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Rock bios you wish Alan Paul would write!

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WaitinForRain
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First up on my rock n roll wish list:

Stephen Stills - the official bio

Stills is such a contributor - incredible player, singer, songwriter. Al he needs ya!! 😁

Just got a copy of the Stills box set Retrospective. Really great stuff on there. Needs book to go with it. 

 

 

 

 

 


 
Posted : June 7, 2021 6:20 pm
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harvey
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Steve Winwood ... been through so many phases since first coming to prominence with Spencer Davis Group (of Don't Want You No More fame for ABB aficionados) in the early 60's ... and still going strong ... would like to read Al's take on that career


 
Posted : June 7, 2021 6:41 pm
StratDal
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The Village People.


 
Posted : June 7, 2021 7:23 pm
robertdee
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@stratdal. Yeah. Especially a complete chapter on the one that dresses like an Indian. 


This post was modified 4 years ago 2 times by robertdee
 
Posted : June 7, 2021 9:06 pm
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dobro
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The obvious answer is Dickey! I wonder if Mr Paul has approached him. After reading Al's stuff I think he could correctly and respectfully tell the story.


 
Posted : June 8, 2021 8:35 am
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redhouse1969
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Posted by: @dobro

The obvious answer is Dickey! I wonder if Mr Paul has approached him. After reading Al's stuff I think he could correctly and respectfully tell the story.

We have a winner!


 
Posted : June 8, 2021 9:45 am
stormyrider
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Not gonna argue with any of the above, especially Dickey

The person that comes to mind is John Mayall. Think of all the greats who have been in his bands over the years.


 
Posted : June 8, 2021 12:14 pm
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playallnite
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John Cipollina..............................please


 
Posted : June 8, 2021 12:56 pm
bird72
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Jaimoe would have a great perspective to hear in depth from.  He is such a class act, I am not sure he would spill all the beans.


 
Posted : June 8, 2021 4:10 pm
robslob
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I think Stills is a great idea.  To my knowledge he does not have a bio (maybe he does and I'm just not aware).  I'm sure he would have tons of interesting stories and he's still around to tell his tales. 

Disclaimer:  My brother Jason got to jam with him maybe two years ago because he has played with Stills' son Chris Stills.  It was basically an informal audition for a benefit concert in L.A.  Jason was not selected to play.  Jason said that Stills was not real friendly at all, described him as "a grumpy old man" and Stills even made a comment to his son Chris in the vein of, "who is this dude you think you're bringing in here?"  Well, Jason's a pro, he's been with Alanis Morissette for 20 years and has toured with Sarah McLachlan, Kelly Clarkson and others.  I don't think it was the fact that he wasn't chosen, it was just that Stills was quite "gruff" in Jason's words.  

The only reason I'm mentioning this is that with that in mind, Stills may be a difficult subject for a biography.


This post was modified 4 years ago 2 times by robslob
 
Posted : June 8, 2021 6:48 pm
WaitinForRain
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I think a musically competent, interested interviewer like Al could get past the famous Stills defenses. Love the idea of Steve Winwood. Intrigued by the idea of a Dickey book, but would way more love to hear from Jaimoe.  


 
Posted : June 8, 2021 9:02 pm
robertdee
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Maybe Dickey and Jaimoe in the same book. Half about Dickey and half about Jaimoe. Then see if they remember the old times the same. Jaimoe could go in deep about his influences and pre ABB experience. Apparently Jaimoe was living near poverty and became a farm hand in the early 1980's after he was voted out of the ABB. Something he and Dickey have in common. Being voted out. Dickey has been a millionaire several times over since the 1970's. Jaimoe was in a band in Georgia then but they apparently only played at one small club as a house band. 

Jaimoe around 1992 was asked about Warren Haynes in an interview of Hitting The Note magazine. I have my copy in a box in the garage. While being pleased with Warren being in the band,  Jaimoe said he was still developing his sound and style and wasn't a Betts yet. He said "just listen to Dickey's tone". 

Gregg said in the 2000s Jaimoe thought Jack Pearson on slide was the closest to Duane Allman's style. I was surprised when I read that. I thought everyone would say Derek Trucks. But as Porkchopbob pointed out some weeks ago, while Derek studied Duane in his formative years he doesn't sound like Duane. Derek has his own style. Derek said more recently he was influenced by Duane and Elmore James early but in recent years he listens to horn players and eastern music for their influences. 

Of course other than Duane's energy, drive, confidence and leadership, Dickey Betts is the most important guitar player to be in the ABB. His original material, melody, unique style and sound is HUGE to the ABB sound from the beginning. 

Maybe bring in Warren and Derek for a third of the book and divide it in thirds. Warren and Derek kept the band fresh and in good form from 2001 to 2014. 

I listened to a post ABB 2014 interview with Warren and he and Derek also, like some of us old fans ( I'm 74),  felt a little awkward when they and Otiel became the standing front line. Warren said he and Derek always considered the original band to be the real Allman Brothers but he added that on a good night he would challenge anyone who said they didn't bring it and do the legacy of the original band proud. 

Yes for ABB fans getting a big book by Mr. Paul with several chapters with Dickey, Jaimoe and Warren and Derek would be very interesting here 7 and 8 years after the band quit. And hear about the Brothers show too. Derek called Dickey and encouraged Dickey to come but he said because of Dickey's health he can't fly. But Derek said Dickey told him to knock it out of the park!!!


This post was modified 4 years ago by robertdee
 
Posted : June 9, 2021 9:09 am
robslob
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@robertdee:  Basically you are asking Alan Paul to write another ABB biography.  He's already done that.  Doubt he'd be interested in going there again.  How 'bout coming up with some new topics for Mr. Paul?


 
Posted : June 9, 2021 9:41 am
robertdee
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@robslob Yeah I guess you are right. Going indepth with Dickey, Jaimoe, Warren and Derek then expecting their perspectives and stories to give more insight or more clarity or change some of the positions taken in the book already out which I have and found interesting and excellent is unlikely. 

Perhaps a Dickey book similar to SRV that covered his entire career. But the ABB is the lions share of his career. If it wasn't for the ABB, I'm not sure we would know who Dickey is or Warren or Butch or Berry Oakley. Hell I imagine I wouldn't know who David Toler and Mike Lawler are if it weren't for the ABB having existed:) 

Warren and his long and winding career and all the bands he's played with but Warren isn't famous enough to assure book sales. Derek probably isn't either. I'm not positive Dickey is as famous as SVR.

Stephen Stills is that famous I suppose. Neil Young. 

Hmmm. SVR was deceased when his book was done. Maybe the 3 Kings. B.B., Albert and Freddy. Dickey, Warren and others Alan knows had gotten to know them. 

I can now see that to make the book pay for itself the artist has to be famous.  A book on Cowboy or Sea Level or even Marshall Tucker just wouldn't generate enough interest. 

I'm a much bigger ABB fan than Lynyrd Skynyrd. The ABB is my favorite band period. But according to what I've read, Lynyrd Skynyrd sold more albums than the Allman Brothers. So a lot of bands I like are not top shelf bands as far as popularity goes. 


 
Posted : June 9, 2021 7:02 pm
Stephen
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imho a book about Dickey is overdue - of course he’s shared a lot in interviews over the years but there’s more that could be delved into if he was willing

4 instance have never read anywhere his recollections of the famous March 1969 Jacksonville Jam - also, was the Oct 2008 Cannon Mtn NH gig the Coldest he’s ever played 🥶😁

Dickey is one of the great composers & musicians of our time, & above all else I hope he’s enjoying his retirement - thank you bro for the tunes🤙


 
Posted : June 9, 2021 11:29 pm
sully
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Great thread!

AP - if you're reading this thread, i think there is close to universal agreement that your oral history style of biographies is a hit. Ones I would read in a heartbeat:

  • Led Zep
  • Pearl jam
  • Stones
  • michael jackson
  • Queen
  • Bob Marley

 
Posted : June 10, 2021 3:25 pm
CanadianMule
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ABB related but a book on all the ABB members aside from the Original 6. A look at their careers/lives inside and outside of the ABB.

Amazing cast of characters and keytar players. 🤣 


 
Posted : June 12, 2021 1:04 pm
Lee
 Lee
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Posted by: @canadianmule

ABB related but a book on all the ABB members aside from the Original 6. A look at their careers/lives inside and outside of the ABB.

Amazing cast of characters and keytar players. 🤣 

Yeah that would be cool. Some of the non-original six are sadly no longer with us like Woody, Lamar, the Toler Brothers so obviously they couldn't be interviewed but there are enough guys who knew them that could probably provide input on them and of course, their own careers. 


Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.

 
Posted : June 13, 2021 7:31 am
CanadianMule
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Definitely plenty to talk to and plenty of older interviews etc. Some likely even done by Alan. Obviously some of the original members passed on before his first book also so would be the same.

Chapters on each member with a strong lean towards Chuck, Warren and Derek. Given his close relationship with those guys, it is a win/win and provides the ability to combine stories/careers. A book on Warren or Derek would perhaps be a bit thin but if you combine all those careers and stories. Top it off with Dickey and Jaimoe's input on each member over the history.

I bet he has a chunk of the book already without even starting.

I would buy it.


 
Posted : June 13, 2021 9:41 am
linus
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There is a pretty decent Stills bio that I read last week, Change Partners, by David Roberts.  The biggest issue is that there has to be a prospect of enough sales to invest a year to eighteen months of your life in the project.

My candidates

Dr. John

Al Green

Bonnie Raitt

and if you want someone a little more current-The Drive By Truckers.  There's enough drama in that story to sell a couple of movies


 
Posted : June 15, 2021 9:03 pm
Stephen
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Posted by: @linus

There is a pretty decent Stills bio that I read last week, Change Partners, by David Roberts.  The biggest issue is that there has to be a prospect of enough sales to invest a year to eighteen months of your life in the project.

Good point

i would also chime in w/Col. Bruce, keying in on the day of his final gig, the gig itself, then its unbelievable aftermath w/recollections by the musicians - but the forming of the Grease Band, where his musical bent came from etc…

He was unique, obviously - the ARU release was among the 1st CDs I bought & the 1st I’d heard anything by him since Music To Eat


 
Posted : June 15, 2021 10:27 pm
CrossEyedCat
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How about Delaney Bramlett? The readership should be quite wide considering the array of artists that constituted the friends of D&B. You should get fans of Clapton, Harrison, ABB, Parsons reading it. The list goes on.

I agree it could take a couple of years of work so it needs to be a labor of love or else it will show and at the end the readership will probably be relatively small.

Personally, if Mr Paul doesn't release anything else I'm grateful for all the effort he put into "One Way Out", his dedication to the ABB shines through.


 
Posted : June 16, 2021 7:55 am
rationalrebel
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Delaney and Bonnie > the Dominos

John McLaughlin and/or Mahuvishnu, Shakti, etc

Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers

Little Feat (there's a book out there, but not very good)

Weather Report (similar, book out there, but not very good)

Ralph Towner (Oregon, many other bands, who Col Bruce called "the Bach of our generation)

Eric Clapton ('Slowhand' is the best book I've read about him, think Al could do it right, but not sure he's the biggest fan)

Willie Nelson

Wes Montgomery

Sam Bush

Jimi Hendrix or Santana (a couple already out there)


 
Posted : June 16, 2021 3:00 pm
CanadianMule
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I have just read about 40 years of guitar magazines that I have had stored away

Alan's work over the years has been incredible and his articles have covered artist that interest me. 

I love his style of writing and it also has a passion that lacks in some other writers' articles. Just my opinion but I find it is the difference between good and great.

I would buy anything he released as i already know it will be good.

 


 
Posted : June 17, 2021 10:44 am
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