I saw on facebook HTN magazine co-founder and contributor Ron Currens (Hophead) passed away. Old-timers here will know him as a fan from the beginning and a big reason you've spent so much time reading these forums and meeting so many Peach Heads over the decades. He shared a lot of stories of those early years, was friend with Col Bruce. I didn't know him well, but the exchanges we had were always warm and friendly as if we knew each other for years. He'll be missed by many.
Be sure to toast to Ron (Hophead) tonight.
Here's a 2007 article by Ron about the band's first Atlanta shows in 1969:
https://www.duaneallman.info/backhomeagain.htm
Tremendous sad, sad news!
Ron (AKA Hophead) and the late, Bill Ector were the Sherpas and Gurus of all things Allman Brothers early on on the old blue site. Both had behind the scenes insight to the formative days of the band and were great folks to hang with. Ron and his son (Ron Jr., I think) came to a pre-show party at my house in Birmingham in 2006. He was someone you'd seek out at ABB shows - especially in Atlanta and New York. I will remember Ron as a real fun-loving and caring person and an all around great hang. I am so sorry to read of his passing. Peace and love to his family and the magnitude of friends that he leaves behind.
Spinning some Donna Hopkins this evening in his memory........
Sad news. I enjoyed Hophead's posts and participation on the site. Good times. May he Rock In Peace 🌹
Very sad to see another good one gone.
Glad I got to meet him once on my first Beacon weekend.
I think we met at my first Beacon Show in the late 90's? Sad none the less, wish well for his family 7 friends.
Very sorry to see this news. From reading his posts, he always seemed to me to be genuinely interested in sharing ABB information and his perspective. I think he was highly respected in the ABB community (and I'm sure elsewhere too). I only met him once, at a dTb show after an ABB Beacon show. I could tell that he was happy to be surrounded by the music and like-minded fans, in a low-key way. My condolences to his family and friends.
Bump for Hop.
From the home page: The Allman Brothers Band fan community is deeply saddened by the passing of Ron Currens, a passionate follower of the ABB since 1969. Ron, known to his many friends as “Hophead,” was an avid tape collector, particularly shows of the original line-up. Ron willingly shared his vast array of cassettes with fellow traders, and started many people down the road of seeking and finding rare and obscure performances. In 1992, along with Kirk West, Joe Bell and Bill Ector, Ron started Hittin’ the Note magazine, which served as a source of information and connection for fans of the Allman Brothers Band. Ron served as Editor-in-Chief of HTN for 17 issues, and saw his simple, 16-page, black-and-white publication grow into a major music publication that lasted until 2015. And it was Ron who introduced Rowland to Butch Trucks, and Hittin’ the Web with the Allman Brothers Band, our website for over 25 years, was born. Ron loved the Atlanta Braves, Tinsley Ellis, and everything Bruce Hampton. Rest easy and rock on, RC; thank you for spreading the ABB religion.
Looking at some of my early copies of Hitting The Note magazine. It was originally small and looked like something put out by a high school or college group in the know.
RIP Ron Currens. A huge ABB fan from the old days. I got hooked on the ABB in 1970 at a live show. A friend played me the first album but it didn't grab me like that first live show did. Hophead best me to the serious fan roster. He was at Piedmont Park in 1969. Was stunned that such talented and complex musicians were playing for free and for the fun of it and for the people.
I believe Hophead was at this show. One hour of Mountain Jam and the audience still didn't want it to end.
11/22/1969!! Almost 56 years ago !!!
Sad to hear...RIP Hophead!!
I believe it was Ron who first coined the term, "famABBly". Put that in your Funk and Wagnall!
This is very sad to hear.
Rest easy Ron 🙏
I had the pleasure of meeting Ron twice. The first time was at The Fox Theater run in September 2004. Jack Pearson played at a club that several Peachheads went to earlier in the day. Donna Hopkins played before Jack. Ron told me how much he loved Donna's music.
The other time was the next year at The Variety Playhouse (also in Atlanta) for The Derek Trucks Band and Susan's band on New Year's Eve weekend. Before the show, Hop was telling me who the special guest was going go be. I think we all knew it was Gregg and they didn't disappoint on two songs.
Great fan, RIP Ron.
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
Very sad news. A true believer and an obviously great guy. RIP
Belated but sincere condolences to his family and friends!
I'll never forget getting my first Duane Allman era ABB tapes from my friend the late Bob Levy, who I guess corresponded with Ron Currens. I remember the one tape was from Central City Park or something, a very early gig, and on the tape J card where you would write the songs Bob had written "Date confirmed by Ron Currens".
Needless to say, his contributions to the Allman Brothers Band universe, especially in the pre internet days, were incredible and informative, much like the late Bill Ector.
R.I.P. Hophead, I hope you are getting some awesome music where you're at now
Rest in Peace Ron. (Hophead more to me). Seeing old members names here paying respect. Checking in first in a long time. Again, RIP Brother.
Unfortunately I never had the pleasure of actually meeting Ron but we exchanged quite a few PMs which always had the two of us lighthearted and laughing. I surely appreciate all that he did for the famABBly. RIP.
"Is that a real poncho or is that a Sears poncho?"
Sad news. Years ago, Hop PMed me a few times asking me how my relationship with gina was going. He hadn't been posting much but was real cool and thoughtful about it. And funny. He was THE big gun at the time and I felt kind of flattered that he PMed me. He was a cool dude. (I never did meet gina, much to Sang's disbelief 😁)
RIP Ron. You were okay😎
As a tribute to Ron, here is his review of the ABB's May 9, 1970 concert at Georgia Tech Coliseum ... 55 years ago today which he posted August 29, 2002:
"08/29/2002 Hophead
"It was the spring of 1970 and it was a beautiful day in Atlanta, Georgia, where I was a student at Georgia Tech. I was living on campus in my fraternity house, an easy three-block walk to Alexander Memorial Coliseum where Tech student concerts were held. I had already become an avid ABB fan after seeing them first at a Georgia State concert at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium and then in Piedmont Park, but this was special – tonight the boys are going to play on MY campus.
The Student Center Concert Committee had hired a band called Smith to headline the show. Smith had a chick singer with long white-blonde hair and they were enjoying very brief success with a top-40 song – I no longer have a clue what the name of that one song was. But they needed an opening act, so they went out and hired a local band – the Allman Brothers Band.
I got to the venue nice and early and was well prepared to enjoy the show, if you know what I mean. This was supposed to be a Tech student-only show, but somehow 100s of Piedmont Park hippies had gotten in and were crowding the stage. The Brothers opened with “Don’t Want You No More / Not My Cross To Bear” and the crowd went wild at the first notes.
After the Brothers finished their set, the MC came up and announced that Smith’s plane was delayed and asked if the Brothers could play a little more. Well, all right! Duane took that as his cue to get serious and I only wish somewhere a tape existed of this night. I do not remember the setlist, unfortunately, but I do remember the band jamming the best I ever heard in all the times I saw them play. Before Smith finally showed up, the Brothers had played for more than FOUR delirious hours.
But that’s not the end of the story. Duane flat didn’t care that Smith was there – he was having so much fun he didn’t want to stop playing and the happy crowd was egging him on. Tech Security took the stage and tried to get the Brothers to leave and were roundly booed for their efforts. A few minutes later a cop grabbed a mike at the soundboard and, over the music, announced that if the band did not leave immediately the power to the stage would be cut.
Duane just laughed and kept on playing, while the crowd cheered and cheered. Then a few minutes later POW the sound was killed.
And the venue was filled with total silence ….
Stunned silence ….
And the audience milled around, bewildered – this is not how a concert is supposed to end. Nobody left as we watched Smith’s equipment set up – we were still in a state of shock after the premature end of the Brother’s jam. Then when Smith struck up the first note of their set, everyone realized simultaneously that the fun was over and filed quietly out. The coliseum was vacant in minutes, as Smith performed to an empty house …. "
We love you, Hop!
@lana FYI - Smith's biggest hit was a cover of a Shirelle's song, "Baby, It's You". I always thought the Beatles covered it better.
I believe the singer died a few years ago. I hate to speak ill of the dead, but I can't believe that these guys would've even dared to have followed the Allman Brothers!
Great to read Ron's account of the evening!
@rusty never heard that version, I kind of dig it. But hey, Hendrix opened for the Monkees for a while, gotta start somewhere. I recognize the name as the cover of "The Weight" on the Easy Rider soundtrack.
Always funny when bands lip-synced to a recording that fades out at the end.
"You Don't Love Me" was covered often in the late 60s, but did the Allman Brothers make an impression on Smith?
@porkchopbob Sounds like one of those "dated" versions of songs we were discussing a while back - Taj Mahal/Ry Cooder (Rising Sons) version of Statesboro Blues etc. I'm sure this was a good idea and enjoyed by a lot of folks ... at the time!
I'm fortunate for meeting Ron a couple of times and exchanging PMs during some trades. Always a joy to interact with. Sadly, were losing the good ones more & more now. RIP Hop, you will be missed.
