnanson can still whale on those drums.

Joining ABB for several dates this fall is another jam band, Widespread Panic. They will be at the Chicago show but not at Red Rocks.

You can see Widespread with the Allman Brothers Band in Nashville on Oct. 12 as well as the Dallas concert on Oct. 14.

The Allman Brothers Band seems to favor venues in the south but they do make an appearance on the left coast. The Allman Brothers Band goes Hollywood on Oct. 20.

Fans have a great opportunity this year to celebrate 40 years of the Allman Brothers Band. If you’re new to the legends of rock now is a great time to get to know them. You really haven’t lived until you’ve heard a 34-minute rendition of “In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed.”