Duane Allman: Encyclopedia II - Duane Allman - Success Layla and tragedy

Duane Allman - Success Layla and tragedy

The Allman Brothers Band went on to become one of the best and most influential rock groups of the 1970s, described by Rolling Stone's George Kimball in 1971 as "the best ... rock and roll band this country has produced in the past five years" [1]. After months of nonstop rehearsing and gigging, including fondly remembered free shows in Macon's Central Park and Atlanta's Piedmont Park, the band was ready to settle on the band name we know and to record. Their debut album, The Allman Brothers Band, was recorded in New York in September 1969 and released a couple months later. In the midst of intense touring, work began in Macon and Miami (Atlantic South - Criteria Studios), and a little bit in New York, on the ABB's second album, Idlewild South Produced mostly by Tom Dowd, Idlewild South was released in August 1970 and broke ground for the ABB by quickly hitting the Billboard charts.

A group date in Miami, also that August, gave Duane the chance to participate in Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. Clapton had long wanted to meet Duane; when he heard that the Allman Brothers were due to play in Miami, where he had just started work on Layla with Dowd, he insisted on going to see their concert, where he met Duane. After the show the two bands--the Allman Brothers Band and Derek and the Dominos--returned to Criteria, where Duane and Eric quickly formed a deep rapport during an all-night jam session.[2] Duane wound up participating on most of the album's tracks, contributing some of his best-known slide guitar work as well as brilliant regular lead.

Duane never left the Allman Brothers Band, though, despite being offered a permanent position with Clapton. The Allman Brothers went on to record At Fillmore East, one of the classic live albums of rock and roll, in March 1971. Meanwhile, Duane continued contributing session work to other artists' albums whenever he could.

Tragically, Duane was killed in a motorcycle accident only a few months after the summer release and great initial success of At Fillmore East. While in Macon on October 29, during a band break from touring and recording, Duane was riding toward an oncoming truck that was turning well in front of him but then stopped in midintersection. Duane lost control of his Harley-Davidson Sportster motorcycle while trying to swing left, possibly striking the back of the truck or its crane ball. Duane flew from his bike, which landed on and skidded with him, crushing internal organs; he died a few hours later.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Success Layla and tragedy", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki