May we ask HOW you heard?....with all due respect, ABB community not likely to cause trends on Twitter or elsewhere on-line and, in terms of culture at large, even this kind of news may not trave that fast...keep on googling is all I would suggest (I just did and came up with Betts-related links five years old!?!?!?)....and, at the risk of sounding terminally cynical, the 'axeman' post is no sick joke, is it?

I’m not sure what you are asking with the axeman/joke ?

I heard on a Phish board ABB thread and then came here because, as you pointed out, ABB news isn’t usually up to date on Google and this has not only been the best source of ABB news over the years, it the place I come to commune with fellow fans who treasure the Allmans as much as I do. I looked under the ominously titled “Thank you Dickey” thread to find a post also mentioning Dickey having a stroke and that the tour has been cancelled. So that’s where I heard the rumor.

As I also mentioned, Dickey’s site is vastly different then the last time I visited with no forum and no update. That’s not a shock but a surprise to me. What I do find shocking and sad is that there is so little activity on this site given that Dickey just performed a comeback show in Macon, shared the stage with Jaimoe for the first time in 18 years and now there are these rumors about his health and tour being cancelled. Had expected to see/hoped for that old time HTW spirit at a time like this.

Tickets for Dickey's future shows are still for sale on Ticketmaster.

May we ask HOW you heard?....with all due respect, ABB community not likely to cause trends on Twitter or elsewhere on-line and, in terms of culture at large, even this kind of news may not trave that fast...keep on googling is all I would suggest (I just did and came up with Betts-related links five years old!?!?!?)....and, at the risk of sounding terminally cynical, the 'axeman' post is no sick joke, is it?

I’m not sure what you are asking with the axeman/joke ?

I heard on a Phish board ABB thread and then came here because, as you pointed out, ABB news isn’t usually up to date on Google and this has not only been the best source of ABB news over the years, it the place I come to commune with fellow fans
who treasure the Allmans as much as I do. I looked under the ominously titled “Thank you Dickey” thread to find a post also mentioning Dickey having a stroke and that the tour has been cancelled. So that’s where I heard the rumor.

As I also mentioned, Dickey’s site is vastly different then the last time I visited with no forum and no update. That’s not a shock but a surprise to me. What I do find shocking and sad is that there is so little activity on this site given that Dickey just performed a comeback show in Macon, shared the stage with Jaimoe for the first time in 18 years and now there are these rumors about his health and tour being cancelled. Had expected to see/hoped for that old time HTW spirit at a time like this.

'Joke' as in 'prank': the brevity and tone of your post suggested as much...Nd no, I m not projecting

Tickets for Dickey's future shows are still for sale on Ticketmaster.

A few hours ago they announced him playing the NY State Fair in August.

The stroke news was brought to us from Dickey's BFF luke.

'Joke' as in 'prank': the brevity and tone of your post suggested as much...Nd no, I m not projecting

I don't get what you were trying to say either. Seemed like an honest query trying to clear up a rumor.

I must admit I find it disturbing the Betts page on this site is virtually empty, but there's been no little measure of revisionism since Dickey's ouster in 2000, so I suppose we shouldn't be surprised.

There are 8 current threads on the main Anything Goes Forum page about Dickey's 2 gigs he's done so far. I don't think any of the individual band member forum sections get used much at all...or really ever did except when Butch would post there.

The band broke up 3.5+ years ago. I'm connected to 100 people I met on HTW/ABB Listserv/Wanee/Beacon on Facebook. I'm part of the Dickey Betts fan group on Facebook with thousands of members and another 2-4 ABB related ones with thousands. The crowd moved on to a different social media platorm.....yet we still have 8 threads here. Not so bad.

Hope Dickey is well.

I must admit I find it disturbing the Betts page on this site is virtually empty, but there's been no little measure of revisionism since Dickey's ouster in 2000, so I suppose we shouldn't be surprised.

What hotlantatim said. Also, Dickey had his very own HTN site that was pretty active up until maybe 10 years ago. Not sure what you are expecting, but this forum is full of reverence for Dickey. You are more than welcome to start some threads on his forum section.

On Twitter David Spero (Dickey's manager) asked that those spreading the health issues, canceling tour rumors should STFU as they don't know sh!t.

I wonder if luke is as tight with David as he is with Dickey.

Can you please provide the Spero quote or link to same?...multiple searches on Twitter didn't turn up anything and I might suggest that, for Betts'sake as well as his fans, an authoritative quashing of rumor is an absolute necessity:clips from Macon performance are not creating a groundswell of anticipation all around!?

On Twitter David Spero (Dickey's manager) asked that those spreading the health issues, canceling tour rumors should STFU as they don't know sh!t.

I wonder if luke is as tight with David as he is with Dickey.

I don't think LUKE has the access to Dickey he'd like us all to think he does. He speaks very authoritatively though doesn't he...

Actually, you guys are all wrong about Luke. He is a personal friend of Dickey's. I know I have witnessed it as many others have. Luke is a stand up guy, nothing wrong with not following the herd.

Just so I understand...…. people using anonymous name handles on an older tech website about a now defunct band, are wondering if another member is truthfully legitimate?

Facebook ABB sites have people that use their real names and are a bit less intense so if one wants more non-anonymous representation with faces on their posting, I suggest that route.

A few round here ain't nuthin short of small folk in the mind.Never fail's!Ya say one small line and it spread's like a wild fire.Those wanting to know more private and detail's in depth.And then the 1 or 2 that throw their jive lick's in on every turn.I have not claimed to be Mr.Betts spiritual guru,in any shape,form or fashion.Only thing i will say on the in like flint BS,is that if you ever meet the man ask him one question.Do you know Luke the Drifter?And would you consider him a friend of yours?Other than that i would say what Sperro said STFU!Or maybe just pick up the phone and call the man.That would be even better.
End of the line with me, on this watered down,has been,wanna be plastic forum crap.
To the real one's out there,and you know who you are.All the best^+++^

Sheesh.

People can you feel it? Love is Everywhere.

Your questions on Dickey's status, as well as your observations about this site, are quite pointed, not to mention pertinent, especially insofar as there has been no 'official' clarification, much less refutation of, the rumors. Contrary to one post, there's been no statement from manager Spero, on Twitter as stated, or on Betts' website. And there's certainly been more than a few voices elevating themselves by putting others down ( a phenomenon I thought was relegated to the Steve Hoffman forums!?). Perhaps this tweet best sums up the general tenor of this thread?:
(quote)Idol worship, rationalization and near-terminal sentimentality are arising around Dickey's comeback and thus clouding perceptions of his performances, turning this tour into another bonafide embarrassment the likes of which has afflicted @allmanbrothers throughout their history. (end quote)

Any chance of Betts making it out west? Would sure love to hear him again, it's been since 1975 for me. Miss that guitar.

On Twitter David Spero (Dickey's manager) asked that those spreading the health issues, canceling tour rumors should STFU as they don't know sh!t.

I wonder if luke is as tight with David as he is with Dickey.

It was a Facebook post, not Twitter.

My bad.

My two cents on Dickey. The man has brought a lot of pleasure to me over the years. Aside from the original line-up, which I never saw, the Dickey and Warren line-up was my favorite. Dickey was a monster during the early nineties. The whole band was powerful.
The past few years I've been hoping to see Dickey one more time. I hope to go to the Ridgefield Ct. show. At this point in time, he doesn't have to be as great as he once was. He hasn't performed in a few years, so how could he be. Having said that, I still want to see him, because he' F****** DICKEY BETTS.
If I were him, I would keep the set lists simpler, meaning playing the songs of Dickey. Blue Sky, Seven Turns, Jessica, etc.
He doesn't need the money. He's doing this for us fans. Enjoy it and respect the man and his music that we love.

Sheesh.

People can you feel it? Love is Everywhere.

That's the scent of latent disillusionment mixed with the acrid odor of 'filthy lucre'.....

On Twitter David Spero (Dickey's manager) asked that those spreading the health issues, canceling tour rumors should STFU as they don't know sh!t.

I wonder if luke is as tight with David as he is with Dickey.

It was a Facebook post, not Twitter.

My bad.

Doesn't seem to be too prominent a post, at least not so much so as pics of himself with celebrities,,,based on his handling of this issue alone, he would appear to be as overly full of himself and under-qualified for his responsibilities as Holman, the man who couldn't engineer a satisfactory ABB farewell tour with five years notice!?!?

Any chance of Betts making it out west? Would sure love to hear him again, it's been since 1975 for me. Miss that guitar.

I was on the site last night looking to see if there was a Carolina date (not) but there is a notice that said none west of the Mississippi. Maybe the tide can turn for the both of us.

On Twitter David Spero (Dickey's manager) asked that those spreading the health issues, canceling tour rumors should STFU as they don't know sh!t.

I wonder if luke is as tight with David as he is with Dickey.

I don't think LUKE has the access to Dickey he'd like us all to think he does. He speaks very authoritatively though doesn't he...

You are a real small person ain't cha?And your about as much Rob Prine as i am Hussein Obama.Folk like you musta had some hard rap's in life,that have caused ya to turn out like ya did.Your an as* for sure.Yet i kinda feel sorry for ya in a way.

End of the line with me, on this watered down,has been,wanna be plastic forum crap.

What happened?

For one thing, although you can link to Dickey's site from this one, Dickey's management has been solely responsible for DB's website and its content/lack of content for quite a number of years. Any blame that updated information about Dickey isn't readily available on HTW, is misguided.

End of the line with me, on this watered down,has been,wanna be plastic forum crap.

What happened?

Don't choo fret that little mind none now, tryin ta figure that 1 out.
Just go on back and play with your toy's.Everything will be alright.

On Twitter David Spero (Dickey's manager) asked that those spreading the health issues, canceling tour rumors should STFU as they don't know sh!t.

I wonder if luke is as tight with David as he is with Dickey.

I don't think LUKE has the access to Dickey he'd like us all to think he does. He speaks very authoritatively though doesn't he...

You are a real small person ain't cha?And your about as much Rob Prine as i am Hussein Obama.Folk like you musta had some hard rap's in life,that have caused ya to turn out like ya did.Your an as* for sure.Yet i kinda feel sorry for ya in a way.What was your last dog's name,boy or girl, & what breed was it?If your who ya say ya are,let er roll on.Or maybe that might be too much private information to put out here for that small mind of your's.Would not wanna cause ya any extra stress .

And groupie luke jumps in with his "Dickey lets me cater his picnic" garbage.

Thanks for the incredible insights.

I just had my semi-annual dental check-up, don't make me start grinding my teeth. Nobody wants to pick on Dickey or chastise him. He is loved still by everyone who loved him back in the band's prime days. If he wasn't up to snuff musically okay, he doesn't have to be perfect every night. Gregg's passing is a huge toll on everybody from the band. Coming back to Macon and Gregg and Butch not being there to play, well that can take a little bit of an emotional toll on him in addition to anything else. Cut him a little slack for that would you?

He's come out of semi-retirement and has to get back in the groove. Everybody supporting that musically will help make that happen. Dickey needs to play, that is why God still left him here. We are going into the effin' end times, do you not know that? He's here with his music to help support the rest of us still here. So I will say Thank You Dickey, for doin' what you do.

Some people here like to rag on Dickey and there were even people bad mouthing Gregg when he was cancelling shows because he was to sick to perform. Just ignore these people, if you don't like what they say, don't read there posts.

Put on your favorite ABB album and listen for the great music they recorded. I suggest Brothers and Sisters, Dickey is on fire throughout the whole album.

I had no problem with the original posters opinion, he was at the show and not reviewing a YouTube recording.

[Edited on 5/26/2018 by steadyhorse]

Thanks to you Luke and Gina and to all the DB supporters . Ive been told on here by a long time poster years ago that I was an apologist for Mr.DB ....absolutely not... I can barely apologize for my own misgivings ... What I am is. FAN...plain and simple , yesterday today and tomorrow... My expectations could never be meant for my own self why would I put them on someone else who is by the way about 8 yrs older then myself. Lived a life I can’t even imagine in my wildest dreams...he’s accomplished composer, musical genius, has a tone unlike anyone Ive ever heard and a founding member of my favorite band.
I watched the Eric Clapton 12 Bars and I was taken in by Erics honesty to his life hes very articulate in his speech... he is also in his 70s and lived a simpler lifestyle. This man has tinnuis , with loss of hearing , Arthritis, his body seems a bit broken down and lord knows what else. I suspect DB has similar problems .. He’s not as fast in his movements etc.
Again please dont misunderstand this as an apology for Mr. DB he needs none.
If your an ABB/DB fan just enjoy what’s left and stop thinking of yourself as young and vital as you once were take a better look at yourself and stop being a finger pointer and be a lover of the music that brought us all together in the first place .
I luv DB its the happiest tunes I can ever hear.

The Rolling Stones sang "Time waits for no one". I don't get all the anger in this post. Some of you can't take any criticism of Dickie, but isn't it possible that not being up to snuff now does nothing to diminish his legacy. The Allmans at the Fillmore remains my all time favorite concert but i wouldn't pay to see Dickie now. When I think of the Allmans nothing that happens today or in the past( illness, suicide, age ) will ever diminish my memories. My favorite band of all time and in 2 lineups that are approx 30 years apart. From Duane to Derek what a band. He will always be Dickie Betts even if he can't play or sing like he used to. Don't get angry when someone doesn't like the show. We all get old.