This is from an old live album I got in 1974. It went gold. The two guitarist later were with Alice Cooper. This is audio only but it gets better and better as you listen.

It was recorded live at a club Howard Stern owned in New York City and a lot of very freaky people there. Don't leave with a chick like a friend of mine did. When he unwrapped the package later it was a man. That was cool with my friend except that was a deal that was very uncomfortable for him.

The Academy of Music was owned by Howard Stein. Not fart-man Howard Stern. I believe it changed names relatively shortly after the Rock 'n' Roll Animal album was recorded and became The Palladium. There were other videos on Youtube of that lineup performing live. Great players. One of my favorite live albums.

Got to see Les a couple of times at the Keystone Berkeley back in 1977-79 thanks to my best friend and I obtaining non-accurate I.D.'s down on University Avenue.

tcatanesi how was Les? I've never seen him but did buy two of his Columbia solo albums in the late 1970's. Only because I noticed the name of the Brothers and Sisters inset with track credits and a friend saw him with Boz Scaggs and thought he is real good including slide.

Dickey liked him too but Butch and Gregg did not. Supposedly because after first meeting with Dickey and Phil Walden sometime in 1972, he felt so strongly that Dickey wanted to work with him and not in the initial discussions in a new band because Dickey wasnt sure the ABB would stay together after Duane died, but IN the ABB as they all agreed to tour in support of Eat A Peach but Gregg, Berry and Butch couldn't do it with a replacement for Duane. After that tour Dickey again was talking to Les and Les began to tell people he got the gig with the ABB. This angered Gregg and Butch so Phil Walden called him in and Phil and Les agreed to terminate Les' contract. At that time, most of the band was opposed to replacing Duane. To take some of the solonload off Dickey, they all liked Chuck so he was hired. Chuck said Berry Oakley was the most excited to have him in the band. Then shortly after it was over between Gregg and Cher, Les Dudek lived with Cher for awhile. I always figured those two things were why Les was never invited to anything ABB other than occasionally playing golf with Dickey.

Sorry about the error Zambi. I had a guy and girl friends back then who were heavy into Alice Cooper and later Lou Reed and apparently they were mistaken about Howard Stern the shock jock owening that club. Or I misunderstood them. Sometime later another guy I knew met a chick at that place and she turned out to be a he. But nobody got mad. They laughed about it and it was just a misunderstanding. Apparently it was rather typical for that particular venue and the guy I knew was there as a roadie and wasnt in the know.

Thanks for posting that live Old Judge Jones! Smoking Hot! Say No More which that tune is from is a very good record. Notes say the video is 2009, I did see Les around that time frame, he was good. I remember he did a great Jessica.

I'm virtually certain that Les for all his talents never played with the ABB after Brothers and Sisters were recorded, so... not happening.

I'm virtually certain that Les for all his talents never played with the ABB after Brothers and Sisters were recorded, so... not happening.

I was thinking along those lines as well.... I don't think from a fans point of view there would be much interest in that.

I guess the assumption is that Warren would be present for any future ABB endeavors... so the role that really would need to be filled is the Dickey slot... my opinion would be for Duane Betts to take it on... he and Warren seem to gel fairly well in the few videos I have seen... and it would be a natural way to keep the circle unbroken.

[Edited on 4/24/2020 by redhouse1969]

Yeah Gregg and Butch got angry at Les for assuming he was replacing Duane Allman. Gregg and Butch and perhaps some of the others too didn't want anyone to even think about replacing Duane. It would be a one guitar band.

I remember Danny Toler and later Warren saying that when they were ready to go back to two lead guitars, they didnt want them to try to sound like Duane. That nobody is replacing Duane.

Les jumped the gun in thinking he had the gig with the ABB and later he moved in with Cher not long after Cher and Gregg split. Apparently Gregg and Butch didn't care to be around Les Dudek. But just a few years ago Les mentioned he and Dickey play golf occasionally. And it seems Dickey is the reason Les got on two tracks on Brothers and Sisters.

I saw Les a couple of times and bought his two Columbia solo albums and his lead and slide guitar playing was real good.

I think when getting in the Allman Brothers fell through Les played with Boz Scaggs then Steve Miller.

I just thought he would be a good one to play in The Brothers if something did come around and Derek said no. But I wasnt saying Les is as good as Derek on slide. Just he is good enough to play in that band.

But yeah if Warren were to do it, Jack Pearson or even Duane Betts would be even better.

[Edited on 4/24/2020 by blackey]

I'm virtually certain that Les for all his talents never played with the ABB after Brothers and Sisters were recorded, so... not happening.

I'm virtually certain this thing we know as the Allman Brothers band is a thing of the past. Speculation is just that...

Saw Les Dudek in Boz Scaggs's band. He stood like Duane, sideburns like Duane, cigarette dangling, dressed like Duane (saw the ABB with Duane three times, twice in a small club), played slide in a style heavily influenced by Duane but didn't fret nearly like Duane. Clearly wanted to be Duane very badly. But hey, which of us guitar players here didn't?

You are right Mack. Les even got a Goldtop Les Paul. By 1979 the year I saw him the first of two times, Les was playing a Strat. I can't remember which one said it but do remember reading years ago that Les Dudek upset Berry Oakley because he seem to be trying to look like Duane. Berry was devastated by Duane's loss as much as Gregg and Mama A. Butch in the 90's said Berry just couldn't fit in to a world that didn't have Duane Allman in it and the pain, drugs and alcohol was making it so difficult that Butch was about to call a meeting to discuss getting rid of Berry Oakley. I seriously doubt Gregg and Dickey would have voted for that.

But Gregg and Butch did blow their stacks when they heard Les was saying to people in Macon that he had gotten the gig to replace Duane. Butch said for an hour he was running all over town to kick his butt but didn't find him. And that the band wouldn't replace Duane. They would play as a five piece if they went forward.

I'm not sure Butch remembered that correctly. Because Dickey had Les in the studio for Ramblin'Man. But Les even says in a recent interview he was disappointed when Dickey said you have to play acoustic guitar on Jessica because if you play twin lead on this one too the guys will think I'm putting you in the band. So apparently Butch and Gregg and Berry Oakley too was okay with Dickey letting Les play on Ramblin' Man. But in the early 2000s Butch said that song will never be played by the band again and should have never been allowed on Brothers and Sisters. Butch said he thought it was just a demo to present Merle Haggard. Then after the big guitar solo went in the end the label wanted to put in on the album so he went along but should have balked.

Dickey said Johnny Sandlin came and said do you have anything? We need at least one more song and Dickey said he did but it was too country for the band but after they heard it, everybody wanted to do it. So these old war stories get told differently and sometimes by the same person:)

[Edited on 4/25/2020 by blackey]

Here is Les Dudek playing Ramblin' Man

But Gregg and Butch did blow their stacks when they heard Les was saying to people in Macon that he had gotten the gig to replace Duane. Butch said for an hour he was running all over town to kick his butt but didn't find him. And that the band wouldn't replace Duane. They would play as a five piece if they went forward.

I am going to guess that this was toward the end of 1973, closer to New Year's...I can recall being at a big NYE party at a H.S. buddy's house where he had a stereo in the garage dialed into the KSAN "Live" broadcast of the show. The Jocks doing the broadcast were all hyped up and anticipating Les being introduced as a new member of the band on stage when Bill Graham introduced them. We were all huddled around by the keg and on comes Bill Graham, ...and....no mention of Les Dudek..

I have always wondered how they would have done if sober, Oakley lived, and Chuck and Les join. A lot of ifs there and if a frog had wings...…..

Mark. Oakley had lived and Les and Chuck joined would be similar to Brothers and Sisters but I think different too.

If Duane and Oakley had lived probably Chuck wouldn't have been invited to join. Eat a Peach would have Standback, Blue Sky and Little Martha just like they are now. Same lineup. But beyond that it all would be different. Brothers and Sisters would be way different but probably most of the same songs but including Queen of Hearts.

The next question would be how long? I think they would have made it sounding real good into the 1990's but beyond 2000 AD I'm not sure. Age and lifestyle may have worked against them and they broke up or didnt sound as good.

But Gregg and Butch did blow their stacks when they heard Les was saying to people in Macon that he had gotten the gig to replace Duane. Butch said for an hour he was running all over town to kick his butt but didn't find him. And that the band wouldn't replace Duane. They would play as a five piece if they went forward.

I am going to guess that this was toward the end of 1973, closer to New Year's...I can recall being at a big NYE party at a H.S. buddy's house where he had a stereo in the garage dialed into the KSAN "Live" broadcast of the show. The Jocks doing the broadcast were all hyped up and anticipating Les being introduced as a new member of the band on stage when Bill Graham introduced them. We were all huddled around by the keg and on comes Bill Graham, ...and....no mention of Les Dudek..

Those must of been some good times.

Les Dudek is a great guitar player who knows how to navigate a slide.
He would've been great with the Brothers.

The four albums he released from 76 to 81 are essential.
If you like Little Feat, Bonnie Raitt & The Brothers you'd like them.

"Friend Of Mine":

Les with Dickey & Dangerous Dan: