Just saw the news in Alan Paul's Facebook blog. No word yet as to what the reason was. Jorgen is being replaced by Kevin Scott. Jorgen replaced Andy Hess in 2008 which means he was with the Mule for 15 years.
Great news for Kevin Scott! Many of us first heard him playing the clubs in Gadsden, AL. Bupp1 (Randy) would be proud!
The album rock radio station here quoted Warren as saying where the band is at now we decided to move forward with Kevin Scott. Warren praised Jorgen's work with the band including on their new album dropping this month.
Apparently Warren and Jorgen didn't see eye to eye in recent months so Warren made the change.
Jorgen received word via fax as to the change Wednesday morning!
He he!! Yes that last sentence was a joke. My apologies to anyone who didn't chuckle.
Not sure who Kevin Scott is. In the article below it sounds like he is just on for the summer tour.
Bassist Jorgen Carlsson Departs Gov’t Mule, Kevin Scott Aboard For Summer Tour
https://www.jambase.com/article/govt-mule-bassist-kevin-scott-jorgen-carlsson-departs
After 15 years Gov’t Mule is parting ways with bassist Jorgen Carlsson. The band has tapped first call Atlanta bassist Kevin Scott to hold down the bottom end on their summer tour, which starts tomorrow, Friday, June 9 in Jacksonville, Oregon.
“We do want to let you know that our friend Kevin Scott will be joining us on bass this summer,” wrote Gov’t Mule in announcing the news on social feeds. “We thank Jorgen Carlsson for all his incredible work, including on [forthcoming studio album] ‘Peace…Like A River,’ and wish him the best. Some of you may have seen Kevin with us last year when he stepped in for a few shows, so you know he’ll do a great job out there with us.”
As mentioned, Kevin Scott filled-in for Jorgen at a few shows last summer after Carlsson tested positive for COVID-19. Scott’s illustrious resume includes touring with Wayne Krantz, Jimmy Herring and Col. Bruce Hampton. Kevin is a fixture of the Atlanta music scene.
Guitarist Warren Haynes, drummer Matt Abts and bassist Allen Woody formed Gov’t Mule in 1994 as a power trio. Woody tragically died in 2000. Mule spent the next few years performing and recording with a variety of bassists before settling on Andy Hess in 2003 and adding multi-instrumentalist Danny Louis to the lineup. Hess left the fold in 2008 at which point Jorgen Carlsson joined the band.
“We were faced with the daunting task of replacing a one-of-a-kind musician, which I’m sure was intimidating for Andy, who did a wonderful job and brought his own personality into the music,” Haynes stated when Gov’t Mule announced Carlsson would replace Hess.
“Jorgen’s style is somewhere between Woody’s and Andy’s. He brings some of Woody’s aggressive spirit back although he is very much his own man,” added Haynes. Warren Haynes, Danny Louis and Matt Abts spent six months rehearsing, jamming and hanging out with Jorgen before officially tapping Carlsson as their third bassist.
Today’s announcement only notes Scott is aboard for the band’s extensive summer tour. No word yet on what the future holds for Gov’t Mule beyond the soon-to-begin trek. View a complete list of tour dates and the full note from the band below.
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
robertdee I had to not spit my hot coffee out when I read that line
As for Kevin this summer, it may be seen as a fill in/somewhat audition that is not uncommon. I always think of Jimmy H's summer in 2000. Fortunately, this isn't replacing Richard Betts.
From the times I've seen him with Bruce and Jimmy's band, Kevin was stout, most notably playing the symphony hall in Nashville with Jimmy's band and then with the combination of bands (McLaughlin and Herrings'). Lastly, being from Gadsden area I have a good feeling about it 
Wow that is a surprise! Wonder what caused him to leave?
Too bad as I thought he did a great job taking over the difficult task of filling Woody shoes.
@bill_graham: It was difficult then and it will be difficult now. I remember Warren saying when Jorgen joined the band, "It's not an easy task to step into Gov't Mule. You have to learn 250 songs." I can remember when Jorgen first stepped in, he had learned 60 or 70, enough for them to go out on tour. And of course he caught on to the rest of their vast repertoire later on. He was a great player and I think this change takes everyone by surprise. But from what I've heard, Kevin Scott is quite capable.
@robslob yeah I am sure Scott will be fine and if not Warren will try different bass player like he did after Woody passed until he finds one he meshes with.
They are such a tight knit band with Jorgen after all these years so it will take time as a fan to get used to as I have seen them a couple of dozen times and always with Jorgen so that is all I know.
In any case I am really looking forward to seeing the Dark Side of the Moon concert this summer.
Wow, this is really surprising. Of all of the bass players Mule has had, both on tour and in studio, Jorgen was the closest to Woody in my opinion. He had that hard edge that Woody had which made Mule, well Mule. I've never really listened intently to bass players but Woody was special. Andy Hess was of course talented as were all of the other guys. Dave Schools filled in quite well. I think he would have made a good permanent fit. I saw him with Mule a couple of times and he was good.
A guy that hasn't been mentioned is Greg Rzab, a Chicago guy. Greg Rzab - Wikipedia. He is very talented and wanted the permanent gig but didn't get it.
I have never heard of the new guy but of course, I'm sure he is very talented. I'm kind of bummed about this as a few of us from this site will be seeing them this summer. In addition to Mule's stuff he will have to know Pink Floyd's stuff, which he probably knows anyway. Plus if he has filled in with the band before, I'm sure he will be fine.
It's too bad they can't settle on someone on a permanent basis but I think it has to be difficult to replace Woody.
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
As for the Jimmy Herring reference I think the comparison is somewhat related. From what I've read he was uncomfortable with the role which is totally understandable. Filling in for Dickey? Tough thing to do. I did see two shows that summer and I have a few and Jimmy did great. They filled the sets with a lot more songs that didn't require vocals since they lost a vocalist.
Sorry to change the topic but since it was brought up...
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
@lee Jimmy thought Dickey would probably come back that fall but when he found out it was a permanent departure when Butch Trucks asked Jimmy to actually join the band, Jimmy explained why he turned down Butch.. "no one has ever replaced a living member of the Allman Brothers before and it wasn't going to be me. And I'm a Dickey fan. His solo on One Way Out on Eat A Peach was a big influence on me when I was beginning. Dickey's tone on that is incredible".
Earlier in the summer of 2000 Jimmy probably saw or heard about the interview with Dickey where he said he had hired an attorney and was taking the ABB to court and Dickey said he was being impersonated.
The rub was at the summer 2000 shows they never announced Dickey wasn't on stage. They just played Jessica, Liz Reed etc and when Jimmy played Dickey's parts Dickey apparently assumed many people in the audience thought that Jimmy was him.
It's difficult to not be nostalgic for the good old days when Gov't Mule was a romping stomping power trio with Woody holding down the low end. It really is too bad he couldn't have stuck around longer
It's difficult to not be nostalgic for the good old days when Gov't Mule was a romping stomping power trio with Woody holding down the low end. It really is too bad he couldn't have stuck around longer
Agree. I miss those days and I realize that bands grow and stretch out, but still.....
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
@jack_frost I'm 76 years old and saw Govt Mule several times beginning in 1994.
Saw the Allman Brothers starting in 1970.
With both of those bands, when you see them the first time, and they REALLY GRAB YOU and the people in that band are just PERFECT for the sound/style that you are grabbed by, then a player who is KEY to that sound dies or is gone for whatever reason, THAT BAND WILL NEVER, NEVER, NEVER BE THE SAME!! To you, something special will be missing from then on!
To me that happened with Duane Allman then with the Mule with Alan Woody.
Anyone who saw the Allman Brothers with Duane Allman, that band was never as special again. From 1972 to 2014 the ABB wasn't as special.
And Woody had that effect on the Mule.
@robertdee, I agree with all that, even though at 53 I was far too young to ever see Duane or Berry. I did see Gov't Mule starting in 1995 and you're right - it was never really the same for me after Allen Woody died. Nothing against Danny Louis or any of the folks who have played with them since. I mean, I liked the Deep End stuff, but after that my interest sorta waned a little with the Mule, sadly. Woody was a big part of what I liked about the band
@robertdee, I agree with all that, even though at 53 I was far too young to ever see Duane or Berry. I did see Gov't Mule starting in 1995 and you're right - it was never really the same for me after Allen Woody died. Nothing against Danny Louis or any of the folks who have played with them since. I mean, I liked the Deep End stuff, but after that my interest sorta waned a little with the Mule, sadly. Woody was a big part of what I liked about the band
I have read/ heard even before Allen passed there was talk in the band about bringing in a keyboard player full time. On Life Before Insanity, I think Johnny Neal made some appearance on the key's, then WA passed later on that year. So who knows if he would have lived what direction the band/sound would have went/been bringing in a 4th member(keys). Danny is talented but some of his keyboard sounds make me cringe at times. Don't get it, but its not a deal beaker when with this band.
I just prefer my Mule with a little hard kick and edge with it.
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
@jszfunk sure but Danny plays a mean trombone! 😀
But seriously, I don't mind his keys too much but if I had my druthers I would rather have a talented second guitar player to fill out the sound.
Some of my favorite live Mule tracks have a second guitar player.
Someone who has occasionally guested in the past with the Mule, like Marc Ford or Aubrey Freed, would be a killer addition to the band IMHO.
@jack_frost No it's nothing against any musician that came later. Several very good musicians have played in the ABB and GM after Duane and Woody.
The ABB and GM just had unique chemistry with the original lineups. That kind of thing just happens when it does. It's hard to choose the players and it turn out with that something unique and so special. Little Feat was never the same to me after Lowell George and Lynyrd Skynyrd after Ronnie.
And Duane and Warren in GM indicated they wanted to add a player or two but it didn't happen before Duane and Woody passed on.
I'm not even sure who they had in mind. There have been some good guesses but Gregg apparently didn't know exactly who Duane wanted to ask. Warren likely had a keyboard player in mind. Johnny Neal perhaps. He and Warren were close and wrote songs together. But after the Brothers decided not to renew Johnny's contract in 1991, Warren may have changed a bit toward Johnny. I don't know.
We found out Gregg and maybe Butch didn't think it was working with Johnny Neal in the ABB.
Oh well it's hard to say.
I've heard arguments before over the last 20 years saying that the Mule was better as a trio. I really do NOT get that at all. The reason is that Danny Louis is SUCH an incredible musician. Tremendous keyboard player, yes! And I mean electric piano, Hammond, or synthesizer, whatever the tune requires. Then when the Mule needs a second guitar, it's Danny Louis, and he's pretty damn good!! He also plays trumpet so if they decide to do some 60's Soul tune with a horn part, they can. To me, the Mule would not be nearly the band that it's been over the last 20 years without Danny Louis. He gives them MUCH more versatility. They would be pretty much a hard rock band without Danny.
Both the Mule and Tedeschi Trucks Band seem to have a revolving door of bassists. I too thought that Jorgen was a good replacement, but the Mule without Woody is a different band. Not worse, just different. And I've read that the Mule were considering adding to their line up before Woody passed, but damn I do miss those power trio days. No other band out there like that now.
New Warren Haynes Interview
https://www.salon.com/2023/06/17/govt-mule-warren-haynes-pink-floyd-peace-like-a-river/
@robslob Yes as much as I was so impressed with the original Mule and ABB, when thinking about it, the Mule would have been more versatile if they had added Danny on keys even if Woody had lived and same with the ABB. Chuck Leavell added even if Duane had lived.
Those bands would need to grow as they got to their fourth and fifth albums and those great keyboard players would have been part of that stretching out.
I've heard arguments before over the last 20 years saying that the Mule was better as a trio. I really do NOT get that at all. The reason is that Danny Louis is SUCH an incredible musician. Tremendous keyboard player, yes! And I mean electric piano, Hammond, or synthesizer, whatever the tune requires. Then when the Mule needs a second guitar, it's Danny Louis, and he's pretty damn good!! He also plays trumpet so if they decide to do some 60's Soul tune with a horn part, they can. To me, the Mule would not be nearly the band that it's been over the last 20 years without Danny Louis. He gives them MUCH more versatility. They would be pretty much a hard rock band without Danny.
Rob - To me, it is not being better as a power trio, just different. That is what they started out as after all. Someone mentioned Johnny Neel and Life Before Insanity. Perfect example of them branching out. That is my favorite Mule release. It is kind of all over the map.
As to Danny, I've seen him play trumpet a couple of times which was interesting as I was definitely not expecting that. I didn't know he played guitar.
Back to the main topic, I am going to miss Jorgen but I am looking forward to hearing the new guy, now that I think about it. And hey, remember who is driving the bus. I would never doubt anything he does. 
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
Both the Mule and Tedeschi Trucks Band seem to have a revolving door of bassists. I too thought that Jorgen was a good replacement, but the Mule without Woody is a different band. Not worse, just different. And I've read that the Mule were considering adding to their line up before Woody passed, but damn I do miss those power trio days. No other band out there like that now.
Good post. You are right, just a different band.
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
I've heard a few shows now with the new bassist - he fits in very well and the band sounds really good. It'll be interesting to see if Kevin Scott is only in for summer tour or if he ends up with the job permanently. The articles right after the announcement of the switch seemed to indicate that Scott was temporary for the tour - so I guess we'll see what happens. Completely uninformed speculation on my part, but one of the early fill-ins for Woody in 2001, Oteil, comes free at the end of the summer when Dead and Co wrap up for good. Not starting a rumour, just interesting timing.
Also found funny, and not calling out any particular poster, but there were a few comments in the thread about how the bass chair has had turnover and too bad they couldn't find someone more permanent etc. Jorgen did have the role for 15 years! More than double the length of Woody's tenure in the band. I understood totally what those posters were saying - my comment is really its amazing how time flies. Seems like Jorgen was just introduced as replacing Andy Hess, but 15 years have elapsed.
@slothrop8 Yes 15 years. Perhaps Jorgen decided he wanted to pursue something new or he wanted to take a break and not go on the road or there was a creative disagreement between Jorgen and Warren who is clearly running Govt Mule. Who knows.
But he is on the new album which is very good. Best Mule release to me in years and Jorgen's bass is real fine on it.
I wish they would have made it clearer as to why Jorgen left.
The Allman Brothers Band did two shows in 1986 without a bass player. Gregg's bass player at the time played bass on about half the songs with Dickey's bass player on the rest with Gregg, Dickey, Butch, Jaimoe, Chuck and Dan Toler as the rest of the band.
I love the Mule and liked what I've heard with the new bass player.
It's not even certain he is permanent is it?
@slothrop8: Oteil with Gov't Mule?? Oh My God please don't make me DROOL!!!
@slothrop8: Oteil with Gov't Mule?? Oh My God please don't make me DROOL!!!
Actually saw Oteil with the Mule back in 2002, he played some shows with them as other bassists were doing too. It was at a real dump The New Daisy Inn on Beale Street in Memphis. The show was exceptional but what made it totally memorable was Chuck Leavell was also there on keys the entire show.
"Is that a real poncho or is that a Sears poncho?"
Perhaps Jorgen decided he wanted to pursue something new...
He has had other projects for a while, including with his wife.
Warren speaks on Jorgen "quiet quiting" Mule starting a couple of years ago
https://www.jambase.com/article/warren-haynes-govt-mule-bassist-jorgen-carlsson-quit
Jorgen did an amazing job. His role in Gov’t Mule got better and better year after year. He sounds fantastic on the new record. I’ve always said with any chemistry, it’s great if you have a great chemistry in the beginning, but it’s where you take it if you give it time, that really matters. The fact that we were able to do this for 15 years has really allowed the band to reach a point where there’s a lot of borderline telepathy going on on stage. We’re so familiar with each other’s musical vocabulary and mindsets that we’re able to communicate in a really heavy dimensional way. I can’t say enough about his contribution to the band the last 15 years. Having said that, he’s been quiet-quitting the last few years. We all knew it was coming, but it is heartbreaking.
To answer the Kevin Scott question, Kevin is fantastic and we’re hoping it will be more than temporary. We’ve hired him to complete everything that we have on the books at the moment, but I have a really good feeling about him for the future of this band, and I think he shares that feeling as well. Even though it’s announced it’s like he’s here for the summer, we’re all hoping that he’s here for a new chapter.
