Yahoo Lifestyle Allman Brothers Alums Look Back on Band Members Who Died as They Prepare for Comeback Concerts (Exclusive)
Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks of The Allman Brothers Band and The Brothers are looking back on their late bandmates as they prepare for their upcoming shows at Madison Square Garden.
"I think they would be glad that we're honoring the music and keeping it going and doing it with the right spirit and the adventure, you know?" Haynes, 65, exclusively tells Parade of the longtime band's departed members. "Because part of the spirit of the Allman Brothers is for every show to be different, every interpretation of the songs [has got] to be different. Take it somewhere different on a nightly basis, and that's what we're doing, and that's what they would want."
(Several members of The Allman Brothers Band have died since the band formed in 1969. Guitarist Dickey Betts died in 2024, while Gregg Allman and Butch Trucks both died in 2017. Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident in 1971 while bassist Berry Oakley was also killed in a motorcycle crash in 1972.)
Trucks, 45, adds: "No doubt about it, and you know they — Butch and Gregg and Dickey — they'd all be proud to know that [our] music [is] being played in New York City and [at] Madison Square [Garden]. That wouldn't be lost on them, either. Butch couldn't help himself if a band was up there getting it and playing those tunes. He'd be great."
As for which songs in their set makes the duo feel their presence most, Trucks tells Parade that there are a "few" tunes that "hits different people."
"There's certain grooves where I can feel my uncle Butch. His groove on 'Whipping Post,' or his shuffle on 'Statesboro Blues,'" he says. "There's tunes like 'Dreams,' or there's a few others where I just feel like Gregg — you can't hear that and not think of him, not think of his vibe and his energy. I mean, those guys were larger than life. I don't know if I've ever met anybody that had more natural charisma than Gregg … he was just dripping with it. So their big presences, you definitely feel them up there."
The pair went on to reflect on the full-circle moment that comes with playing back-to-back concerts at Madison Square Garden, which are slated to take place on April 15 and April 16.
"The last show that we did at Madison Square Garden was the day before COVID shut down everything, and so we were able to do that one show before the chaos began," Haynes said. "This will be the first time in five years that we've played together."
The Brothers consist of Jaimoe (drums, founding ABB member), Haynes (guitars, vocals), Trucks (guitars), Oteil Burbridge (bass), and Marc Quiñones (percussion) with Joe Russo (drums), Reese Wynans (keys), Isaac Eady (drums) and special guest Chuck Leavell (piano).
In addition to their Madison Square Garden shows, The Brothers are taking over the new SiriusXM Southern Rock channel this month, streaming now as an in-app exclusive, then airing on satellite channel 79 starting Tuesday, April 8.
In addition to the sounds of The Allman Brothers, fans can hear early Southern rock pioneers and contemporary trailblazers, including Gov’t Mule and Tedeschi Trucks Band. There is also exclusive content, including nightly live performances, special guest DJs and personal insights from the band members, as well as a special live performance from The Brothers at SiriusXM’s NYC studios.
Tickets for The Brothers' Madison Square Garden shows can be purchased here.
