DICKEY BETTS
"Duane and I were just musical brothers. We would sit up late at night and get us a bottle of ripple you know, and talk about how the thing that breaks up every band is jealousy, and fighting over women. So we had the women thing figured out. Nobody messes with anybody else's girl. But we talked all the time about how easy it was for he and I to get jealous of each other. It was just a human nature thing. It was just something we dealt with straight ahead and talked about it in private. I'd say "sometimes when you play, I either get jealous or it makes me want to play harder." But Duane was just so assured and straight ahead. When he wanted to get something done, he would jus go straight ahead, and nothing would stop him. And that's what he offered to the band. That confidence and the "We can do it!" Not a cheerleader, but keeping everyone's morale up. And of course his playing was incredible. (Laughs) We know about his playing! But when Duane got his mind set, he was straight ahead. And he would inspire people around him. So it was kind of an interesting mix. Berry was kind of the guru of the band, and Duane was the real fire-breathing, straight- ahead, nothing can stop me guy. It was really a good mix."
From the new book REBEL YELL, Available NOW!

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