The Allman Brothers Band

The Allman Brothers Band‘s story fits Behind the Music‘s mad-libs approach to music history perfectly: “It was (insert year), and (insert band name) was riding high on the success of (insert album name), but little did its members know that their roughest times were just around the corner.” Yet the group has moved past the tragic loss of brother Duane Allman in 1971 and the scandalously abrupt dismissal of the band’s other original guitarist, Dickey Betts, in 2000, navigating its way into an inprobable third decade. Thanks to Gregg Allman’s unwavering presence behind the Hammond B3 organ, the band has stayed true to its Southern-rock roots, though only three original members remain. However, the addition of bassist Oteil Burbridge, who’s been know to offer a spirited take on the Dead’s classic “Franklin’s Tower,” and the adoption of slide guitarist Warren Haynes into the family has provided a much-needed jolt of fresh energy. Though a little more worn and weary than in the days of its landmark double-album Eat a Peach and its legendary 1971 Fillmore East run, the Allman Brothers Band continues to make its living on the road, a demanding lifestyle that has claimed the collective nervous systems of groups a quarter of its age.

Meanwhile, as the family continues to grow, so does the talent of the children it has produced. As the son of perennial ABB percussionist/drummer Butch Trucks, 22-year-old guitar phenomenon Derek Trucks cut his teeth with the group before forming and touring with his own quintet, the Derek Trucks Band, which builds on his unique blues/rock heritage.