Guest Book

Folks I posted this in the Forum, but felt the need to post it here as well. ______________________________ quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This would have made 12 straight years that the Brothers have played in Charlotte. The fact that we are missing out so that they can open for Tom (yawn...) Petty is a travesty. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scotty I can't help, but agree with your accessment of WHY we are missing out on a date. To OPEN a show for a pop rock star is asnine. Especially one like Tom Petty who is of no where near the caliber of artist that the ABB are. Also to open for him in a city like Pittsburg where the ABB can pack 'em in easily on their own accord. If your going to open for that no singing pip squeak, do it in some of the sheds out West where the ABB isn't such a big draw! And I was saying this way before, some managerial idiot decided to accomodate licking said Mr. Petty's boots by doing away with Charlotte! However, Scotty I do disagree with your first statement. The Allmans have played in Charlotee 17 YEARS straight!!! Ever since they decided to start to play together again in 89. I know I have attended every year except the year they opened for Phil Lesh which I caught the band in where else ......... Pittsburg! Charlotte has also been a city that has supported both Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts during their lean years in the eighties where they were playing bars like the Palimino and Kidnappers twice a year to feed their families and their drug habits. Charlotte's music scene although in many ways sucks is still filled with some of the most die hard loyal fans of the ABB anywhere. People who do care about music and don't appreciate being disrespected. Witness 2000 when Dickey Betts was ousted. Verison or Blockbuster or whatever it was called at that time was 1/4 filled and 1/2 of those folks who were there were vocally pissed that DB was ousted and they were suckered into buying tix thinking that Dickey Betts, the main reason they were attending the show in the first place, wasn't there. It wasn't till the ABB/LS pairing of 2004 & 2005 that the venue was filled to capacity like it was during the glory days of the 90's. Even the later 90's when it was obvious the Allmans were having some troubles due to personnel changes and because they felt they didn't have to release any new product to please the fans. Why? I don't know other than the fact that we the fans at Charlotte would fill the stadium regardless especially when the date was July 4 th. It wouldn't take more than a comment by a local DJ say John Boy or Billy to kill the support that has been brought back up. Something along the lines of, "Well the Allmans evidently don't think it's important enough to stop in Charlotte this year. What's it been Billy? 12? 17? 17 years! Is that how long it has been! Well Gregg can kiss my big ol' hairy butt!" That particular radio show is syndicated to alot of stations especially in the South. And should you tend to mess with one of us, the rest are ready to back us up. The Allmans don't give a rat's ass about the South. Is that what the band is about? Of course not. But it WILL be the band whether it is Gregg, Butch or Warren fielding those questions. Not Bert Holman or Jonny Podell or whoever. You know there is really no reason why this band isn't on the level of say Clapton, the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, etc. with the exception of some questionable managerial decisions. And whatever the reasons for those decisions it ultimately falls back on the principals. There are probably some folks saying, "Charlesinator take a valium dude! Let it go!" But let me say this: For 17 years straight I've supported this band by attending all their shows here, buying any kind of commercial release, turning on everybody I can to the Peach Lifestyle ....... The first date my lovely wife Lisa and I went on was the Dreams Box Set Tour. I have had a heck of a time at so many of the shows. Both back when I was drinking and after. Especially now that with all my responsibilities as a husband and dad, my one little hurrah during the year is my annual Allman Brothers Show. SOME THINGS ARE WORTH FIGHTING FOR! Let me leave y'all with some sayings that all the members of the Allman Brothers being from the South should have heard at the very least one time or another: "The squeaky wheel gets the grease." "Dance with the one who brung ya." And last but certainly not least: "Forget, Hell!"