Gregg Allman: The Complete 1981 "My Brother Duane" Interview

Welcome to my Talking Guitar podcast featuring Gregg Allman speaking exclusively about his brother Duane, the founder of the Allman Brothers Band.
A transcription of this interview was a centerpiece of Guitar Player magazine's October 1981 "Duane Allman Special Issue." With so many magazine pages available, I was also able to interview Dickey Betts, Pete Carr, Billy Gibbons, John Hammond, Johnny Winter, and the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. My favorite of these interviews, though, is the one you’re about to hear with Duane’s younger brother. Gregg called me up on July 6, 1981, and began our conversation.
A few months after the Duane Allman Special Issue came out, Gregg called to say thanks and to tell me that his mother was delighted with the issue and proudly displayed a copy on her living room table. Among the dozens of cover stories I wrote for Guitar Player, the Duane Allman issue has always been among my favorites. I hope you enjoy this unique recording done just ten years after Duane had died.
To help us continue producing podcasts, please hit the donation link and send some support our way: paypal.me/Talk.... All funds go toward producing future podcasts.
Thanks to engineer/producer Nik Hunt for enhancing the sound of the 42-year-old master tape. Be sure to check out the other historic interviews on the Talking Guitar KZbin channel. For dozens more guitar-intensive podcasts, interview transcripts, and articles, visit Talking Guitar magazine at jasobrecht.sub....
This podcast is copyright 2023 by Jas Obrecht. All rights reserved.

[@marcyfan-tz4wj]

i miss duane and his brother every damn day. thank you.

[@mickhenderson3661]

I know what you mean. God rest their souls.🙏🏻

[@marcyfan-tz4wj]

@@jellycream1964 i see your point and their contribution wasn't about me but 5 more years of duane or of otis or of hank williams or of john lennon or of buddy holly would have made a world of difference for someone like me.

[@johnpandolfino8663]

Saw Duane play three times before he passed..... he's the reason I play guitar today.....sure miss those boys

[@jamestomkin8784]

Please every Allman Brothers Band fans. Please go on line to the Kennedy Center and nominate them for the Center award for their contributions to American music and culture! They more than deserve it! This band is essential to late 20th century and early 21 century American history!

[@AnthonyGiannotta-m8w]

I agree.... We have to get them nominated for the Kennedy Center, after all, one of GREGG'S BEST FRIEND IS A PRESIDENT, U ALL KNOW WHO, I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YA'S..... WHO.

[@stevetaylor6024]

I saw Gregg Play at the Kennedy Center with the house band for a tribute to Muddy Waters. I want to say around ‘96-‘97. Played catfish blues and trouble no more.

[@gibby6904]

There will never be another band that can match this! So many great "eras" right up until the end!

[@patrickhite3026]

Every " era" gave us a different way to look at music..They were the most innovative & perhaps the best band ever produced in America..RIP 🍑🍄

[@joleneloveland4602]

I worked for Johnny Sandlin and the Brothers at Capricorn Studio. One day Duane asked Johnny if he would keep an eye on his little brother should something happen to him. Johnny made good on his promise to Duane. Gregory died May 27, 2017 and Johnny passed September 19, 2017. They are in my heart ❤ forever. I miss you both so much. Rest Easy.

[@joenania]

JOHNNY SANDLIN lasted long enough to fulfill DUANE'S request -all the way to the end of GREGG'S life - then Johnny Sandlin went a few months later - knowing that he had did what Duane wanted him to do ! wonderful !

[@jscharleston7963]

My heart aches hearing this. But thanks for sharing anyway.

[@MDavidG1]

@@joenania Johnny died of cancer which he had been fighting for a long time. After Gregg fired Johnny from producer duties on his Searching For Simplicity album (mid to late 90's), they were more or less estranged.

[@frankrichards3089]

Gregg had a hell of a memory for all these specific dates, incredible.

[@MDavidG1]

True, but bear in mind that Gregg's memory has been proven fallible at times. A lot of booze and a lot of drugs over a lot of years...

[@mechcavandy986]

A friend of mine played keyboards for Lucinda Williams and toured with her and the ABB on their 25th (?) anniversary tour. Gregg admired his talent and they made friends on the tour. Gregg had some keyboard technologist tuned up and restore parts of his Hammond B3. So Gregg asked my friend if he wanted him to work on his. My friend said (sure), but he couldn’t afford it. Gregg told him he’d cover the cost. That’s the kinda guy he was. ♥️

[@bonzey1171]

Finally, Johnny Guitar Watson gets a mention. About time

[@shawnbruce6934]

Zappa loved Watson as well.

[@bonzey1171]

@@shawnbruce6934 Zappa is how I got into JGW

[@PlayerToBeNamedLater1973]

One of my Dad's friends was a really great guitar player and singer called Lonnie Mack. When I was a kid I just knew him as the big nice fella who hunted on our property sometimes. I got to know him better as I grew up and realized he was a great player( and singer) who'd been around the world and played with everyone from Clapton and Santana and the Doors to Chet Atkins and Waylon . One day he told me about him and Duane and Dickey and Berry Oakley buying some opium and speed and having a good time in a campground somewhere, playing a little but mainly catching a buzz , which they loved to do as much as playing haha. They were all young and crazy and having fun. I've always been in awe of Duane and Berry so hearing Mack's stories was so cool to me as a 17:year old trying to find out all I could about my heroes before Internet information or misinformation, as it were.

[@jamestomkin8784]

I met Gregg a year before he died. It was after a concert in Rochester NY. I talked to him for about 20 minutes. He made a comment saying that Duane should have never left Musscle Shoals. Gave me chills! RIP Duane and Gregg!

[@jamestomkin8784]

Sorry bit I did@

[@paullevine1813]

What a fine insight into Greggs recollections on the beginnings of to me the best Blues Rock R&B Soul band ever. It must have so hard for him to have to do this many times in interviews . At least this one with jan who know what to ask & does so with respect. Funny Duane knew how good the Reverb in a tiled bathroom sounds when no amp is used. That is a fun picture to look at. You have to have such a love for Gregg to have to try & recall so many events leading up to & during the short time Duane was alive & blowing roofs off every place they played at. We miss them more than one can describe. Funniest thing on this was the question on what Duane thought about his legacy !!! Lord have mercy he was on top of the world & looking down a road which would have taken him everywhere & he would still be with us today had fate not taken him & man the last thing I'm sure of was he was not thinking about any legacy he was think music forever & that next gig & record. 🎸🍊

[@greenman7612]

Yeah, I thought it was kinda poor taste to ask a guy what he thought his dead brother thought about his legacy. Shit, Duane had mountains to climb yet! Just imagine what would done on Les Brers for instance. Duane and Dickey had a symbiotic relationship! Great chemistry and the sum was infinitely better than the parts. Jeez, I wish I hadn’t heard that awful announcement on the radio the night of October 29, 1971.

[@FMorgigno1]

Awesome interview with a true icon. Id encourage any ABB fan who has not done so to go and visit The Big House on Vineville Rd in Macon Ga. I grew up idolizing Duane and to be able to sit on his bed or look at the books on his book shelf is such an incredible experience as is the room where they'd practice. There are so many displays where you'll see some of the actual equipment they recorded with. I was lucky enough to see the infamous gold top Les Paul before they took it out for a Beacon series in NY. There is actually a pilgrimage tour you can go on around town with a guide map of sites including The Big House, College Rd (Ildewilde South Cover photo), various other houses theyd lived in, Capricorn Records Office, The Studio where they recorded across from the alley where they shot the Fillmore East Cover, Rose Hill Cemetary (you could spend half a day just being there), the sites where Duane and Berry got into their accidents (they were two blocks apart and still look the same as the day each accident happened). Quite an amazing experience.

[@shawnbruce6934]

Wonderful museum. I was there in 2019.

[@captainsouth4460]

Yup. The Big House is not to be missed if in the Macon area!!!

[@MRbjr8]

Thanks for this, truly awesome to hear Greg's love for his bro

[@Dang...]

Thanks so much for posting this incredible gem. I could nearly cry. Such important historical information here. I was fortunate to hear them live July 1971 at NYC Central Park Schaeffer Festival. It formed the direction of my life.

[@greenman7612]

The recordings of those shows that evening are awesome!

[@Notamember8556]

Thanks again Jas. Too actually hear Greg’s voice and yours, with the depth of emotion and respect is quite moving.

[@MAGAMANPATRIOT]

To me Duane is the best guitarist of blue's rock. His innovation and sound was incredible. Listen to Wilson Pickett's "hey jude" version then listen to his playing "whipping post". Duane and Dicky were a great duo and Betts isn't appreciated like he should be , hell Duane wanted him in the band for good reasons. He even told Gregg when he called him in California to get home he had a good band together with a helluva lead guitar player meaning Betts. They needed Gregg to sing and bring all of his songs. When Duane died all could see Berry was in bad shape but I don't believe anyone saw how bad Dicky was taking it. Gregg was shattered of course he lost big brother as well as Gregg wrote in his book Duane was also a kind of Father figure even being so close of age. We still have Jaimo and Dicky alive my hope is the two of em remember they are brothers sit down and have a long talk. I go at least once a year to visit em in Macon since Gregg passed it's changed a lot. I was glad to see Butch has a marker stone there and if Betts and Jai Johnny pass before me I hope they are memorialized there with their brothers. Before the last line up of the ABB called it quits I was ecstatic to see the Gibson SG from one brother to another tradition carried on to Derek. I got on a "Sweet Melissa" kick yesterday and must've played it with different guitars and sound 10 or 15 times just searching for a new gig sound. It can't be improved over the original or the great live acoustic version. The Allman Brothers Band live at the Fillmore East turned a young me away from becoming a top 40 cover player into a player looking for the sound that rattled around in my brain. I'd wager it influenced many young pickers my age. I'll pay homage to them in every gig we do , we also do a couple of their Capricorn label mates Toy Caldwell tunes. It surprises me every time a young person tells us they've never heard most of those songs. Poor youngsters coming of age with today's music guess we had the long hair , cool rides , bell bottom jeans and the greatest music. Damn I do ramble on when talking ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND the BEST DAMN BAND EVER !! 😎 🎸🎸

[@curtiseverett1671]

Greg never would have supported trump

[@jeffbranchick1516]

Ramble on brother. No doubt you obviously “get it.” 🍄🎵🎶🍑

[@captainsouth4460]

Dickey has always been greatly appreciated!!!

[@wyndes]

Betts is appreciated as much as he should be. Geez.

[@wyndes]

​@@captainsouth4460I know. Why do people say stupid stuff like that.

[@qw49]

I LOVE ❤️ ALLMANS BROTHERS BAND, THE BEST ALBUM ACORDING TO ME, AT FILLMORE EAST😢LOVE TO ALL❤❤ FROM SWEDEN 🇸🇪 ❤️

[@jonathanschiele2465]

Great stuff, thank you for putting this where we can hear it.

[@KeyWestChrisRehm]

That was a fabulous interview. Thank you!! You mentioned you were going to be interviewing Dickey Betts. If that is available please post it! Thanks!

[@doovie101]

Thank you for this interview!

[@ThirtyPack.]

💯🙏😎

[@SingleMalt77005]

Great interview

[@perijetton9275]

Remember Duane ALLMAN ❤️🍄🍑

[@gregory8518]

Getting a lot of new perspective here on the Duane/Gregg dynamics/Duane was like a DIFFERENT King, nothing but feeling & soul Rock on brother...s!

[@gregory8518]

Key to the highway broonsey song, exceptional slide Layla album

[@greenman7612]

Interesting interview. Jas hadn’t done enough research before it. The transcript here on KZbin is poor. It would be nice to have an accurate transcript. Gregg is really opening up in this interview. More so than I’ve heard previously. He was such an intelligent guy and a real nice, soul. Such talent. I wish he had stayed away from substances so he could have been more productive. Listen to Try It One More Time double CD. Priceless!

[@joleneloveland4602]

I would always hear him playing in the rehearsal room at capricorn studio where I worked. He was way more talented than anyone knew. There were only 2 who could bring tears to my eyes and one was Greg and the other was Neil Larson ❤.

[@frankrichards3089]

Fantastic! Thank you, Jas

[@scottmoore7975]

All pickers want to be Duane Allman, if they really know guitar!!!

[@RUNNOFT71]

That's the truth

[@robertbushong4414]

I miss them too

[@qw49]

BB-KING BEEN HEARING 5 TIMES IN SWEDEN 🇸🇪

[@OTseven]

Wow

[@jamestomkin8784]

BEST F-CKING BAND EVER! EVER!!!

[@Derrymcg]

Disappointed with Gregg book,cross to Bear, his comments on Dickey?

[@usernameinvalid2675]

Why? They didn’t gel,Dickey was a mess in the 90s Cringe guitar playing 60% of the timeGregg was ready to put the band back to O6 quality 😊which he did all through the 2000s I was there for some of it 👍

[@Derrymcg]

@@usernameinvalid2675 you don't tell stories out of school. Duane would have never said Shit like that.

[@usernameinvalid2675]

@@Derrymcg ..then who were you asking about his comments on Dickey What I said is well known facts.

[@Derrymcg]

I mean Dickey was from the same ilk as Duane, neither would write a cry baby book.

[@usernameinvalid2675]

@@Derrymcg maybe that’s what it is but at the same time Gregg let it all out very honest,even if he was a weak man with little fortitude,he was honest

[@blackace9406]

I wonder why he lied about his father's murder.

[@brendancasey5221]

Came here to say this as well

[@semmcstevenson]

I think because he didn’t want to go into DETAIL about it. Quick easy answer. And move on

[@greenman7612]

I think he mentioned it. But he didn’t elaborate. It was about the time of the Korean War.

[@Myfriendwaits]

It must be very very sad to lose your father because of some crazy dude for $2.50. It must have caused irreparable emotional damage to their family.. Greg probably would rather block it out.

[@MB-vu3ow]

Terrible Gregg died of hepatitis from getting a tattoo at Woodstock.

[@ledaswan5990]

Not really. That was part of it but Hep C is survivable if you take care of it and don’t drink and drug yourself to death on top of it.