"But I feel like I did my work, and I'm not gonna do anything that's gonna top what I'm known for. So why don't you just stay home?"
Well someone has to answer that. People still want to hear ya play Dickey, that's why. You don't have to top yourself or create something so incredible people will be speechless for the rest of the night after they hear it and be talking about it for years. You proved all that already. What's left is, enjoying yourself, playing your music, playing for yourself and for the people who like to come out to hear it. Since finances are not an issue anymore, you don't have to play 5,000 seat halls. Come out to places where you have people who want to hear you and just enjoy that. Is it really less of an accomplishment to make a couple of hundred people happy than to play 5,000 seat halls? Joy is joy no matter how many people are benefitting from it.
If you want to sit home and just not play shows anymore, nobody will fault you for it, everybody is allowed to retire, but I think your band could open for Mule, or Derek & Susan, you could have other jam bands with any number of different people playing. Don't feel like it's a snub to your dignity to now be an opening act, because you have been a star with a world re-knowned band.
Once you have hit the pinnacle of your career, what comes next is just enjoying yourself without the strain of worrying over finances, or any of the other stuff that happens while you are making your way to the top (failed/ruined relationships from the rigors of touring, cheating spouses/lovers, problems with taxes, royalties, managers, egos in the bands etc. etc.). all that bullshit is done.
If you want to come out and play, people will still enjoy it.
[Edited on 11/26/2017 by gina]
Appreciate your sentiments here, Gina, and I largely share them. I, too, wish Dickey would destroy the assumption that his playing will be under appreciated should he choose to start up again.
That said, I do admire and respect the enormously high standard of musicianship he holds himself to --- realistic at this stage of his life or not.
Met Joe Frazier when he was in his 60's. Never told him he should put the gloves on again. Didn't go on a net forum and say how he doesn't have it anymore. Didn't say anything to him I would not say to his face. At 60 plus his grip was strong and he could have decked me still. Stupid comparison, right? No. Guitar playing goes from the brain, to the nervous system, electrical impulse to muscles, and then the muscles act. It involves physicality. Muscle condition, bone condition, nerve response, and yes, that mental part. Should a musician be as good at 60 or 70 as 30? Aging says maybe it is harder. I find the people waiting on a Dickey thread to post how skills are gone displays more about their range of kindness than Dickey ability. I was good at boxing, not great. To me, one must be great to dis the greats. Otherwise you are just a critic. We know the value of that role.
Haaa, good boxing analogy....In his prime Smokin' Joe had a wicked Philadelphia left hook....And he probably still had it well into his 60's!!
As far as Dickey, he "owes no one nothing" to use a double negative. If the man wants to enjoy his golden years in relative peace/quiet/anonymity he certainly has more than earned it....The hard way....And if he's smart enough to realize he wouldn't be able to deliver like he used to, then it takes a lot of guts to leave it lay.
God Bless and long live Dickey Betts!!
The man has earned retirement. I agree.
Selfishly, I'd love for him to set up in his hometown and do a show a month (or a couple over a weekend a few times a year). An acoustic gig where he brings in guests to play with him. You know he could attract absolutely great players. I'd absolutely make a road trip down to see that.
Great read. As far as the notion that Dickey should not play ABB stuff at his shows , Dickey plays (for the most part) the tunes that HE wrote. No "Whippin Post" - no "Dreams" , etc. He gave birth to that music and it will always be his to perform at his discretion.
I saw two Dickey shows in recent years. One of them was (for me) like watching a good cover band. The second show - he and the band were more rehearsed and practiced and they knocked it outta the park!
shame he didn't get the opportunity to take that last solo on Gregg's final album.
What you wrote is correct ... except in this day & age of youtube / twitter etc... one wrong note or forgotten lyric is reported as a trainwreck... I know he probably doesn't care much about all that but it does unfortunately happen.
"But I feel like I did my work, and I'm not gonna do anything that's gonna top what I'm known for. So why don't you just stay home?"
Well someone has to answer that. People still want to hear ya play Dickey, that's why. You don't have to top yourself or create something so incredible people will be speechless for the rest of the night after they hear it and be talking about it for years. You proved all that already. What's left is, enjoying yourself, playing your music, playing for yourself and for the people who like to come out to hear it. Since finances are not an issue anymore, you don't have to play 5,000 seat halls. Come out to places where you have people who want to hear you and just enjoy that. Is it really less of an accomplishment to make a couple of hundred people happy than to play 5,000 seat halls? Joy is joy no matter how many people are benefitting from it.
If you want to sit home and just not play shows anymore, nobody will fault you for it, everybody is allowed to retire, but I think your band could open for Mule, or Derek & Susan, you could have other jam bands with any number of different people playing. Don't feel like it's a snub to your dignity to now be an opening act, because you have been a star with a world re-knowned band.
Once you have hit the pinnacle of your career, what comes next is just enjoying yourself without the strain of worrying over finances, or any of the other stuff that happens while you are making your way to the top (failed/ruined relationships from the rigors of touring, cheating spouses/lovers, problems with taxes, royalties, managers, egos in the bands etc. etc.). all that bullshit is done.
If you want to come out and play, people will still enjoy it.
[Edited on 11/26/2017 by gina]
What you wrote is correct ... except in this day & age of youtube / twitter etc... one wrong note or forgotten lyric is reported as a trainwreck... I know he probably doesn't care much about all that but it does unfortunately happen.
"But I feel like I did my work, and I'm not gonna do anything that's gonna top what I'm known for. So why don't you just stay home?"
Well someone has to answer that. People still want to hear ya play Dickey, that's why. You don't have to top yourself or create something so incredible people will be speechless for the rest of the night after they hear it and be talking about it for years. You proved all that already. What's left is, enjoying yourself, playing your music, playing for yourself and for the people who like to come out to hear it. Since finances are not an issue anymore, you don't have to play 5,000 seat halls. Come out to places where you have people who want to hear you and just enjoy that. Is it really less of an accomplishment to make a couple of hundred people happy than to play 5,000 seat halls? Joy is joy no matter how many people are benefitting from it.
If you want to sit home and just not play shows anymore, nobody will fault you for it, everybody is allowed to retire, but I think your band could open for Mule, or Derek & Susan, you could have other jam bands with any number of different people playing. Don't feel like it's a snub to your dignity to now be an opening act, because you have been a star with a world re-knowned band.
Once you have hit the pinnacle of your career, what comes next is just enjoying yourself without the strain of worrying over finances, or any of the other stuff that happens while you are making your way to the top (failed/ruined relationships from the rigors of touring, cheating spouses/lovers, problems with taxes, royalties, managers, egos in the bands etc. etc.). all that bullshit is done.
If you want to come out and play, people will still enjoy it.
[Edited on 11/26/2017 by gina]
Old man time has never (to follow the boxing thread above) lost a match. The musicians all age. Paul McCartney does almost three straight hrs - he's a medical marvel - but every year his voice ages and cracks more.
I saw Willie Mays hit a home his first game at Shea as a met in 1973. It sort of just went out with a touch of angel's breath behind . I deluded myself. When he tripped and fell in the outfield in the World Series later that season as one sportswriter put it "an entire generation got old today."
So the call is up to Dickey. My concert expectations are not what they used to be. I was on line to see John McLaughlin & Jimmy Herring last month (great show by the way) and an old time fan next to me said how excited he was for 6 months prior to the show Hell; if I buy tickets 6 mos before a show and both myself and the artist are alive for showtime I consider that a good concert
I also think Gregg's passing hasn't really been accepted yet in most of us yet. We know it happened, we experienced it in our own individual ways, but it is still a shock, and for musicians like Dickey, that is a big thing to really comprehend and incorporate into your psyche. After that to think, where do I go from here? The safe answer is, just retire, because there is no way to get the former band back together, Butch and Gregg are gone. But the others are still here, and even more who love and would do justice to and with the music if he chooses to just try and see where it takes him. Devon is determined that the music will go on, and he is doing his part. So are others. Dickey can take all the time he needs, if and when he comes out to play some more, people will enjoy that.
One of the more satisfying of all post Brother shows played by Dickey was at the Iridium in NYC with Kris Jenson and David Stoltz on a Les Paul Monday night . That type of setting and band would be something that could work for Dickey. Add Jaimoe and Junior Mack to that band and you would really have something special .
Richard/Dickey can do whatever he wants. He's earned his retirement and deserves it.
I feel bad for the people who never got to see him play live with the brothers, or any of his side bands like great southern.
Found four shows from 1990 on YouTube and two things stuck out to me that I didn't recall from the 5 or 6 shows I witnessed in 1990.
One was how out of sync Johnny Neal's piano solos often are. Often he would go up on top and play a barrel roll honky tonk type piano solo that was never in the groove and context of the song including Statesboro Blues. If this was typical of Johnny then I understand why he was dropped after the 1990 tour. The band said Gregg objected to Johnny being dropped but the other original members voted to return to the original band configuration of one keyboard player, twin guitars and drums and bass.
The second was how much more powerful Dickey's playing was than Warren's playing. I remember Jaimoe being interviewed about the band in 1990 and specifically was asked about Warren's playing and Jaimoe was very positive. But he added that Warren is still developing and finding his voice and that he ain't no Betts. Jaimoe said Dickey is a M** F**." Just listen to his tone and his licks".
By the mid 90s things had changed. Warren kept getting better and better and Dickey was hit and miss. You hoped Dickey would have a good night because it seemed the way it went for Dickey, the way it went for the entire band.
But when Dickey is playing like he often did in 1989 and the early 90s, in the context of the way the Allman Brothers sound, Warren and Derek we're not his match. You have to play the original band with Duane Allman on your CD player to do that.
One was how out of sync Johnny Neal's piano solos often are. Often he would go up on top and play a barrel roll honky tonk type piano solo that was never in the groove and context of the song including Statesboro Blues.
Thank you. I could never figure out why JN was in the band. Out of synch, key, call it what you like, not a good fit.
gpm and I listened to Pattern Disruptive on the way back from Mc?aughlin/Herring in New Orleans.
Still a great sounding recording.
Jaimoe said Dickey is a M** F**." Just listen to his tone and his licks".
Truer words have never been spoken.
Some interesting news from Dickey's management today.....might not make any official works come to light, but I'd stay tuned.
Some interesting news from Dickey's management today.....might not make any official works come to light, but I'd stay tuned.
Rather than be cryptic and keep everyone in suspense, I'll elaborate for y'all.
David Spero, Dickey's manager, wrote on Facebook today:
"this is a huge what if....but what if Dickey Betts decided to place 10 cities.....what should they be?"
[Edited on 12/5/2017 by porkchopbob]
fell off me chair...........
One of the ten shows should be at my house.
I wonder if that Rolling Stone article has stirred up some interest. ...or if the article was written in order to stir some interest. Either wsy, Dickey has as much claim to the ABB legacy as anybody. The last couple of times I was able to see him live, the shows weren't pretty, but if he plays within a 2 hour radius oF my home, I wouldn't miss it.
if he plays within a 2 hour radius oF my home, I wouldn't miss it.
Yeah, I would make the drive to hear "Long time gone"....& "Let nature sing"
Really, all he needs to do is pack up a couple of acoustics and a sound system and he could hit the road. The songs and his playing stand on their own. And with his knowledge and history of music he could pull quite a few gems out of his hat to play.
Some interesting news from Dickey's management today.....might not make any official works come to light, but I'd stay tuned.
Rather than be cryptic and keep everyone in suspense, I'll elaborate for y'all.
David Spero, Dickey's manager, wrote on Facebook today:
"this is a huge what if....but what if Dickey Betts decided to place 10 cities.....what should they be?"
[Edited on 12/5/2017 by porkchopbob]
If this even ever happens, well we'll just have to wait and see. But personally I would not hold my breath.
Made the paper.
It'd be a beautiful thing. Mr. Betts is the real deal, Genuine since '69 (and prior).
Seven Turns from the 2014 tour
Ramblin' Man
Blue Sky
................................
[Edited on 12/6/2017 by Fretsman]
That would be a dream Long Island 
New York
Maybe my house ——> rainys 
http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20171206/dickey-betts-to-make-announcement-dec-12
Dickey Betts to make announcement Dec. 12
Retired rock legend and Sarasota County resident will divulge decision about returning to road on his birthday
SARASOTA COUNTY — Dickey Betts, the Allman Brothers Band guitarist, songwriter and singer who has been living in retirement for the past three years, will make an announcement regarding future touring on his upcoming 74th birthday.
“Dickey and I have had many discussions over the last few years about him playing again,” said David Spero, Betts’ longtime manager. “After Gregg Allman’s passing, his interests were heading elsewhere. Since the Rolling Stone interview, I have received interest from a few promoters which I passed on to Dickey. The fans’ interest has also had a big impact on him. We have agreed to make a decision on December 12, his birthday. See you then!”
Dickey Betts to make announcement Dec. 12
Retired rock legend and Sarasota County resident will divulge decision about returning to road on his birthday
SARASOTA COUNTY — Dickey Betts, the Allman Brothers Band guitarist, songwriter and singer who has been living in retirement for the past three years, will make an announcement regarding future touring on his upcoming 74th birthday.
“Dickey and I have had many discussions over the last few years about him playing again,” said David Spero, Betts’ longtime manager. “After Gregg Allman’s passing, his interests were heading elsewhere. Since the Rolling Stone interview, I have received interest from a few promoters which I passed on to Dickey. The fans’ interest has also had a big impact on him. We have agreed to make a decision on December 12, his birthday. See you then!”
Sounds promising! I threw Buffalo, NY in to the ring responding to Spero's post. Fingers crossed!
If Dickey just wants to retire than that's fine but if he's saying that because doesn't feel he would be able to top anything he'd done before, then that principle would limit most older musicians including Gregg for one. But as Gregg himself proved, you don't have to top anything just ensure that you keep the integrity of what you do and the rest will follow. Jaimoe is still doing great stuff as was Butch until his tragic demise. It just seems unbalanced to me that Mr. Betts is not out there too. His contribution to the whole shebang stands alongside anybody's. So unless age has caught up with his playing over and above that of other band members, I hope he can find the self confidence to give himself the opportunity to feel the undoubted love that would come his way from a 200 -800 strong audience. Nobody expects him to stand there playing IMOER & High Falls for hours on end. A trip to his own back catalogue and few DB ABB tunes would just fine. I just hope he still has it in him for that because a life without music for Dickey cannot be the best way to end his days.....
Gonna throw in my .02 here.... Is this for love of the music?...or for the $$?..In this case it would make a difference for me...I've always thought an acoustic show with another famous performer would rock. The two of them would play songs and tell stories, talk to the crowd and laugh. Dickey with Fogerty, Rossington or Gibbons would be spectacular! Two chairs, two guitars and away we go.....I would travel for a show like that....Small halls and history.
If it's just Dickey and a cast of players hitting "Ramblin' Man" and "Jessica"......No thanks!
C' Mon Dickey, just imagine the fun.
