Chattanooga Times Free Press reporter Barry Courter conducted an online interview with Gregg Allman in which he talked about the end of the Allman Brothers Band, the re-launching of his solo career and the future.
Q: The Allman Brothers Band played its final show last December; does this feel like the beginning of something brand new, and are you excited about what the future holds? Does it have that starting over kind of feel or more of simply an extension of what you've always done?
A: Remember, I've had a solo career for well over 40 years now, so it's not really all that different to me. There's just no bouncing back and forth from band to band anymore. I am very proud of how the Allman Brothers finished up; we did it on our own terms, and we went out on top. I never wanted us to become a parody of ourselves, and I know my brother would have approved. It's over now, and I'm very happy to be focusing on my solo career. I'm having a blast, man.
Q: I also know from conversations with Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes that they both had high praise for their time with the band. How was it for you knowing the end was coming, and did you consider reforming it and continuing on with a new ABB?
A: I knew around the time of our 40th anniversary shows back in 2009 that the end was coming; I think we all knew it. Most everyone wanted to do other things, and that was fine by me. As it stands right now, there are no future plans for the Allman Brothers.
Q: Over the years, you've done your own solo work and work with the Gregg Allman Band, so this latest phase is not new. In your mind, are they drastically different animals? Does one allow you do to do some things you can't or wouldn't with the other?
A: The biggest difference is that with my band there is only one cook in the kitchen, if you follow me. With the Allman Brothers, you had three or four people trying to stir the pot, and let me tell you, that complicated things. There's a lot less drama in my band, and boy, that makes things easy.
Q: Are there Gregg Allman songs that you didn't play with ABB that you would now play with the new group, for example? If so, do you mind sharing an example?
A: There are several actually, but the best example has to be "Queen of Hearts." That's an interesting story; while we were working on the "Brothers and Sisters" album, I brought "Queen of Hearts" into the studio. I thought it was pretty good, but I couldn't get anybody to really listen to it. I kept after it, but eventually I was flat-out told that the song just didn't say anything. Boy, that was all it took; my solo career was launched right then and there. I started working on "Laid Back," my first solo album, and it's gone on from there. That rejection was the best thing that ever happened to my career, so "Queen of Hearts" is a song that is still very special to me.
Q: Are their any other new projects on the horizon?
A: We have a live CD coming out this summer from a smokin' show my solo band did down in Macon, GA, in 2014, and I still have plans to cut an album made up of only my songs. The credits will read, "All compositions by Gregory L. Allman." I'm working on lots of things, man, and I've never been happier.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.