NASHVILLE |DATE: JULY 23, 2008
FROM: TODD BRODGINSKI/MITCH SCHNEIDER/BARI LIEBERMAN
THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND
PLAN RETURN TO ROAD AFTER 11-MONTH BREAK
WITH DATES KICKING OFF AUGUST 12;
GREGG ALLMAN SPEAKS ABOUT RECOVERY FROM HEPATITIS C
Rock and roll icons THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND will make their triumphant return to the concert stage this summer, with two dozen shows booked from August 12 through October 11. On the first leg of dates, the group will share the stage with Bob Weir & RatDog, with Phil Lesh and Friends on board for the second leg.
The August 12 show in Bethel, NY will mark the first group performance since last September’s featured guest spot at Farm Aid (9/9/07), which followed a Piedmont Park appearance in Atlanta (9/8/07) with the Dave Matthews Band. Late last year after the group’s summer tour, group co-founder, keyboardist and singer GREGG ALLMAN underwent treatment for Hepatitis C. ALLMAN battled through two months of debilitating Interferon treatments but has made a complete recovery and is now disease-free. “I feel great, man,” says ALLMAN. “The treatment really kicks you in the ass but I came out stronger. I’m ready to play.” Hepatitis C is a blood-borne disease that affects approximately four million people in the U.S. alone and can cause liver cancer or necessitate a transplant. Due to the side effects of the aggressive Interferon treatment, the group had to postpone their annual run of dates at the Beacon Theatre in New York City as well as performances at Bonnaroo and their own Wanee Festival in Florida.
“I’ve known about having the disease for a long time, but was never a candidate for treatment until last year,” continues ALLMAN. “When my doctor told me to go for the Interferon, I knew it would be a battle, but I’m great now.” Side effects from Interferon treatment include flu-like symptoms and chronic fatigue. “I just didn’t have the energy to play,” says the keyboardist/singer. “And we’re a band that puts on 2-hour shows that change every single night. You gotta be at full capacity to do that. And now I am.”
During the downtime, the other members of ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND–BUTCH TRUCKS (drums and tympani), JAIMOE (drums), WARREN HAYNES (vocals, lead and slide guitar), DEREK TRUCKS (slide and lead guitar), OTEIL BURBRIDGE (bass) and MARC QUINONES (congas and percussion)–stayed busy with various projects. JAIMOE toured with his Jasssz Band; HAYNES tours non-stop with his band Gov’t Mule; TRUCKS joined Eric Clapton as guitarist for an extensive world tour and also performed with wife Susan Tedeschi’s Soul Stew Revival; and OTEIL toured with former Grateful Dead percussionist Bill Kreutzman.
Here are the current ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND tour dates. Check out www.allmanbrothersband.com for the latest.
| Date: | City: | Venue: | With: | ||||||
| Tue | 8/12 | Bethel, NY | Bethel Woods Center | Bob Weir & RatDog | |||||
| Wed | 8/13 | Wantagh, NY | Nikon at Jones Beach Theater | Bob Weir & RatDog | |||||
| Fri | 8/15 | Holmdel, NJ | PNC Bank Arts Center | Bob Weir & RatDog | |||||
| Sat | 8/16 | Mansfield, MA | Tweeter Center | Bob Weir & RatDog | |||||
| Tue | 8/19 | Saratoga Springs, NY | Saratoga Performing Arts Center | Bob Weir & RatDog | |||||
| Wed | 8/20 | Hartford, CT | New England Dodge Music Center | Bob Weir & RatDog | |||||
| Fri | 8/22 | Canandaigua, | Constellation Brands PAC | Bob Weir & RatDog | |||||
| Sat | 8/23 | Camden, NJ | Susquehanna Bank Center | Bob Weir & RatDog | |||||
| Mon | 8/25 | Hershey, PA | Hershey Park Pavilion | Bob Weir & RatDog | |||||
| Wed | 8/27 | Clarkston, MI | DTE Energy Music Theatre | Bob Weir & RatDog | |||||
| Thu | 8/28 | Chicago, IL | Charter One Pavilion | Bob Weir & RatDog | |||||
| Sat | 8/30 | Morrison, CO | Red Rocks Amphitheatre | Bob Weir & RatDog | |||||
| Fri | 9/26 | Fayetteville, AR | Bikes Blues and BBQ Festival | (festival) | |||||
| Sat | 9/27 | Robinsonville, MS | Horseshoe Casino | an evening with | |||||
| Tue | 9/30 | Columbia, MD | Merriweather Post Pavilion | Phil Lesh | |||||
| Wed | 10/1 | TBA | |||||||
| Fri | 10/3 | TBA | |||||||
| Sat | 10/4 | TBA | |||||||
| Tue | 10/7 | Pelham, AL | Verizon Wireless Music Center | Phil Lesh | |||||
| Wed | 10/8 | Orange Beach, AL | The Amph at The Wharf | Phil Lesh | |||||
| Fri | 10/10 | Atlanta, GA | Chastain Park Amphitheatre | an evening with | |||||
| Sat | 10/11 | Atlanta, GA | Chastain Park Amphitheatre | an evening with | |||||
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THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND PLAN RETURN TO ROAD AFTER 11-MONTH BREAK WITH DATES KICKING OFF AUGUST 12; GREGG ALLMAN SPEAKS ABOUT RECOVERY FROM HEPATITIS C
