Midnight Riders: The Story of the Allman Brothers Band

This is a "very detailed" book on the story & history of the Allman Brothers Band. It starts with the childhood of Duane & Gregg in their birthplace of Nashville, TN, and continues through the release of the Allman Brothers Band (ABB) 1994 album, "Where It All Begins".It is a very "complex story", you get the story of Duane & Gregg growing up, and about how their father was murdered. Then it tells how their Mom (Momma A), after getting an accounting degree, moved with the boys down to Daytona, Florida. It covers how the band was put together by Duane. Then you get the deaths of Duane & Berry, both from motorcycle accidents. It covers all the different line-ups and personnel changes that were made in the band, through the years. Then you have the music, the girl friends, the wifes, the drugs, trouble with the law, civil lawsuits within the "brotherhood", and etc. It really is a story of "sex, drugs, & rock & roll!!!!Some things that stood out for me included the following:You get a story & history of Phil Walden, the founder of Capricorn Records, and a story of Capricorn Records, that was is Macon, Georgia.Page 74 - You get the "real" story of the song "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed", that was written by Dickey Betts. It's an interesting story & was told by Duane. Dickey wanted it to be a secret.Page 131 - Before Berry Oakley died from his motorcycle accident, he became "obsessed" with the Robert Johnson song "Hellhound on my trail" (This was one of the last songs Robert Johnson recorded, and he sang it, as if he was reaping the consequences of his encounter with the Devil at the Crossroads.)P.154 Dickey Betts' song "Ramblin Man" was based on the Hank Williams song "Ramblin Man". Dickey's version contains the "spirit" of the Hank Williams version, and Dickey did an excellent job of "re-working", "updating", "spicing-up"and "rewriting" the song, to fit his story. After he was living in Georgia, and the "Big House" they lived in was on Highway 41". Apparently he was really into this song, one night, and after listening to the Hank Williams version, he finally came up with his own "up-beat" version, which is his original song, but was "inspired" by the Hank Williams song of the same name. He went to the kitchen of the "Big House" in Macon, GA at 4:00 in the morning, and sat down and hand wrote his version of this song, which became the highest chart rated song of the ABB. This is not in the book, but at the Rock & Roll Hame of Fame at the ABB exhibit, Dickey's handwritten lyrics to this song are on display.In the song "Ain't Wastin' No More Time", written by Gregg not long after Duane's death, it contains the following lyrics "If you look inside your mind, and you don't like what you see, then leave your mind alone, and go get high".The Main trouble the band had was when they had become successful and were living in Macon, Georgia. Gregg was hooked on Cocaine &/or Heroin real bad. Anyway, the "brotherhood", including an assistant manager Scooter Herring found a way to get drugs for Greg's heavy appetite for them. Scooter was able to obtain drugs for Gregg, so he was basically Gregg's supplier. Anyway, the entire "brotherhood", including Gregg, & Scooter were caught up in a drug sting operation. Anyway, in order to save himself, Gregg wound up testifying against Scooter. Scooter got convicted and had to do some serious prison time. That's when the band bacially, broke up, and the "brotherhood" turned against Gregg. They felt like Gregg had betrayed the "Brotherhood". Later on Scooter's prison sentence was shortened. Gregg had gotten off "scotch free".Eventually forgiveness & reconciliation came, and the ABB (the brotherhood), were reunited, around 1989. Dickey invited Warren Haynes to join the ABB, and Warren & ABB accepted Warren as a member. They have been recording and performing ever since.Gregg Allman had a "live-in" girl friend in Macon, who was James Arness's daughter, he lived with "Matt Dillon's" daughter The Matt Dillon from the TV show "Gunsmoke". Gregg also when through 5 marriages in this book, including one with Cher. They had a son from this marriage named Elijah Blue Allman. Greg also has a son from his first wife Shelly, who is named Devon Lane Allman. Devon now has his own band, and plays music similiar to his fathers music. Gregg oldest son (I'm not sure who the mother was) is Michael Allman and he is talented also. Gregg has 5 kids total.Duane has a daughter from his "common law" wife Donna. Her name is Galadrille.Jaimoe married Berry Oakley's sister Candice Oakley, but they later divorced.Dickey Betts has a son Duane Betts, who is now in Dickey's band "Great Southern".Dickey is no longer with the ABB, he is recording and touring with his own band "Great Southern".Butch Trucks nephew Derek Trucks has his own "Southern Rock" Band.There's a Berry Oakey Jr. and he is a musician also.The book has a "selected" discography up through the album "Where it all begins".This book ends before the Derek Trucks & Oteil Burbridge ABB Era.Duane Allman has been inducted into Georgia Music Hall of Fame, and in 1995 The Allman Brothers Band were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hame of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.Overall, this is a great, very detailed book on the story & history of the Allman Brothers Band up through 1994. I do highly recommend it. Thanks!!!!

This book covers the Allman Brothers Band from Duane and Gregg's boyhood through 1994. The book is well written and researched and is hard to put down.The history of the Allman Brothers Band is tragic.Drug and alcohol abuse dominated the band's existence and helped fuel both personal and financial tragedy for most of the band members and their families.It is disgusting to think about the amount of money these guys wasted on drugs, alcohol, divorces, and extravagant life styles. Their drug-fueled behavior was shameful and embarrassing, especially when you compare them with hard-working everyday folks who financially struggle just to feed and cloth their families. This band never grew up.It is interesting to speculate what would have happened to this band if Duane Allman would have been around. Although he also had his own alcohol and drug demons, he was the driving force behind the band.I once read a quote that said, "If a person is destined to drown he will find a way to do it on the desert." In my opinion, this band and its members were destined to drown with or without Duane Allman, because of the alcohol and drug abuse.I am looking forward to reading Gregg Allman's new book to see how he spins the chaos he created and who he blames for his failures.After reading Midnight Riders, I have no sympathy for Gregg Allman, just pity.

I'm of the mind that, just in terms of anecdotes and more personal information, this is the stand-out among the band biographies about the Allman Brothers. For example, Freeman really drills down into Gregory's relationship with Scooter Herring and the related litigation.if you are an Allman Brothers fan and aficionado, this is a "must have" item.

Good book in terms of writing, but the band is a train wreck once Duane dies.The book covers the band and their history up until two decades ago. I've enjoyed their music for decades and I wanted to know more about Duane. Well written and documented. I enjoy biographies and I read this right after I read Buddy Guys latest book. That was a puff piece so this book needed to be a bit more honest for me to like it. It was honest and well done, but the subjects turned out to be lower quality and not worth the print.I knew Greg was a problem child but this book clarified he was a really insecure and a self centered child. I met him after a show a while ago and I was shocked how he looked. A hollow guy with no personality. It made sense after reading this. He makes NBA players look like great fathers. I read the last half of the book wondering how things would have been if Duane had lived and all these people hadn't gone off the rails. The book basically is like watching a decade long train wreck.Worth a read for a cheap price. Not the authors fault. It goes in my library and gives me some perspective. It may not be authoritative but I sure wouldn't read anything else related to these guys. I love Derek Tricks and Warren Haynes and I miss Duane. The rest can fade away.

Having followed and been a fan of the Allman Brothers Band since 1971/72, I've been a bit confused by the rumors of strife and conflict inside the band. This book cleared up my confusion. It does not take sides, but it clearly demonstrates why and who caused what problems. It's a good thorough history, going back to before the Allman Joys of the mid-60's and bringing the story up to the mid-90's -- a huge undertaking! It's not just a history of the members of the band, but also a very thorough album review of each release during the time period covered. When I say "thorough" I mean, right down to each track on each album cut in the time period covered in the book. I think it is a worthy read, if for no other reason than to understand why Dickey Betts and Greg Allman have been alternately labeled as the strength of the band, or as the poison in the band.

Excellent