Gregg Allman has lived the type of life that spawns movies.
The singer of the Allman Brothers found fame and riches creating classic rock staples like "Ramblin' Man" and "Whipping Post." Depending on whose legend you believe, he either coined the term "Southern rock" himself or inspired it with the Allman Brothers Band's countrified blues and bluesified country.
Gregg kept the Allman Brothers Band going for 45 years through countless reformations, pushing on after the fatal motorcycle crash of his brother Duane, and only calling it quits this past October out of fear of turning into a nostalgia act. That's without even mentioning Gregg Allman was once married to Cher.
So it was only fitting that Hollywood would come calling. But art had to imitate life when drama and tragedy hit on the first day of shooting Midnight Rider: The Gregg Allman Story and a crew member was killed on set. Lawsuits and criminal charges due to negligence were filed, and Allman has seemed to disassociate himself with the project. So we might never get the cinematic version of Gregg Allman's life.
Fortunately we still have the opportunity to experience his music as he embarks on a solo tour. Surprisingly, the live stage still terrifies him even after all the accolades, including a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.
As he told Esquire magazine, "Stage fright is not a thing about 'Am I any good?' It's about 'Am I gonna be good tonight?' It's a right-now thing. It helps me. If I went out there thinkin', Eh, we'll go slaughter 'em, I'm positive something would go seriously wrong."
He'll have a full eight-piece band and a legion of fans hooting and hollering to give him moral support as he takes the stage at Hard Rock Live this week.
Gregg Allman. 7 p.m., Sunday, January 4, at Hard Rock Live, One Seminole Way, Hollywood. Tickets cost from $40 to $60 plus fees. Call 866-502-7529, or visit seminolehardrockhollywood.com.
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