Not much action here on the DA page. So I thought I would throw something out there. What would Duane be doing these days? Who he be playing with? Who would he be listening to? We will never know but its fun to contemplate.
Well... If Duane did not die on Oct 29, 1971, Berry would not have died a year later. Gregg, probably, wouldn't have gotten so into drugs and alcohol and may not have developed liver cancer. Dickey Betts would, probably, not have gotten to be such a detriment to the ABB and would, probably, not have been fired. Butch Trucks would have been in a different position and, probably, would not have blown his own brains out. So... I have come to the conclusion that the Allman Brothers Band would have been making amazing music all these years and would, probably, still be together in 2020.
Probably a lot of jazz. He had the band perform the Coltrane-influenced "My Favorite Things" at Gatlinburg and once for an audience who'd never heard of them ( https://allmanbrothersband.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=XForum&file=viewthread&tid=29768#pid ) ; "Dreams" was his homage to Coltrane; his bird sounds were a salute to Charlie Parker (
); he recorded an album with Herbie Mann.
Listen to the radio program where he played some of his favorite music, and how he enthused about Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Go to https://duaneallman.info/duaneinterviews.htm and pick the second interview (easy to find!)
I don't think he would have abandoned his other roots, but I think he would have featured jazz much more in the band's music.
Billastro
[Edited on 4/1/2020 by Billastro]
Agreed Bill, I think Duane would’ve been all over the fusion movement when it came along & would’ve dived more-so into jazz than b4 - of course he loved Coltrane, Bird - the band in its early days was all over the Lifetime album Emergency!, Mahavishnu’s The Inner Mounting Flame, Rahsaan Roland Kirk etc etc - he would’ve really dug Al DeMeola, bands like Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, music like that
whether or not all this would’ve included the ABB, who knows, but the band almost certainly would’ve stayed intact thru all of it
as you said in the 73 years ago today thread, “Duane may have died in 1971 but his music & influence will last forever”
Knocking everybody's socks off!
Billastro
He would probably be sitting on his porch, in a rocking chair, looking out at the east Tennessee mountains, and complaining "Damn, my liver hurts."
Whatever he would have been doing, he could have thought he had given an unequalled lifetimes worth of music to the world before he was 25. I forgot my peach pie this year.
He would probably be sitting on his porch, in a rocking chair, looking out at the east Tennessee mountains, and complaining "Damn, my liver hurts."
I don't mean to pee on anybody's Corn Flakes or anything, but if the motorcycle hadn't gotten him his lifestyle might have taken him in due time. By many accounts, his hair was thinning and his teeth were starting to go. All of this way too early for a young man.
I like to imagine what Duane's musical aspirations and attainments might've been as much as any other devout fan. Had he gained sobriety and cleaned up his reckless attitude and behavior there's no telling where or what direction his tastes might have gone. In his last interview (Creem magazine) he cited Cat Stevens as someone who he admired and wanted to play with. I can't imagine that he would have limited his choices to any specific style.
To urinate on your breakfast further - I'm pretty sure that the Allman Brother's Band would have ended much sooner than it did. I can see 40 and 50 year reunion shows, but I don't think they would have chugged on into the next millennium. I never met Duane Allman but he doesn't seem to have been the type to sit back on his laurels or past accomplishments.
🤙🙂don’t really see it that way Rusty, he’d sobered up in Buffalo & once he experienced that 1st full wave of success into 1972 w/EAP etc, I think it would’ve motivated him not to let it go to their heads & let’s keep working/rehearsing etc - as you said he wouldn’t have let them rest on their laurels etc - that didn’t happen in his absence, Understandably - his loss hit on so many levels...
regarding his reckless attitude & behavior, Willie Perkins said in his book that “I do believe that had he lived Duane would have outgrown his drug use. He was too strong & too smart to let anything control him for long”
ironically, that same thing (reckless attitude/behavior) is what got Dickey fired in 2000 - so it’s all a mystery!🍄👁
ABB forever
Interestingly enough, I had a dream about Duane a few weeks ago. I dreamt that he and Gregg appeared on Conan O'Brian to promote a 50th anniversary album.(I think this was suppose to be the Trouble No More album) During the interview, old Duane talked about how he survived his motorcycle accident and that it changed his life. It was a strange dream, but a cool one, and I like to think I glimpsed into another universe or something.
So based on my dream, I like to think that's what Duane would be up to. I'm with Stephen, I think Duane would've gotten himself and the others clean. Maybe he would've been inspired to get clean after his accident. He probably would've experimented and fused different kinds of music together, and he would've played with other great guitarists, like Slash or Jimmy Page.
As far as the band goes, they probably would've released records/toured together on and off, and eventually started doing reunion shows. I like to think the boys would've gotten together privately to have fun jam sessions, get togethers, etc.
Freelance artist by daylight, music lover also by daylight.
