Still so sad. I can't imagine how his bandmates must have felt and must still feel, the many "What ifs" that linger.

More and more I just play the old music and let the personal stuff fall to dust. Musical hero's are best looked at through musical lenses.

It was exciting to have Butch posting his thoughts and answering our questions from the early to mid 90's up to about 2013. Butch seemed to have disappeared toward the end. Probably had a lot on his mind.

I surprised Butch from time to time as he thought I was a band insider using a fake name. Actually I got into broadcasting in 1966 and after being talked into seeing the band in early 1970 at age 24, I was instantly hooked. Hearing their first album didn't flip my switch but the live show did and suddenly I had to have my own copy.

Being in rock radio I got access to the stage at certain shows and had opportunities to talk to band members.

Capricorn records had their promo men and they would have some inside info but some of it was not entirely correct when Butch heard it. Capricorn and me too was anxious to get tracks from Eat A Peach on the radio. I was able to interview Dickey on the phone then later in person about Blue Sky and Eat A Peach. Dickey and Butch both praised Melissa. In 1986 I ask Dickey again about Melissa and pointed out his volume swells. Dickey said " Yeah I do that some. You know Melissa is a fine piece of music. I enjoy hearing it myself".

It was Butch who told me that is Berry Oakley laughing on Black Hearted Woman and Butch himself laughing at the end of Pony Boy. That Jaimoe is the only drummer on Standback on Eat A Peach. Butch plays percussion. On several studio tracks Jaimoe plays on percussion and Butch is the only drummer. Butch said it seemed to fit Jaimoe's style so well that he wanted Jaimoe to have one where he is the main time keeper.

Well I could keep going but Butch knew best about the original lineup. Sometimes Gregg or Dickey couldn't remember or gof it wrong. There is a 1981 interview where Dickey is asked a lot of questions about Fillmore East. The guy wanted to know who solos first on Whipping Post and Dickey said he soloed first and Duane second as best he could remember and the long track on Fillmore East is Mountain Jam but the guy told Dickey Mountain Jam was on Eat A Peach. Butch didnt make those kind of mistakes. Butch confirmed what Dickey said about the backing vocals on Revival. It's all 6 of them and same with Black Hearted Woman on the chant you hear with the guitars. Butch said the original lineup only lasted 2 1/2 years but what a ride and Butch delighted at how they would just take off in a song and go completely off the rails with no idea how they would come back and no concern about a train wreck. Butch was trying to get the Freight Train band to take bold chances like that.

So many special and talented people commit suicide. Butch was both. Wish he were still here.

Thanks Blackey.

Musical hero's are best looked at through musical lenses.

Yes. I certainly agree with this overall. But when you know them, you know them.

Nassau Coliseum, Spring 1973: My first ABB show. Had listened to the Fillmore but had no idea what I was in for. The ABB were a powerhouse band at that time, just becoming nationally known. The show was anything about Allman...It was Betts, and Leavell, and Butch and Jaimoe and Lamar. Everyone heard of Gregg but what caught my eye was how good this band was; Butch and Jaimoe did a fabulous drum solo, and if I recall correctly it was in Les Brers in A Minor. The lights were synced to Butch and Jaimoe taking turns and I will never forget the power and melody those drummers wove.

Butch was apparently a character (I guess they all were) but man could that man drive the Allman Brothers Band. RIP

The lights were synced to Butch and Jaimoe taking turns and I will never forget the power and melody those drummers wove.

"Melody" always comes to mind when I think of Butch and Jaimoe, glad I'm not the only one. The Ludlow "Mountain Jam" drum solo really blew my mind when it comes to how percussion can created a melody. And they were just kids then.

Great thread.

Yeah I miss Butch as well. He and Jaimoe were pretty unorthodox drummers. Might be one reason they worked so good together. I used to focus on he and Jaimoe at their shows being a drummer too.

I always got a kick out of Butch when he moved to the timpani drums and started stepping in place. It always brought a smile to my face and still does when I think about it.

Long live the Allman Brothers Band!

The logical thing given the published circumstances surrounding his death would have been to say, okay, we cannot afford this place now, can we sell it, pay off the effin' IRS and just get something small we can afford? If there would have been nothing left over to get another place to live, yes he could have asked Derek and Susan and ABB folks to help out. Just get something small and affordable, but logic and emotion are not in synchrony in times of crisis. He seems to have felt he was going to lose it all and there was nothing he could do, because there would be no more Beacon runs.

It is hard to step outside yourself and problems and get a grip and make a plan to emerge from BIG problems like that.

Dickey said "love is all that remains the same" in Seven Turns. It is true, when all else is gone or lost, love remains when you have that. If you don't have that, then your faith has to sustain you, but it's been said Butch did not believe in God, so he may have felt alone and terrified of the future.

There is nothing anybody could do, unless he came to them and allowed them to give their input/help and then consider it. Even though there were many who cared, he just couldn't get past the feelings he had.

He could have did a go fund me fundraiser, musicians from everywhere would have helped. But that only would have helped with logistics, not with the emotionality of what was going on.

Man I miss Butch. The man was genuine and loved us fans.

:DGood posts - the length & breadth of his playing throughout his whole career - the country type rock in BHLT - the fusion-or-whatever jazz of Croakin’, & personally, after almost every listen, “Butchy was hardly ever better than this” invariably comes to mind - it’s practically my favorite ABB solo album

The sit ins w/bands like moe. - Freight Train, Les Brers.......

Great comment about the musicality of his & Jaimoe’s playing
I’d be curious to know if it was the first time playing w/another drummer for them, at the March 1969 jam at Butch’s house

Discovering what they’d stumbled upon at that jam must have been enlightening & more for Butch & Jaimoe - their playing really might’ve been the spark of the whole thing
RIP bro

The lights were synced to Butch and Jaimoe taking turns and I will never forget the power and melody those drummers wove.

"Melody" always comes to mind when I think of Butch and Jaimoe, glad I'm not the only one. The Ludlow "Mountain Jam" drum solo really blew my mind when it comes to how percussion can created a melody. And they were just kids then.

It definitely gave the ABB a sound others didn't have. I thought it was as good as could be and then I saw them after Marc joined. He was the perfect addition and once that trio was in place and in motion. I think they were a song all by themselves if you pulled everyone else out of the mix.

Thanks for posting this Alan. Blackey, your thoughts are very nice. Met Butch a couple of times. He showed up at one of The Beacon parties years ago. Very kind of him. Around the same time I was in the front row at The Beacon and after the show he walked to the front of the stage and handed me one of his drumsticks. I have a few set lists that a roadie or sound guy gave to me but for Butch to give that to me was something. Just a piece of wood I guess but really neat.

Regarding Marc, from what I read, Butch was the one that wanted him. Recruited him from Spyro Gyra of all things. Marc didn't know who the ABB were. Genius move. Marc added so much to the band.

I would say RIP, But Butch wasn't quiet!! His personality was as huge as his drum sound. keep pounding those drums in heaven Freight Train.

That is right. When Butch went back stage and said to Marc " I'm going to steal you for the Allman Brothers Band". And Marc said "What band is that".

I think it was similar with Otiel. When they were told about the band they realised they had heard Ramblin'Man and Jessica before but that was it.

This had me thinking about the dark and tragic side of the ABB.

Shep's account removes the glamour. Hadn't read it in years.

Duane lived fast, died young. Was in rough shape, relatively speaking, for his age,
Pills, drink, sniffing glue, doing speed...for years...and that was before heroin.
Recall Mama A's comment to Galadrielle about Duane
being a juvenile delinquent and on the wrong path except for music. Thank god
he had that and she supported Gregg and Duane.

Then Gregg feeling terrible for lying to Duane and for not taking
Berry to the hospital after his accident....add growing up on the road surrounded
by temptations... Lucky to have made it out the other side before he passed.
A lifetime of addictions.

Butch, taking his life

Berry died young, never having lived past Duane's loss.

Twiggs. Duanesburg.

Dickey rambled on but certainly went over the deep end.
Pulling knives on your bandmates.... And not just Woody...drinking...
He's lucky to have made it this far.

Seems like the only one who didn't go over the edge from
choices was Jaimoe, but he lost everything, when the band tanked,
and then the auto accident.

The rock n roll life wasn't exactly kind to these guys.

Notice Derek's careful choices.

RIP BT, friends, and family.

I have had a few close friends go that same dark place that Butch went with the same outcome. Did not see it coming in either of the 3 instances. Sad.

Need to fire up LAFE tonight for sure.

Hopefully Butch's soul is at peace. Thanks for your post Alan.

I only wish that Dickey & Butch could have made some kind of peace... just to keep that unbroken circle strong.