Guest Book

Headline: Gregg Allman talks motorcycles, music and Redwood Run By Sarah Sullivan Eureka Times Standard (California) Like the return of the birds in spring or the first rain in fall, the gnarled purr of motorcycles infiltrates the area at about the same time every year. Those who have been here awhile hear the noise, glance at each other and mutter: "Yup, Redwood Run." We share our highway with groups on bikes in like clad jackets and even give them a sort of reverence on the roads as we let them pass. Then we feel an inward delight as the bearded leader of the pack gives us a slight hand motion thanking us for the right of way. From all over the country bikers set off on rides that apex in Piercy. The bikers dismount, rub their saddle sores and set up to display their bikes and their tattoos and dig in for a general hoopla of motorcycle camaraderie, camping and music. This year the music is sure to take them for a ride. The headliner this year is none other then southern rock icon Gregg Allman. His group, The Gregg Allman Band, will be at the Riverview Ranch on the banks of the Eel River two miles south of the Humboldt County line this year to mark Redwood Run's 30th motorcycle rally on this spot. Allman is a motorcycle enthusiast as well. He has his own collection of "cherry" Harleys at his home in Georgia, and to get him started on the topic of motorcycles, one must invest some time. "There are three things I collect knives, old coins and Harleys," Allman said. "My first bike was a 76 Sportster. An AMF. We all know what that means." Perhaps some do, but for those who don't Allman is referring to the fact that from 1970 through 1982, AMF stood for Adios Mother (expletive), because of the inferior bike quality when Harley-Davidson was owned by the American Metal Foundries. "I just got myself a '96 Fat Boy, 1340ccs. I sent it over to Ron Sims [a custom bike maker out of Richmond]. I had him change it out. It's a six speed with 113 ss jugs, and I got dog bones on my triple trees. I also got Paul Horst [a famous motorcycle artist] to paint me up some digital flames," explains Allman, strictly to the gear heads. "It looks real nice. Little old ladies will know you're coming on that thing." The motorcycles in his collection aren't just for looks. "I ride every chance I get," Allman said. "I got the fever." In 1969 Allman, along with his brother Duane, formed The Allman Brothers Band: The primordial papa to southern rock. With Duane's stylized slide guitar and Gregg's organ savvy, The Allman Brothers defined the genre and embossed the '70s with their musical style. They can also be thanked for popularizing the live jams that went from point to musical point and became standard with bands of that era. The appearance at the festival is somewhat ironic for Allman whose brother Duane, the other co founder of The Allman Brothers Band, died in a motorcycle accident in Georgia in 1971 at the height of the band's popularity. They had just released the album "At Fillmore East," a smashing success. Allman, however, kept the band together and went on to record another critically acclaimed album, "Eat A Peach," with a few tracks recorded before the tragedy. The death of their bassist Berry Oakley a year later was another blow to the band. He, too, was killed while riding his motorcycle only a few blocks away from the site of Duane's crash in Macon, GA. The band continued to produce records despite the losses and went on to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1995. Allman's solo career has been prolific. He went on to form The Gregg Allman Band whose first album "Laid Back" was in the top 20 in 1974. He recorded five more solo albums including "I'm No Angel," whose single of the same name won itself a number one chart spot in 1987. It was a highly personal song that reflected the well-known characteristics of southern rock's bad boy. The band members behind the man this weekend are no lightweights. Bruce Katz will appear on keyboard. "He can play jazz, blues, Bach, anything," Allman said. "Man, he's a heavy." Steve Potts, from Booker T and the MGs will be on drums. Jay Collins will appear on saxophone and flute. Allman calls his stylings "tasty." Mark McGee will be on the guitar with Jerry Jemmott on bass. Floyd Miles will be on percussion and lend an extra set of pipes to Allman on stage. Allman has known Miles for most of his life. "I grew up with Floyd. He was the one that turned me on to rhythm and blues. Back when my ride was a bicycle we'd ride down to the store and buy $2 records," Allman recounted. "He'd say 'this is Jimmy Reed, this is Otis Redding and this is BB King. Buy this.' Then I'd take them home and learn how to play 'em. If it weren't for him I probably wouldn't be here today." Clean and sober for almost a year, Allman is enjoying making music as much as ever. "I'm crazy about playing music. I've got to keep working," Allman said. "It's got to be new stuff too. You can't just rest on your laurels or things will start sounding the same. I'm pretty set up for the rest of my days, but if I should stop playing, I think I'd die." The Gregg Allman Band is nowhere near stopping with concerts booked through the middle of July with performances in Italy, Poland and England.