I recently discovered an audio interview with the legendary guitarist of the Allman Brothers, Duane Allman. In this interview, you can hear Duane speak candidly in an informal setting on Dickey Betts, creating the Allman Brothers Band, and about life in general.
The young guitarist seemed to have a very determined attitude, and to me comes off as a real true fan of music. He was so young back then, but you can tell that all he really wanted to do was play some good music.
In the interview he talks about adding a 7th member to the Allman Brothers ,but I don’t think that ever happened. I had never heard about that, and if you know more about it please comment about it.
He also talks candidly about playing with Otis Redding, which is really cool. Anyway, it’s very inspiring to hear a true legend speak about the things he was passionate about. Duane Allman is an incredible guitarist, and knew the sound he was looking for when he put together the Allman Brothers Band. He will always be remembered for his slide guitar, but his regular guitar playing was fantastic as well! Just listen to Stormy Monday!
In the interview he mentions that he only hired players that were better than him, and said “Well I’m the famous guitar player, but Dickey is the good one.”
Humility is a common trait among the most legendary guitarists, and I believe it is this attitude which truly rises them above the top. Jimi Hendrix, SRV, Duane Allman, Derek Trucks, and Eric Clapton are all verry humble guitar players. In every interview I’ve read or seen, they all talk as is they have so much to learn, which is what makes them so great.
Listen to the interview and give me your opinion of Duane, and what he has done for your guitar playing. I know without listening to Duane Allman, I would not be playing slide guitar. It was him that gave me the fire to practice and keep improving.
Listen Now
I’ve put out 6 DVDs of how to play in the Duane Allman style in Open E Tuning. Check them out here.
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I actually heard that Butch said that the seventh member was going to be Thom Ducette, I think that’s how it’s spelled, but the guy who played the harp at filmore east. Thought you might like to know that.
Thanks for the info.
I love Duane and the Allmans! I was supposed to be flying to ATL for the Chastaine show but the show ended up falling on my youngest son’s birthday. As all real Allman fans know, family comes first so my ticket will go to somebody else.
I agree that the 7th member was most likely Thom. I wonder if he will sit in at the 40th Anniversay shows at the Beacon next year (I will certainly be at a couple of those shows!)
pure inspuration!!
Thank you for putting this interview on your site. I haven’t heard this and it sure is good to hear Duane’s voice again after all these years. Duane could be pretty full of himself for good reason, but he did have an incredible humble side. You can hear the power of both and then some in his guitar playing.
@ Sandy Thanks for the comment. It’s great to hear the legend speak.
Thanks for posting that. It’s rare to hear an actual recording of Duane. I’ve been a huge Duane fan for over 25 years and even though this night he had a few to many Black Labels…….his passion shines through.
You know, Thom Ducette could very well have been the 7th member Duane referred to, as he was pretty close to the band at the time and fit in not only musically but philosophically, he was definitely there. I guess we’ll never really know. One other thing I would like to say, is creativity, technique, and passion comes from belief in yourself and the gift of music that manifests oneness must be acknowledged and treasured from the higher realms.
Thom Doucette has said that he was given the opportunity to join the band, but wasn’t really interested in a “real job” and the attendent responsibility of a structured environment, or having to be scheduled,so therefore he turned it down (the opportunity to join the band).
we all have found oneness with music, and life, often from influences outside our own realm. I have found this from music, literature, art,and the spoken word. But I have my own “V – 8″ moments when writing, drawing, or playing my own music on piano and guitar.
Spiritual satisfaction of the highest regard comes from within and the higher realms give support to those manifestations and treasured moments
Having followed the Allmans since the begining, (1969) I always thought that Doucette (sp?) was the 7th member that Duane spoke of when he mentioned adding another member on the radio interview. I remember seeing the band right before they broke out. Doucette performed a few songs with them but didn’t do the whole show. After that, he never was on any subsequent work that I am aware of.
my aunt was married to dickey betts!
that’s so cool.
hey im doing a report on duane allman and i need to know what kind of education he had….please help me
Hello Kolby…As far as I know, Duane dropped out of high school to become a full time guitar player….He did go to military school for awhile….Although he was a high school dropout, I understand that he was a very well read person…Hope that helps…If you need more info, let me know…His biography Skydog is available..
I knew that interview for a while – it´s really funny…
duane is so intense when he talked about music, the band ect.
I first listen to the brothers when I was 18 years old – now I am 42;
I still listen to the fillmore east album – it´s a corner stone of my record collection; and after I start learning to play guitar; it gets more incredible – he played things on the guitar that blows my socks off…
he´s the reason why I picked up the guitar;
one fine example is blue sky from the abb archive – stony brook 71;
the first solo is played by duane; he puts his soul in every note – the second solo by dickey is also awesome; with killer basslines from barry oakley – the whole band was on fire
As a guitarist Duane towers above pretty much everyone in the rock/blues vein and he was the inspiration for my picking up the guitar 35 years ago. His ranking behind Hendrix as #2 on most all time lists is well deserved. However, I find his comments about getting rid of his wife and kid disturbing. It seems immature and selfish. OK, wives come and go but, were I his daughter, I would feel insulted and betrayed. I am grateful for what he gave to his audience but saddened by what he didn’t give his child.
I heard the 7th man was a horn player from Boz Scaggs’ band….
Bloody hell he must have been a shit dad!!! I still love him though
Duane seems like such a cool guy. His speech is plain, but very sophistocated at the same. Its such a shame he was killed.
I regret I don’t play the guitar….but it was the influence of listening Duane playing “Live” @ The Fillmore East has been instumental for me to play the harmonica….I wish he was alive today so I can personally thank him….imagine if he was alive today….R.I.P. Duane and Happy 65th Birthday…..
I know at one point the Allman’s had offered a harp playing position to Richard Newell (AKA King Biscuit Boy), which he declined for personal reasons…… This was in the Crowbar days, early 70′s