All sentiments included in the following press release are approved and agreed upon by the folks at Culture Fiend. If only my time during the 2020 Quarantine was spent so productively.
The video for “Long Gone” was filmed on iPhones in seven different locations during the 2020 Quarantine in each band member’s respective home towns. Devon Allman spoke with Relix saying, “Never thought we’d film a music video while our band is apart. From the banks of the Missouri River to the Mountains of Wyoming, in skyscrapers, poppy fields, beaches, and backyards…we’re all a little ‘Long Gone’ lately.” Duane Betts adds, “We made lemonade out of lemons with this video and I think it turned out pretty sweet. We are definitely ‘Long Gone.’”
“These livestream shows have been a huge success. We have given away a few guitars courtesy of Gibson Guitars, we have had a guest star performance from G.Love who played a song from his home in Boston. The donations have been so amazing helping our touring crew have a paycheck during these unprecedented times” said Allman, of the series. The shows have been airing LIVE on the Devon Allman Facebook Page and then reposted the next day to all platforms like YouTube, Instagram etc. With an average of 70,000 views per show, the “We Are Still All Together Tour” is proving to be a huge hit among ABB fans. For all continued news and updates from The Allman Betts Band, visit allmanbettsband.com.
The Story of The Allman Betts Band:
In December of 2017, Devon Allman was ready. After a year of mourning the losses of his mother and father, Allman was ready to make music again. He deeply appreciated all of the condolences and well-wishes, but, respectfully, it was time to forge ahead. Allman organized a concert at the historic Fillmore in San Francisco to honor the music and memory of his father, founding Allman Brothers Band keyboardist and singer, Gregg Allman, and also to debut his new band, The Devon Allman Project. A proverbial star-studded affair- with guests such as G. Love and Robert Randolph- the marathon performance also marked the beginning of a partnership with Duane Betts, son of founding Allman Brothers Band guitarist and singer, Dickey Betts. It was time, in that historic venue, to pass the spirit to this next generation.
It was time to take all the lessons of the past, all their collective experiences, and make something new. Betts had turned solo after a touring stint with folk-rockers Dawes, and would serve as an opening artist on the Devon Allman Project 2018 world tour, as well as joining Allman each night for a musical tip of the hat to their respective fathers. The year-long trek was the first to pair Allman and Betts, and saw the two tally nearly 100 dates at theatres and festivals nationally and internationally, including a summer leg in Europe, and notable appearances at Colorado’s venerable Red Rocks amphitheater, the Peach Festival, Gov’t Mule’s Island Exodus in Jamaica, and a return to The Fillmore for the second annual, sold-out Allman Family Revival. 2018 provided them a certifiable proof-of-concept: Performing a repertoire gleaned mostly from their respective solo careers, as well as a handful of Brothers gems, the Devon Allman Project with Duane Betts consistently drew audiences growing in size and enthusiasm with each successive leg. Now, they were both determined to embrace a new challenge; to write and record new music that could someday join the classics; to wow new audiences; to form a new band.
During off-days on the bus or in hotel rooms, Devon and Duane collaborated on new original material, inviting respected songwriter Stoll Vaughn for writing sessions on the road. On the still-smoldering heels of the hugely successful Project world tour, Devon and Duane circled back to their roots for this ambitious next step. They called up their old friend Berry Duane Oakley, son of the Allman Brothers Band’s founding late bassist, Berry Oakley, and floated the idea of joining them. The trio’s musical friendship traces back to The Allman Brothers Band’s 20th anniversary summer tour in 1989 when the three first met, and often sat-in with the Rock-And-Roll Hall of Fame inductees; teenage descendants rightfully joining a rock-and-roll legacy. As well, they recruited seasoned players from the Project ensemble: slide guitar sorcerer Johnny Stachela, drummer John Lum, and percussionist R Scott Bryan (Sheryl Crow). In November of 2018, they announced the formation of The Allman Betts Band. For a subsequent world tour, they recruited keyboardist John Ginty (Dixie Chicks, Robert Randolph) to The Allman Betts Band. The band’s first performance was March 26, 2019- 50 years, to the date, after The Allman Brothers Band first jammed in Jacksonville, Florida. This is The Allman Betts Band.
