Allman Brothers Band returns to the road
July 23rd, 2008 by Wade Tatangelo in News
Back in May, I reported that Gregg Allman was “on the road to recovery.” Today it became official, which is great news for us ABB enthusiasts. The original jam band resumes touring after an 11-month break prompted by the singer/keyboardist/guitarist and former Bradenton resident’s Hepatitis C treatment. Here’s the press release including a quote from Allman regarding his condition. There are no Florida dates posted yet but there’s an opening in early October that will likely result in a local stop.
Rock and roll icons THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND will make their triumphant return to the concert stage this summer, with two dozen shows booked from August 12 through October 11. On the first leg of dates, the group will share the stage with Bob Weir & RatDog, with Phil Lesh and Friends on board for the second leg.
The August 12 show in Bethel, NY will mark the first group performance since last September’s featured guest spot at Farm Aid (9/9/07), which followed a Piedmont Park appearance in Atlanta (9/8/07) with the Dave Matthews Band. Late last year after the group’s summer tour, group co-founder, keyboardist and singer GREGG ALLMAN underwent treatment for Hepatitis C. ALLMAN battled through two months of debilitating Interferon treatments but has made a complete recovery and is now disease-free. “I feel great, man,” says ALLMAN. “The treatment really kicks you in the ass but I came out stronger. I’m ready to play.” Hepatitis C is a blood-borne disease that affects approximately four million people in the U.S. alone and can cause liver cancer or necessitate a transplant. Due to the side effects of the aggressive Interferon treatment, the group had to postpone their annual run of dates at the Beacon Theatre in New York City as well as performances at Bonnaroo and their own Wanee Festival in Florida.
“I’ve known about having the disease for a long time, but was never a candidate for treatment until last year,” continues ALLMAN. “When my doctor told me to go for the Interferon, I knew it would be a battle, but I’m great now.” Side effects from Interferon treatment include flu-like symptoms and chronic fatigue. “I just didn’t have the energy to play,” says the keyboardist/singer. “And we’re a band that puts on 2-hour shows that change every single night. You gotta be at full capacity to do that. And now I am.”During the downtime, the other members of ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND–BUTCH TRUCKS (drums and tympani), JAIMOE (drums), WARREN HAYNES (vocals, lead and slide guitar), DEREK TRUCKS (slide and lead guitar), OTEIL BURBRIDGE (bass) and MARC QUINONES (congas and percussion)–stayed busy with various projects. JAIMOE toured with his Jasssz Band; HAYNES tours non-stop with his band Gov’t Mule; TRUCKS joined Eric Clapton as guitarist for an extensive world tour and also performed with wife Susan Tedeschi’s Soul Stew Revival; and OTEIL toured with former Grateful Dead percussionist Bill Kreutzman.
Here are the current ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND tour dates. Check out www.allmanbrothersband.com for the latest.
Date: City: Venue: With:
Tue 8/12 Bethel, NY Bethel Woods Center Bob Weir & RatDog
Wed 8/13 Wantagh, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Theater Bob Weir & RatDog
Fri 8/15 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center Bob Weir & RatDog
Sat 8/16 Mansfield, MA Tweeter Center Bob Weir & RatDog
Tue 8/19 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center Bob Weir & RatDog
Wed 8/20 Hartford, CT New England Dodge Music Center Bob Weir & RatDog
Fri 8/22 Canandaigua, NY Constellation Brands PAC Bob Weir & RatDog
Sat 8/23 Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center Bob Weir & RatDog
Mon 8/25 Hershey, PA Hershey Park Pavilion Bob Weir & RatDog
Wed 8/27 Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre Bob Weir & RatDog
Thu 8/28 Chicago, IL Charter One Pavilion Bob Weir & RatDog
Sat 8/30 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre Bob Weir & RatDog
Fri 9/26 Fayetteville, AR Bikes Blues and BBQ Festival (festival)
Sat 9/27 Robinsonville, MS Horseshoe Casino an evening with
Tue 9/30 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion Phil Lesh
Wed 10/1 TBA
Fri 10/3 TBA
Sat 10/4 TBA
Tue 10/7 Pelham, AL Verizon Wireless Music Center Phil Lesh
Wed 10/8 Orange Beach, AL The Amph at The Wharf Phil Lesh
Fri 10/10 Atlanta, GA Chastain Park Amphitheatre an evening with
Sat 10/11 Atlanta, GA Chastain Park Amphitheatre an evening with###
July 24th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
The original jam band = Grateful Dead.
July 24th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Leilani: Oops. You’re right. I meant the BEST jam band.
July 26th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
SAW THEM IN ‘70,’74&’79.WADE,YOU ARE CORRECT.THE BEST JAM BAND!
July 27th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Dean: I am extremely envious of anyone who caught ABB during the Duane-era. For what it’s worth, I’ve seen ABB several times in recent years and urge you to check out the current lineup with Derek Trucks playing the sweetest slide guitar licks I’ve heard this side of Duane, and Gregg’s been in good voice every time I have saw them. He’s also writing beautiful new tunes like :Old Before My Time.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9NhqTCxQVA
http://star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2006/10/27/movies/20061027094451&sec=movies
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/article/9522/derek-trucks-on-playing-with-allman-clapton-dylan/
July 27th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
“ALLMAN battled through two months of debilitating Interferon treatments but has made a complete recovery and is now disease-free.”
Really? Two months for treatment? That doesn’t sound right. I’m glad he’s back up to speed but the 2 months doesn’t sound accurate.