Kim Payne 10/24/1944 - 9/23/2023
Those original ABB roadies were very tough guys. They HAD to be. Try and imagine what it might be like to get a rock and roll band to 300 different shows in one year (1970). Getting all of their gear loaded up after the show, travel to another town, first in an Econoline van and later a Winnebago, then making sure it's all set up and working, ready for the next performance. And doing it on sometimes 2 or 3 hours sleep, IF you could get ANY sleep under those cramped conditions.
My hat is off to Kim Payne and all those other guys. Let's not forget that they made it all come together. There is a reason that they are pictured on the rear of the Fillmore East cover. Duane always looked at them as equals.
I never knew Kim hardly at all but we became Facebook friends, must have been 5 or 6 years ago. Kim was interesting in hearing my input because he had a tracheostomy and I was a Respiratory Therapist. Kim was very depressed at having to live with a trach, and I think just about anyone would be. He told me that he was seriously very tempted to remove the trach tube himself and I advised him that for infection control reasons, that would be very unwise. We never communicated much after that but since he lived 5 more years, I'm assuming he followed my advice.
I hope you're in a better place now Kim, a place with no trach tubes. Sitting around with Butch, Berry and the Brothers Allman, reminiscing about what balls it took to cart an unknown band all around the United States, never miss a gig, giving them their launching pad to stardom.
So sad to read this. Yeah, Kim and the original roadies were the unsung heroes in all of this.
Didn't know him but I met him several times. Somehow, he once accidentally called my home phone and left a long message that was intended for someone else. I'm still trying to figure out how he got - or just dialed my number. I told him about this and we had a little chuckle over it.
I was reading the thread about Duane's pickups - wondered why someone didn't suggest asking Kim Payne about it.
Rest in peace, Kim. Thanks for your contributions. May the road indeed continue forever.
RIP Kim Payne. " I'm past the point of caring. Some other bed I'll soon be sharing " is what he tossed to Gregg when Gregg was stuck with the words of Midnight Rider.
Later Kim felt he deserved a credit for that and approached Gregg who said okay. Gregg had the royalty paperwork for No Exit Music Company to show 5% to go to Kim Payne. Gregg got 95%.
But according to Alan's book Brothers and Sisters, Phil Walden apparently got 50 % of their publishing under the original contracts. So apparently Gregg gave 5% of 50% to Kim. I'm not sure Gregg even knew Phil got that much.
Dickey's lawyer finally got copies of the contracts after being ignored by Phil Walden for over a year. It seems Dickey then got 75% and Walden's publishing company got 25%.
But we need to remember Phil Walden bought Duane's contract from Jerry Wexler and until At Fillmore East went Gold in 1971, Phil Walden bankrolled everything including buying their sound equipment. So I don't know what to think of Phil Walden.
Kim Payne was almost 80 years old!! That's not bad. I'll be 77 in December and know how my knees and bones feel everyday.
Dickey will be 80 years old in December.
These people who live to be 90 or 100 are amazing. Most people are worn out at 70 to 79.
Yes Robslob Kim Payne and the other roadies were tough as nails. The band did 307 shows in 1970 alone. That gear had to be loaded and moved and set up again over and over. Phil Walden paid the bill in 1970 but Phil later cashed in big time. Bought his wife a Rolls-Royce and had beautiful homes in Macon and the beach etc.
I remember a lady who owned a small record label in the 1940's and 50's being interviewed in Cash Box magazine. She was eventually forced out. She said " The music and record business is a mean dirty business. Has been for years".
@robertdee Phil Walden's involvement and participation was not totally unlike the Chess brothers with all of those Blues-become Rock and Roll acts. Double edged sword - had it not been for them, those acts would likely have never seen the light of day. But they took an often whopping cut of the action. the film, "Cadillac Records"is a good reference point (semi-fiction based on actual reality).
Rest in Peace brother Kim Payne - thanks for all you did to make it happen
Thanks for posting and making us aware --- RIP for sure
The closest I come to understanding that life is listening to Big Steve on Ch 23 Sirius.
He had a ton of respect for the Allman roadies --- never realized how those crews seemed to have their own special brotherhood that would even cross musical groups.
Makes a ton of sense
A pirate-like life, but servant and purpose driven at the same time
"The road goes on forever..." Rock In Peace Mr. Payne🌹
RIP, Kim.
I’ve told this before about Kim and Callahan stopping by our band house in Oldsmar, FL for an afternoon of gold buds and long neck Buds. They had been fired by then. Fun afternoon.
I told this to Pammy Moondrops, she was in touch with Kim at that time. She asked him and he remembered!
She sent me an email to that effect and passed along a howdy from Kim. He added that they were supposed to be heading for an interview to work for Skynyrd but because of hanging out they missed it. Kim said if they made it thry would’ve been on the plane.
Nice to have our music and memories as the clock ticks away.
@aiq: "Kim said if they made it they would’ve been on the plane"
Wow! I'm glad Kim hung out with you and got high instead of working for Skynyrd!
@rusty: And HOW stupid was it for Skynyrd to get on that plane at all? They were 100% aware that it had big time issues. Not something to mess around with. Even missing the next gig would have been a lot wiser. But I guess sometimes loyalty to fans takes precedent, unfortunately.
@robslob Seems like one of the guys from Aerosmith warned them no to buy this particular plane. You know, WHENEVER you get on ANY airplane - you're turning your life over to another individual. Almost like having surgery. You are literally not in charge of your immediate fate for a period of time.
@rusty First time I flew in an airliner was 1952. I was 6 years old. American airlines Convair 240. The same airplane Lynyrd Skynyrd was on in 1977. Those airliners were manufactured between 1948-1953. Skynyrd's was well over 20 years old. Long retired by the airlines they were used by charter and cargo companies in the 1970's.
But lousy maintenance was actually the problem not the age. The right engine was burning gasoline faster than normal so it ran out of fuel and the pilots, both were seen passing a bottle of Jack earlier, didn't have anything in the reserve tanks.
I've been out of touch for a while and just now saw this. So sorry to hear it. I didn't know Kim well but was at his home in Montgomery a couple times with Pam. He had a huge (enlarged) framed copy of the back cover of LAFE hanging over his couch. I told him it was an honor to meet somebody that was on the cover of the best album ever, lol. It nearly made him cry. He seemed to really appreciate it. It was truly an honor to meet him and hear the stories he had to tell. Now load those cases up and get'em up those ramps....
