Over the weekend I finished reading, My Cross to Bear, the recently released memoir of Gregg Allman, the surviving Allman Brother who has carried on the name for The Allman Brothers Band as well as releasing his own solo albums, and touring with The Gregg Allman Band. And there is so much more to his story. There were three marriages before he was 30. Six in total. One to Cher - and one of music's all-time low points when they released an album together as Allman and Woman.
I knew a lot of the Gregg Allman story beforehand - I'm an Allman Brothers fan and, just over a year ago now, I interviewed Gregg as part of the promo-rounds for his "comeback"/return to form album, Low Country Blues. So I studied up a little more then.
As a fan I was ticking off the moments in the book - his fling with acting included a favourite film of mine, Rush (with a soundtrack by Eric Clapton). So Rush gets a few paragraphs. One of several "comeback" albums from The Allman Brothers Band was 1990's Seven Turns - a favourite of mine from when I was a teenager, discovering the band's old albums alongside its latest releases. So that was in the book too. Another tick. At one point Allman writes about how when he did the rounds discussing Low Country Blues there were calls for him to tour Australia and New Zealand and he has always been keen to visit New Zealand for the fishing (he's a mad-keen fisherman). I smiled at that point, remembering having a discussion with Allman about his fishing and various spots he could visit in New Zealand if he made it here.
But what I got from this book - from its opening pages to the very end - was a great feeling of passion for music, the spirit and energy of rock'n'roll, the love for and vibe of the blues. And honesty. Gregg Allman has faced plenty of demons - and he ticks those off here (in both senses of the word) running through his vices, the darkness, the stupidity of many of his actions.
At the heart of the book - there's that music, always, superb music from a great band - is the sadness of him (and the band) losing his brother Duane. At such a young age too. Duane had already accomplished a great deal, with session work and the early bands that he and Gregg had worked in before forming The Allman Brothers.
As the band pondered carrying on after Duane's death there was, in a way, nothing to ponder. It was necessary. The records they had just released were runaway hits - the band that had been on the verge of making it big was now a main-event player. The reputation was cemented - that classic At Fillmore East and its follow-up, Eat a Peach were the last albums to feature Duane's contributions to the band. Peach was completed after his death. And then Brothers and Sisters was released.
The band was now a superstar group. Dickey Betts had stepped up as a writer, taking the band in a new direction with Ramblin' Man and the instrumental Jessica (known now, to most, as the Top Gear theme). The record was a huge hit.
With that came prodigious drug habits, in-band fights, the silent (and not so silent) power struggle between Betts and Allman over leadership of the group and Gregg's search for happiness - looking for it at the bottom of any bottle, at the end of whatever line was spread on a mixing desk, in bed/s with so many women...
But none of this is told to boast. It's not quite a cautionary tale either, simply a record of the time - and a reflection of that (different) time; a rock star admitting to a rock star life and world. You, as the reader, can put whatever value judgment on it that you like. But these are the facts of Gregg Allman's life as he remembers them.
I loved the book. It was deeply satisfying; on a level that so many rock-star autobiographies never quite reach.
I went into the book a fan - and I came out even more of a fan.
When I was 10 years old I saw and heard a snippet of Duane Allman's guitar playing - the band in support, this machine churning behind him, propelling this ferocious, blistering, amazing sound. It was, at that time, quite unlike anything I'd heard. And I was aware of Cream and Clapton, Santana and a few of the Allmans' contemporaries. But there was a feeling of exaltation here, something quite otherworldly - and I'm talking about 15-30 seconds of audio and video-clip. It made that much of an impression.
It took me a few more years to actually find the song - via the Frank Zappa version of Whipping Post, which I like, too. But, eventually, I found the performance (of Whipping Post). Now it's here on YouTube to dial up any old time. And I do. Often. I still play Live at Fillmore East; I still play Eat a Peach and Brothers and Sisters. I still listen to The Allman Brothers Band. But through it all, through the played-out searing lines of Layla and on through some of Duane's sessions (here's a great one with John Hammond) it is this clip that conveys the spirit of transcendence that I feel from this band; that draws me to the sound.
Gregg was (is) a great singer, musician and writer. The colourful life, some smart choices, some woeful - that's all back-story. It might be the reason that many will reach for this book - and that would be fair enough. But the music is not an accessory here, nor was it a prop to create the lifestyle. The music is the thing.
The music is the real deal. And I felt that in the book - and then again when I returned to the (actual) music.
And that was the best part of reading this book. That's always the best part of reading any great music biography. Being reminded. Being turned on (or turned on again) to a sound. And a feel. The pulse, the groove, the flow.
My Cross to Bear is the best music biography I've read in a long time, certainly the best this year - and one I'd recommend to anyone interested in music books. If you're an Allman Brothers fan it's a no-brainer, but I'd like to think that if you only have a casual interest in the band, or in fact are completely unfamiliar, then there's plenty here not only to turn you on to the sound and style: there's wisdom and passion here - there's an extraordinary life that's been lived hard. And there's survival. Even if only just. There's humility, frustration, and again, honesty.
There's also, at every point, the tragedy of a man losing his brother - one of music's true taken-before-their-time legend-in-the-making types. A hero. A master. And it's palpable, visceral. It's felt on nearly every page. Just as the music is. It gets to you. It cuts through. And that was, for me, what was so great about reading this book. It's written with a heavy heart, a weary head and a closet of skeletons to air.
I also had to pinch myself, almost, when I got to the end of it. Remembering that I had been so lucky to have a really rewarding chat with this person; something very special for me.
So are you a Gregg Allman/Allman Brothers Band fan? And will you read My Cross to Bear? Or have you read it already? What did you think? And what's the best music biography you've read this year?
You can keep up with Blog on the Tracks on Facebook and follow on Twitter
Sponsored links
Newest First
Oldest First
I thought this post was going to be about a news anchor introducing a live report from newly hired weatherman and ex Man Vs Wild presenter Bear Grylls.
Read your review, am a long time Allman Brothers fan. Duane possibly the greatest guitarist of all time, and have for the past year been enjoying Low Country Blues, Gregg's best work since Brothers and Sisters. Thanks for this I will be reading the book.
Did he mention the infamous episode where the 'authorities' came down on them for drug use and Greg did a deal whereby he got off while putting in the band manager as a pusher - who got jail time ?! Saved his own skin and career , but hardly the right thing to do to your friends and associates .
Dicky Betts would likely have been a better leader for the band ( and guitarist , and songwriter ) but then his name isn't Allman.
On a better note , yes, Duane Allman - killed in motorbike crash - was an iconic guitarist...marvellous feel . And he pioneered a cross-picking style ( all right hand ) that has been widely adopted now. I've even seen Dave Davies of the Kinks do it in concert ( excellent feel , top song writer ).
Steve Howe from Yes is famous for doing it at dazzling speed - check Awaken or 'Yours is No Disgrace'-live- by Yes on YouTube . Steve and Jan Akkerman ( Focus ) arguably best all-round guitarists .
One of the best electric guitarists I've heard anywhere is Garry Frost from Aussie band Moving Pictures . He once told me that the cross picking was a Duane Allman lick . Garry does it at full speed , varying it, eg in long solos [( check remarkable guitar solo in Busting Loose - ignore the lyrics ( by Alex ) and focus on the band .....on Youtube . Very hard to beat as an electric guitar solo .)]
Garry wrote that hit song ""What About Me"" , with wife Fran - who did some of the lyrics . The music alone is exceptional. Moving Pictures were outstanding live - didn't translate much on record.
Anyway , a memory of the Allman bros band should focus on Duane , and Dicky Betts , for musical value.
Huge fan of Gregg and the band. I like Low Country Blues but not the production so much, I would have liked his voice to be higher in the mix, some of the music was relatively too loud. The last ABB studio album Hittin' the Note was a great blues album, brilliant singing and playing, one of their best.
Have the book and will read it very soon. Wish he and/or the band would come to NZ, but Australia would be close enough, although their fishing wouldn't be as much fun for him.
My dream holiday? A week in New York when the Allman Brothers are doing their gigs at the Beacon Theatre, I'd go every night! Never tire of the music.
Yeah, I am an Allman Brothers fan, from 1977 when I first heard "Live At Fillmore East" on a friend's turntable. I bought the album a few years later, lost it, then just this year bought a compilation album of their greatest hits including those from their live gig.
To be honest, despite having a good dig around on the interwebs to find out more about the Allmans after re-introducing myself to their music, I haven't researched things properly, as I'd assumed that Duane and Dickie Betts were the heart of the Allmans Bros Band. I thought Greg was making a living trading off the early successes and just playing in a kind of covers band of their music. Then there was watching the "Crossroads" DVD a few weeks back, when Greg was supposed to be playing, but was absent due to needing a liver transplant. Tough stuff to go through, so I guess that's in there too? So... I reckon I need to get hold of this book and have a read.
I always loved that Duanne Allman Anthology which included a stunning range of tracks he'd done session work on.
And then, for the Allman brothers,'Brothers and Sisters' is the album for me, even if it is post-Duanne. The tracks Wasted Words and Southbound have such interesting and original rhythms. I'd love a really top shelf remaster project on this material.
Oh yeah! The Allman Brothers Band are the s**t. However, Whilst acknowledging Duane's greatness, for me Dicky Betts is the man! A vastly underrated guitarist, who really stepped up to the plate when Duane got killed. His contribution to the band is massive. Haven't read Gregg's book yet, but will definitely check it out soon. He was good in 'Rush' too: seemed to be playing himself kinda...drugs, sleaze, long blond hair...
Yep have enjoyed the Allman Brothers for years, but sadly my recordings are on vinyl & tape, & no turntable or tape deck (note to self, turntable or CD versions ...). Along with Filmore East, Eat a Peach, & Brothers & Sisters, I really enjoyed Gregg's album "Laid Back" - recorded the same year as Brothers & Sisters. Great stuff.
More recently have been enjoying Low Country Blues (thanks Simon). Might have to give the book a go.
it's a good book, the power struggle within the band though was more between Dickey and Butch Trucks, who when Gregg was 'incapacitated' tried to lead the band. It's a shame as I'd love to see Dickey Betts play with the ABB again. Dickey has his own problems with drugs and alcohol though, Duane once said after one of the Fillmore gigs, "whoo! did you hear Dickey tonight?"
Good to see Gregg up and about though, all the best to him and the ABB.
In my humble opinion I place 'Enlightened Rogues' as a classic album with some great songs and instrumentals.