"BLUE" JIMMY: WORLD RENOWN ROCK CRITIC
BLIND DOG OZZY: NEUROTIC CHIHUAHUA
"BLUE" JIMMY: The Good Lord took Gregg Allman last May at the age of 69. I chose not to write a tribute to him alone even though he was a successful solo artist, because I'm sure he would have ALWAYS wanted to be known as the leader of the ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND.
BLIND DOG OZZY: F**k yeah!!!
"BLUE" JIMMY: Although he and his legendary brother Duane were born in Nashville Tenn., they first formed The Allman Brothers Band in Jacksonville, Florida. Later on, they made their home base in Atlanta, Georgia and still later moved to Macon. Let's put it this way, THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND was SOUTHERN with a capital "S" all through their lives. In later years, they tried to deny any association with pissed-off Redneck, sh**kicker bands like LYNYRD SKYNYRD, BLACKFOOT, POINT BLANK AND MOLLY HATCHET ...
BLIND DOG OZZY: ... But deep down, they know they started that whole scene!
"BLUE" JIMMY: Partying, taking psychedelic substances and rearranging old Blues numbers and writing songs that allowed keyboardist Gregg, slide guitar virtuoso Duane and Les Paul master Dickey Betts to improvise for hours, they forged a sound that caught the ears of early Hard Rock fans who loved to hear long jams by musicians who could do it well, thank you! This sound was also not lost on American music aficionados who could appreciate their deep Rock, Blues and Jazz roots but also bikers, dealers, trailer-trash yayhoos, Rock 'N' Roll Gypsies and f**ked up, Charles Manson-inspired, mean hippie freaks ...
BLIND DOG OZZY: ... The good people!
"BLUE" JIMMY: Predecessors to Bad Boy party bands such as VAN HALEN, MOTLEY CRUE and GUNS & ROSES, they had members become heroin junkies, had roadies start a backstage brawl with the GRATEFUL DEAD, had guitarist Dickie Betts arrested for assaulting a cop, had their tour manager stab and kill a promoter for non-payment and had founding guitarist Duane Allman and bassist Berry Oakley die in motorcycle accidents just as they were starting to find success.
BLIND DOG OZZY: Nice!
"BLUE" JIMMY: But let's not forget the most important thing ... the music! With Gregg on keyboards and Ray Charles-influenced vocals and two killer guitarists mixed with a rhythm section from Hell, they were like a Southern, hard rockin', Jack Daniels-soaked LED ZEPPELIN crossed with the soul and groove of SANTANA ...
BLIND DOG OZZY: ... Perfect party music with a bottle of Annie Green Springs and a big, fat joint!
"BLUE" JIMMY: Through the years they broke up and reformed countless times, even bringing in guitarist Derek Trucks, nephew of original drummer Butch Trucks, to play all of Duane Allman's legendary slide guitar parts. At one time they even had shredding Ozzy guitarist, Zakk Wylde sit in for Dickey Betts! ...
BLIND DOG OZZY: ... Imagine that sound!
"BLUE" JIMMY: But the one musician that held it all together all through the years was Greg Allman with his long blonde hair, steely blue/green eyes and powerful voice and Pentecostal Church keyboards that made you feel pure and sanctified all over again. If he had stood up from behind those keyboards and just held a mic stand, he would surely be considered one of the greatest frontmen/singers of all time! But he was content to be Gregg Allman, blonde, badass and brilliant as the leader of the band that made the South Rise Again ...
BLIND DOG OZZY: ... Hell Yeah!!!
"BLUE" JIMMY: Sake's Alive!
BLIND DOG OZZY: Wow! Wow!
bluejames61@hotmail.com
BLIND DOG OZZY: F**k yeah!!!
"BLUE" JIMMY: Although he and his legendary brother Duane were born in Nashville Tenn., they first formed The Allman Brothers Band in Jacksonville, Florida. Later on, they made their home base in Atlanta, Georgia and still later moved to Macon. Let's put it this way, THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND was SOUTHERN with a capital "S" all through their lives. In later years, they tried to deny any association with pissed-off Redneck, sh**kicker bands like LYNYRD SKYNYRD, BLACKFOOT, POINT BLANK AND MOLLY HATCHET ...
BLIND DOG OZZY: ... But deep down, they know they started that whole scene!
"BLUE" JIMMY: Partying, taking psychedelic substances and rearranging old Blues numbers and writing songs that allowed keyboardist Gregg, slide guitar virtuoso Duane and Les Paul master Dickey Betts to improvise for hours, they forged a sound that caught the ears of early Hard Rock fans who loved to hear long jams by musicians who could do it well, thank you! This sound was also not lost on American music aficionados who could appreciate their deep Rock, Blues and Jazz roots but also bikers, dealers, trailer-trash yayhoos, Rock 'N' Roll Gypsies and f**ked up, Charles Manson-inspired, mean hippie freaks ...
BLIND DOG OZZY: ... The good people!
"BLUE" JIMMY: Predecessors to Bad Boy party bands such as VAN HALEN, MOTLEY CRUE and GUNS & ROSES, they had members become heroin junkies, had roadies start a backstage brawl with the GRATEFUL DEAD, had guitarist Dickie Betts arrested for assaulting a cop, had their tour manager stab and kill a promoter for non-payment and had founding guitarist Duane Allman and bassist Berry Oakley die in motorcycle accidents just as they were starting to find success.
BLIND DOG OZZY: Nice!
"BLUE" JIMMY: But let's not forget the most important thing ... the music! With Gregg on keyboards and Ray Charles-influenced vocals and two killer guitarists mixed with a rhythm section from Hell, they were like a Southern, hard rockin', Jack Daniels-soaked LED ZEPPELIN crossed with the soul and groove of SANTANA ...
BLIND DOG OZZY: ... Perfect party music with a bottle of Annie Green Springs and a big, fat joint!
"BLUE" JIMMY: Through the years they broke up and reformed countless times, even bringing in guitarist Derek Trucks, nephew of original drummer Butch Trucks, to play all of Duane Allman's legendary slide guitar parts. At one time they even had shredding Ozzy guitarist, Zakk Wylde sit in for Dickey Betts! ...
BLIND DOG OZZY: ... Imagine that sound!
"BLUE" JIMMY: But the one musician that held it all together all through the years was Greg Allman with his long blonde hair, steely blue/green eyes and powerful voice and Pentecostal Church keyboards that made you feel pure and sanctified all over again. If he had stood up from behind those keyboards and just held a mic stand, he would surely be considered one of the greatest frontmen/singers of all time! But he was content to be Gregg Allman, blonde, badass and brilliant as the leader of the band that made the South Rise Again ...
BLIND DOG OZZY: ... Hell Yeah!!!
"BLUE" JIMMY: Sake's Alive!
BLIND DOG OZZY: Wow! Wow!
bluejames61@hotmail.com
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