June 4, 2008

Duane Allman


I discovered Duane Allman's music in 1975, four years after his death. That summer I started hitchhiking down to the Laguna Beach almost every day. There was a stretch of sand not far off the boardwalk that had an old wall which had been transformed into a memorial site: "The Duane Allman Wall".

It was nothing official, just something some devoted fans decided to do in his memory. It was a whitewashed brick wall about 20 feet long and 8 feet tall. Just a lone wall in the sand, that must have survived the demise of whatever it was once attached to.

I wish I had a photo of it to show you, it spoke volumes about how much Duane was loved and appreciated for his talent and how devastated his fans were when he tragically died. It was covered in notes to Duane, drawings of him, very colorful and very 70's.

I became intrigued and had to learn more about him. Back in those days you couldn't plug in your laptop and have instant access to information on any and every topic imaginable, I had to rely on word of mouth. I had a great source of musically info, my older cousin, Greg. I sat with Greg and listened to Duane Allman and got an education. He also taught me all about the other greats that I was too young to ever "know", Janis, Jimi and Jim.

This story also has a personal meaning because my son is planning on buying a motorcycle the second he turns 18 (dec. 7!) and I am in denial. I just can't bear the thought of it.

All this to say - Rock Revival has a great post on Duane today, you should check it out.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

And don't forget: Duane is responsible for "Layla", Layla. Not Clapton. ;)

Bar L. said...

Hatter - DAMN RIGHT!!!!!! In fact when I put in his name to find a photo up popped "my" avatar. I sure hope I never get sued for using it.

Dan said...

As much as I loved Duane's abilities, I love Greg's even more. He is an outstanding keyboardist and an even better singer. They really were a talented group when they were in their prime. It is too bad we had to lose Duane.

Jessica said...

Never heard him...I'll have to check him out! :)

JohnnyG said...

oh my... Never heard of him? How tragic. Makes me feel old. He was the SRV of the time and one of the early masters who fused blues with rock. Most people back then didn't realize what they were listening to. His version of Stormy Monday with the masterful co-leads shared with Dicky Betts still ranks among the best. I was introduced to Statesboro Blues by Duane Allman on the Fillmore East album. I still miss him after all these years and wonder what might have been.

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

Woah first off...Jessica...go get some Duane (this album is a good intro to him) and listen to what he was all about...

Hatter...not only is he responsible for the incredible guitar on "Layla", he is the one who suggested to Aretha to do "The Weight" AND for Wilson Pickett doing "Hey Jude" (both featured on this Anthology)

Anthology2 was put out to piggyback the success of this first album and does not stack up, but still has some incredible songs.

Layla, did you know I "sorta met" Duane? 1970..Stony Brook University on LI...they played opening for Mountain...

Did not catch the name of the band, but was blown away by them...went to the men's room at the break..standing at the urinal and next to me is this guy..I say "Hey weren't you in the band that just played?" HIM "Yes" ME "who the hell are you guys, you were great and i missed the intro" HIM "Ah we're the Allman brothers Band, my name is Duane"

never realized the impact of that until I heard he died...

and not to make this longer than your post, but saw the Brothers, Madison Square garden, just after Berry died, sitting right over Greg's should (watched him do coke off the B3 all night) they go into "One Way Out"..my eyes are closed and I am hearing the slide part..open my eyes and realize Dickie is playing lead...no one playing slide and now it is gone...close my eyes the slide comes back...it was in my head...hearing it note for not...

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

That should have been "right over Greg's Shoulder"

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

oops sorry...Want to learn even more about this genius (personally I think he is tied with Jimi at #1

read SKYDOG By Randy Poe...gives you inside looks at the Muscle Shoals recording sessions that are featured on this album (remember he was just a session guitarist at that point!)

LOL...you touched a nerve here ...a good one...

Bar L. said...

Dan, I agree - they are all talented, a great band.

Jessica, don't let these guys give you a hard time - but yeah, I think you will like him. BONAROO, Baby! Its almost here.

Johnny G - great description! Thanks for stopping by. I love this comment!

Bond - WOW!!!! I love it! Thanks for sharing that. I got choked up reading about the concert after Berry's death...can't imagine.
I cherish the moment I met SRV, but it wasn't in the men's room and I KNEW who he was :)

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

Barbara.... it was so surreal ..I turned to my friend and said "can you hear the slide?" and he told me to take another hit cause I must of been crazy...but it was there...like Duane knew I had to hear it...

Johnnyg...If he were still alive he would have been #1 on the RS list...and he would have played with the greatest of the greats...one thing he loved was the session work...

Anonymous said...

What really kills me about Duane Allman is what we didn't get to hear from him. I mean, everyone knows I'm not particularly nice with guitarists I think are hacks, ahem, but at the same time, when I love 'em I love 'em, and Duane was the man.

Anonymous said...

one of the best. i've had a long term interest as well and never get tired of duane

best,

Anonymous said...

Had Duane lived on, he probably would be recognized as the greatest rock guitarist ever. If you only know his work with the Allman Brothers Band, check out his playing on Wilson Pickett's cover of The Beatles "Hey Jude" or the phenomenal blues crawl of Boz Scaggs' "Loan Me A Dime." Classic stuff!

Paul Rhodes said...

oh man, so many people love duane, was he the srv of his time though, I mean was srv that good compared to duane; not sure, tied with jimi at #1, a big call, now better than clapton I would agree on, as is the great rory gallagher and johnny winter, clapton can come after them if he wants, oh, but freddie king has to come before clapton because he copied him, oh yes and jj cale, oh yeah, and ronnie earl, buddy guy, then clapton.

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