I'm nowhere near the inner sanctum of these guys but it seems to be that once everyone got out of close proximity of Butch Trucks, they all seem healthier, mentally.

Butch seems to have had a major Dickey axe to grind and I felt like everyone just followed suit. Not that they all didn't have their issues, but it would be assenine for any one in that band to cast a stone at the other.

Butch calling the band "too country" when butch, himself, rocked the cowboy hats even after the band broke up. It's all just very guided.

I'm glad Gregg has broken out of that.

Fair observation and I believe Butch's vortex is a powerful one, though would suspect that all these guys are confident enough by now to step on or off the Freight Train on their own accord.

Gregg has said that he and Dickey would work together again after 2016.
It would be nice to see Dickey play at the Laid Back Festival.

[Edited on 3/1/2016 by TheBabe714]

Although i love Butch's playing with the brother's.And love ta watch him play as well. The guy is an ASSHOLE! I remember over hearing him say in Macon one time,and i quote.""I'm glad that little redneck mf'er Betts didn't come up.Or i'd have to of kicked his as*,and ya'll woulda read about it in The Telegraph tomorrow morning."
Dream on Butchy! Big words come outta folk's mouth when the one they are talkin bout is not around.Not ta mention 100's of miles away.

Some guys in band's get a chip on their shoulder over the years. Some don't stop to think about how lucky they are to have landed in that spot.

Butch is one OF a million that could play drums for the ABB.

Dickey is one IN a million that wrote the songs for the ABB.

If Butch can't see and acknowledge that then he was blinded by pride and coke long ago.

A simple glare from Dickey and Butch would be running.

The sad part of this soap opera stuff over the years is how it has affected their reputations. Dickey is a great guy who has never been anything but kind and friendly whenever our paths have crossed. Does he have some issues and a bad temper? Sure he does. We all have issues and when spending a life with people, they will appear. I can completely understand if you choose to not be with that person but shut up about it. This has all affected Butch's reputation over the years and not in a positive way.

It is like my buddy who talks about his ex-wife all the time. They got divorced over 20 years ago. Sadly most of our friends tired of his ramblings long ago. Some just stopped talking to him and others attempted to discuss it which lead to fights. Everyone had sympathy at first but as time wore on......not so much. Lost his wife and friends. Good guy but his bitterness got boring after a while.

Life's too short to waste it on bitterness and soap opera.

Glad that Gregg and Dickey may move along and refreshing to read nice stuff from them.

But Gregg and Butch did the mud slinging.

Dickey never did. He is more the type to tell you to your face. I respect that more but that's just my opinion.

ain't it funny that Butch's new band plays Dickey's songs?

ain't it funny that Butch's new band plays Dickey's songs?

I could see and understand the ABB doing them but side projects? Another example of Butch needing Dickey. Of all members to play Dickey songs? Butch?

Even Gregg shouldn't need to play them at this point.

I know this will open up a can of worms; but in my mind Dickey needed to be ousted from the ABB as he was smothering it (partly due to his issues.) But at the same time there is room to acknowledge that Butch being an a**hole keep the wound festering and prevented a reunion of sorts at the 4oth or 45th.

I know this will open up a can of worms; but in my mind Dickey needed to be ousted from the ABB as he was smothering it (partly due to his issues.) But at the same time there is room to acknowledge that Butch being an a**hole keep the wound festering and prevented a reunion of sorts at the 4oth or 45th.

I agree with your comments. But also like CM said above, no one wants to constantly hear about some thing in the past that you, yourself can't seem to get over.

If you, yourself want to hold that grudge, for life, go for it (and I am speaking about Butch here.) But unfortunately this is not a private situation.

Anyone want to wager that if asked tomorrow in an interview directly about Betts that Butch would continue to slam him ?

Looking forward to 2016 and beyond with gregg and dickey, It would be great seeing them do some shows together, all kinds of possibility's and the Laid Back Festivals are the perfect place for Dickey Betts to play with his own band or with gregg. Nice to look forward to.

Sad part is the fact that all of the drama surrounding The Brothers had plenty to do with the fact that here we are in another March and we have no Beacon run and no Brothers.
I don't think we'll see Dickey making music again unfortunately. His hiatus has been going on for quite awhile now. He tried to retire back when he turned 65. It sure seems like he's content with whatever he's doing. All we as fans could do now is wish him great health and happiness for the rest of his life.

Dickey didn't bad mouth his ABB partners much, but he absolutely did and he did at the worst time...when they suspended him for the summer. He specifically went to the press to do it. He was hurt and all but he did. He also said some unflatering things at the end of their run in 2014.

Granted, he bit his tongue over the years, while Butch and Gregg didn't. That is clear.

I think rayg is right; I don't think we'll see Dickey tour ever again. I have my doubts that we'll see him perform publicly at all. I am happy to hear Gregg giving Dickey credit at his shows.

I consider myself lucky for having seen Dickey in Sept 2014 and the Allmans twice in Oct 2014, including that last show. I'd be bummed if Dickey never took a stage again, but I don't blame him - the road seems to have caught up with him. Many musicians like Gregg, Willie, etc, can't stop themselves from off of a stage and playing so long as their heart beats. But being able to not play if you don't want to, or especially if you don't need to, isn't a bad place to be either. It would be nice to see Gregg and Dickey onstage together again, no doubt, but I'd be happy even if they just buried the hatchet out of the public's eye. We're talking about a lifetime of hurt feelings here.

to paraphrase Firesign theater:

They are all Bozos on that bus.

It was nice to hear Greg pay tribute to dickey betts before the Southbound encore on Saturday night in Miami. He was sincere and I was stunned. The whole band sounds really nice. The horn section is fantastic. Midnight rider had a long, trippy Moroccan sound to it that I enjoyed. The whole show, all 47 minutes of it, was spectacular. It was a food n wine festival, not a concert so I knew it would be short.

Do you recall much of what Gregg said?

It was nice to hear Greg pay tribute to dickey betts before the Southbound encore on Saturday night in Miami. He was sincere and I was stunned. The whole band sounds really nice. The horn section is fantastic. Midnight rider had a long, trippy Moroccan sound to it that I enjoyed. The whole show, all 47 minutes of it, was spectacular. It was a food n wine festival, not a concert so I knew it would be short.

Do you recall much of what Gregg said?

Probably it was along the same lines as what he said when I saw him last Summer. He introduced "Southbound" as "a song by Mr. Dickey Betts"

Yes I agree that Dickey is retired from full time touring and I'm very happy for him as he's in a great place. I only bring up gregg, dickey and the laid back festival as it's a great setting for them to be together and it's only 5 shows. That's something Dickey can still do with his eyes closed.
I really don't know but I would love to see this happen.

I think every time he announces the song now, he just says "we'd like to do a song written by Dickey Betts". Nothing more or less.

It's the new "you all are a good bunch".

Thank you.

I saw him do a show about a year ago this time at Northfield Casino (near Cleveland) and they did do Southbound, but I do not recall any introduction words to it.

I will be seeing him again April 5th and very much looking forward to it!

Seeing Gregg perform is like seeing an old friend and brings back so many good memories of ABB shows from the past.

I think every time he announces the song now, he just says "we'd like to do a song written by Dickey Betts". Nothing more or less.

It's the new "you all are a good bunch".

That was pretty much the extent of it. I was just a little shocked to hear it and hear it said with sincerity. If Dickey is really done playing than it seems like Greg is making peace with himself and moving on. The disdain he once harbored must be diminished if he could openly acknowledge him. Either way I think it's good. You shouldn't go to your grave holding a grudge.

I personally would rather just see Dickey and Gregg make peace with one another. To me Butch is a non issue at this point. If Gregg
wants to connect with Dickey again, that would make a lot of fans very happy.