I respect Dickeys contribution to the band as much as any fan but reading all the comments from the other band members about how difficult he was to work with I think they did the right thing sacking him from the band. If they hadn't IMHO the band would have died long ago and we would never have had the chance to see and hear the magic Derek and Warren weaved together all these years. But I do think it was cold not to invite him back for the last shows.

"Dickey Betts still rocking as Allman Brothers retire"

Well, he is still playing to very small crowds, kind of like rocking, only different.

He doesn't do Gregg Allman because he can't sing Gregg Allman songs.

F_ck Dickey for saying they became a tribute band when he left!!!! Hey Dickey, that what you call tribute band played your music far superior to the way your band has or does play it and don't forget whose name is part of the band's name.

Dickey may be playing to smaller crowds but he's playing his music. You know - the songs the ABB played all last week. 😉

Dickey may be playing to smaller crowds but he's playing his music. You know - the songs the ABB played all last week. 😉

Good for him. Seriously, right on. He is right where he belongs, playing in front of 150 faithful fans at every show. Hope is fans are digging it.

The ABB played ABB songs. They play them MUCH BETTER than DB & Great Southern. When Gregg plays with his solo band he doesn't play any DB songs. YET DB plays mostly ABB songs including covers that were made Famous by the ABB with Gregg on vocals.

So many have talked about how DB took "the high road" and never spoke ill of the others. That's BS and anyone who was paying attention when it went down knows it.

This interview really lowers my opinion (or confirms what I feared was true) regarding Dickey. Really...? an ABB tribute band is selling out decent sized theaters, hosting guests like Clapton and Headlining the Crossroads Festival while DB is lucky to sell out a free show in a small bar?

HE talks like the fans were only going to the shows for the "Brand Name" and not because the players are seriously that much better than Great Southern.

He thinks they messed up when they fired him. For real? The longest lived and arguably the 2nd best incarnation ever of the band was the result.

The ABB played ABB songs. They play them MUCH BETTER than DB & Great Southern. When Gregg plays with his solo band he doesn't play any DB songs. YET DB plays mostly ABB songs including covers that were made Famous by the ABB with Gregg on vocals.

So many have talked about how DB took "the high road" and never spoke ill of the others. That's BS and anyone who was paying attention when it went down knows it.

This interview really lowers my opinion (or confirms what I feared was true) regarding Dickey. Really...? an ABB tribute band is selling out decent sized theaters, hosting guests like Clapton and Headlining the Crossroads Festival while DB is lucky to sell out a free show in a small bar?

HE talks like the fans were only going to the shows for the "Brand Name" and not because the players are seriously that much better than Great Southern.

He thinks they messed up when they fired him. For real? The longest lived and arguably the 2nd best incarnation ever of the band was the result.

Well said.

And for years to come, on commercial TV (sports, commentary shows, etc) we will get to hear The Allmans WITH Dickey, playing stuff that Dickey wrote for background like Jessica and Ramblin' Man. They won't be playing High Cost of Low Living, sorry. So tout the last incarnation as the best. They ARE very good. But if you think the true mark of posterity Allmans on history will be the current (last) one, I doubt it. There is a difference between "your" favorite version, and the one that will be remembered over time for the music AND that music played for a wide (read non ABB) base of exposure. The mark of time on society and our culture that impacted most was that old band my friends.

So tout the last incarnation as the best. They ARE very good.

The best since 1969-71 & 1973 W/Chuck; they were and are so much better than DB and Great Southern on their best night. Not even close.

And for years to come, on commercial TV (sports, commentary shows, etc) we will get to hear The Allmans WITH Dickey, playing stuff that Dickey wrote for background like Jessica and Ramblin' Man. They won't be playing High Cost of Low Living, sorry. So tout the last incarnation as the best. They ARE very good. But if you think the true mark of posterity Allmans on history will be the current (last) one, I doubt it. There is a difference between "your" favorite version, and the one that will be remembered over time for the music AND that music played for a wide (read non ABB) base of exposure. The mark of time on society and our culture that impacted most was that old band my friends.

True. When most people think of the ABB they think of At Fillmore East, Eat a Peach, the first album, or even Brothers and Sisters.

I'm glad I got to see the ABB with DB before he was fired/kicked out, and that I took my mother to see them when he was still in the band and I was a teenager in the late 90s.

I also have seen DB&GS, and this was in 2003, and it was an excellent show. But I have friends who I grew up with going to shows with and they don't have any interest seeing DB&GS saying how they saw DB a few times in the late 90s with the ABB, and that was enough and they'd rather go see TTB or mule.

[Edited on 10/30/2014 by The_Newt]

[Edited on 10/30/2014 by The_Newt]

Love ya Dickey - and thanks for all the great music!

The ABB played ABB songs. They play them MUCH BETTER than DB & Great Southern. When Gregg plays with his solo band he doesn't play any DB songs. YET DB plays mostly ABB songs including covers that were made Famous by the ABB with Gregg on vocals.

...

Jimmy, I do appreciate where you're coming from.

I've said before any feud that exists between band members is their feud. I actually do not take one side or the other because none of it is any of my bidness.

You defend the ABB playing songs that Dickey wrote the lions share of saying that they played Allman Brothers songs - then turn around and say that Dickey plays mostly Allman Brothers songs in his shows. I have difficulty following this logic in discussion.

The Allman Brothers songs that Dickey plays in his shows are the songs that he wrote. He doesn't play Whippin Post, Dreams, Melissa or any of the songs that Gregg wrote. The argument that he doesn't play them because he can't sing them isn't a good one. He could hire a vocalist to sing these songs if needed - in the fashion that Warren sings Blue Sky in an ABB show.

Personally, I've been wishing that Dickey and the ABB could burry the hatchet (and not in each other's heads) for years. As much as I love the current (final?) version of the band - I'll always think of the Allman Brother's Band in terms of the original 7 - with Dickey and Duane out front.

Lastly, I've seen Dickey & GS twice in the past couple of years. The first show was a little sloppy (and I took heat for saying so). The most recent show found the band hittin the note in their own right. I can't see how anybody who is a fan of the Allman Brother's Band can't be a fan of Dickey Betts and Great Southern.

To each his own. Peace!

It's a great pity that the final version of the band will go down in history as high-quality interpreters of forty year-old material.

They are capable of so much more but, for one reason or another, couldn't/ wouldn't/ didn't.

The ABB played ABB songs. They play them MUCH BETTER than DB & Great Southern. When Gregg plays with his solo band he doesn't play any DB songs. YET DB plays mostly ABB songs including covers that were made Famous by the ABB with Gregg on vocals.

...

You defend the ABB playing songs that Dickey wrote the lions share of saying that they played Allman Brothers songs - then turn around and say that Dickey plays mostly Allman Brothers songs in his shows. I have difficulty following this logic in discussion. The Allman Brothers songs that Dickey plays in his shows are the songs that he wrote.

Statesboro Blues
One Way Out
Hoochie Coochie Man
You Don't Love me

I can't see how anybody who is a fan of the Allman Brother's Band can't be a fan of Dickey Betts and Great Southern.

One reason. Musicianship. Flat out, no comparison.

Well, well, well here we go again. Anything new here. Nope. Same good points being made espousing a variety of positions. Perhaps each of us is right. It is personal with this band. I only listen to live recordings from the last 5 or so years. I think this version of the band was the best. I am in a minority here but it is how I feel. Took a bunch of friends (casual fans) to see Dickey about 7 or 8 years ago. They had a great time, me not so much. About to go out for a run with my best of beacon playlist (2009 to 2014 march - october soon to added). Nothing better than that for me.

Feeling empty today. Keep coming back to this site.

I wish they would bury the hatchet too Rusty but they haven't yet.

Big V Just said much of what I was going to say.

You defend the ABB playing songs that Dickey wrote the lions share of saying that they played Allman Brothers songs - then turn around and say that Dickey plays mostly Allman Brothers songs in his shows. I have difficulty following this logic in discussion.

You would have to ask Mr. Betts because he is the one criticizing the ABB for playing ABB songs (yes specifically the ones that he wrote). But he seems to be making the point that they couldn't have gone on without HIS songs. And he is probably right. The problem is he apparently figured out that he couldn't make it on his songs alone so he had to borrow from the NON DB penned ABB catalogue to try to satisfy the fans. And I have no problem with that.

I know all his shows are not terrible, he's Dickey Betts. He always will be. But on their best nights Great Southern just doesn't compare to the last ABB in terms of musicianship.

I really try not to bad mouth one of my heroes but when he says stuff like he has here it bugs me.

He knows what happened and why. He also chose to get his lawyer involved instead of sitting out the Summer of 2000. The only sensible thing that was said back then came from a very unlikely source. And that was, "Listen to the ****** tapes." I did and they tell the story accurately.

I really try not to bad mouth one of my heroes but when he says stuff like he has here it bugs me.

You must be in a rage after listening to Butchie run his mouth over all the years! 😮 😉

I really try not to bad mouth one of my heroes but when he says stuff like he has here it bugs me.

You must be in a rage after listening to Butchie run his mouth over all the years! 😮 😉

I Love Butch. Even when he talks 😉

I've never agreed that Dickey always kept the high road. He was the first to go public denying any alcohol issues and basically calling his bandmates liars and throwing out some alternative theories of why he was sidelined for Herring for that tour. At that point the band had simply said "creative differences" and "we hope to have him back this Fall." Given, he was frustrated/hurt/shocked at the time but it was a very bad move if truly wanted back in the band after those Summer dates. He was passive/aggressive about his shots at the ABB over the years. This example is a little more direct.

Gregg & Butch were much more direct in their running down of their former partner since then and even Jaimoe made a couple public comments along the way that indicated he felt it was Dickey's fault he wasn't in the band.

I always wish they would just say "We made great music together with Dickey and we are making great music together now. We are better off separate. We wish him well," but they aren't that good of diplomats!

As for the Bett-penned ABB music the ABB played. I was glad they did! They played the ones Gregg sang and instrumentals (that 3-5 current bandmembers had originally recorded and songs all 7 of them in the final lineup had performed live in the ABB dating to the 90s). Only Blue Sky in certain years and Seven Turns this year were Dickey vocal tunes (Dickey sang Southbound in later years but not originally). I was personally glad to hear them and they were well done.

Though I was very skeptical and initially sad about the ABB continuing without Dickey, I'm glad they did. And they carried the legacy well.

Without the weight of the Allman Brothers around them, I could see Jaimoe and Dickey playing together at some point as a one off. I would love to see it. I could be wrong.

[Edited on 10/31/2014 by hotlantatim]

He doesn't do Gregg Allman because he can't sing Gregg Allman songs.

The point was that he can do a show with his own material & doesn't have to rely on Gregg's tunes...

I don't to many people are upset that they didn't hear melissa or midnight rider at one of his show's...

Dreams or whippin post might be a different story... however if you go to an abb show & dont get a liz reed or jessica or nobody left to run with....well?

So tout the last incarnation as the best. They ARE very good.

The best since 1969-71 & 1973 W/Chuck; they were and are so much better than DB and Great Southern on their best night. Not even close.

my opinion but I think the where it all begins era with Betts/Haynes/Woody was better than the final version... Warren & Derek are great players, Oteil as well... but to me they never had the emotional level as in the past.

So tout the last incarnation as the best. They ARE very good.

The best since 1969-71 & 1973 W/Chuck; they were and are so much better than DB and Great Southern on their best night. Not even close.

my opinion but I think the where it all begins era with Betts/Haynes/Woody was better than the final version... Warren & Derek are great players, Oteil as well... but to me they never had the emotional level as in the past.

I must concur. i witnessed some shows with Dickey and Woody at The Beacon. I thought the Lodge was going to cave and disintegrate.

my opinion but I think the where it all begins era with Betts/Haynes/Woody was better than the final version... Warren & Derek are great players, Oteil as well... but to me they never had the emotional level as in the past.

I must concur. i witnessed some shows with Dickey and Woody at The Beacon. I thought the Lodge was going to cave and disintegrate.

No way in L!
Blasphemy I Tell ya'!!! 😮 😮

Nobody should be surprised that Dickey is still hurt and wounded over being removed from the ABB. I don't know how you could expect otherwise.

However, I don't think anybody can look at the last 13 years with any objectivity and say the ABB "messed up" by letting Dickey go. In retrospect, it seems to have been a very wise decision that turned out better than any reasonable person could have hoped.

I can't speak for anyone else, but this version of the band lasted longer, sounded better, and accomplished more than I ever imagine they would in my wildest dreams. The fact that they were not only able to survive without Dickey, but thrive, is pretty remarkable in hindsight.

Of course, maybe that is what makes Dickey so salty about the whole thing. I honestly feel that he expected them to fail without him, and maybe he is a little pissed off that they didn't.

I do not deny that sending Dickey on his merry way was the right thing to do. The title of this thread pertains to Dickey "still rocking as the ABB retire". My only comments were to support the fact that not only is he still playing - he is playing the part of the ABB catalog that HE wrote.

I don't know what Dickey's personal feelings are or how bad he feels the hurt of not being part of the final show. I have read very specific comments from other members of the ABB over the years while Dickey has kept his feelings to himself. The two interview pieces cited in the first post of this thread are dated 10/29/14. It seems that Dickey waited until the ABB was over before making any statement. Depending on how you look at it, this was at least semi-classy of him. He hasn't talked the band down publicly in all this time (that I am aware of).

I love the most recent incarnation of the Allman Brother's Band. As a fan who cut his teeth on the originals, I have fondness for Dickey Betts also. That some "fans" can speak so harshly of Dickey - yet applaud when the ABB play Blue Sky, Jessica or Liz Reed ... strikes me as just a tad hypocritical.

I plan to attend any Dickey & Great Southern show within reasonable distance of my neck of the woods. I sure hope to see a bunch of y'all at those shows.

Gotta love the haters.

After 10/28/14 this whole thing is a non issue. We should all just forget about it…it seems no one will change their mind about how they feel, so why are we debating it.What a waste of time.

Just enjoy what you want and ignore the rest.

Mitch

my opinion but I think the where it all begins era with Betts/Haynes/Woody was better than the final version... Warren & Derek are great players, Oteil as well... but to me they never had the emotional level as in the past.

I must concur. i witnessed some shows with Dickey and Woody at The Beacon. I thought the Lodge was going to cave and disintegrate.

No way in L!
Blasphemy I Tell ya'!!! 😮 😮

In the 90's we had Fire Marshall Bill gettin down with us in L ! 😛 😛

Nobody should be surprised that Dickey is still hurt and wounded over being removed from the ABB. I don't know how you could expect otherwise.

However, I don't think anybody can look at the last 13 years with any objectivity and say the ABB "messed up" by letting Dickey go. In retrospect, it seems to have been a very wise decision that turned out better than any reasonable person could have hoped.

I can't speak for anyone else, but this version of the band lasted longer, sounded better, and accomplished more than I ever imagine they would in my wildest dreams. The fact that they were not only able to survive without Dickey, but thrive, is pretty remarkable in hindsight.

Of course, maybe that is what makes Dickey so salty about the whole thing. I honestly feel that he expected them to fail without him, and maybe he is a little pissed off that they didn't.

Rob,

Please do not take this a an attack but what major accomplishment did they achieve in the 14 years? One Studio album (of which they did not really touch during this last beacon run) & maybe 30-40 shows max per year & half of those at the beacon were we know they are going to sell out regardless of personnel? The 90's ABB put out three pretty good cd's and put on some hellafied shows... to me that seems like more of a productive timespan