The road ran thru here

No reason for posting this one -- other than the fact that even thirty-six and a half years later, it still puts a chill up my spine:



Some interesting local sidetracks to all of this:

- Although this rare clip of the original lineup of the Allman Brothers was filmed at the Fillmore East in 1971, it wasn't done at an actual concert. Bill Graham brough them into the building on an afternoon during their legendary run at the storied venue to video-record four songs. The doors were opened for passersby to come in and watch the session, thus providing some faces in the crowd.

- It was just a short time later that the band was found venturing further north, playing a free outdoor afternoon show at Skidmore College, on a spot where the tennis courts are now located.

- The live shows of that NYC run were audio-recorded and became the Live at the Fillmore album (as well as part of the Eat a Peach album), which sent them to superstardom.

- But before the actual release, guitarist Duane Allman would die in a motorcycle accident. Bassist Berry Oakley would go on to do the same, mere blocks away. The two were buried side-by-side.

- The remnants of the band -- with second guitarist Dickey Betts stepping into the limelight and with new member Chuck Leavell on electric keys -- would return to the Capital Region in June of 1973 for a performance at SPAC. An unknown band named the Marshall Tucker Band opened.

- Gregg Allman met one of his estimated six wives in Saratoga in the early 80's after another SPAC gig--she was a city resident.

- Years later, Saratoga would again provide an interesting footnote to the band's history. During a SPAC performance in 1989 as part of the HORDE tour, Betts was heavily intoxicated, resulting in sloppy playing, missed cues and even staggering off the stage on several occasions to use the restroom facilties. New guitarist Warren Haynes stepped in to at least partially save the night. But it got worse: Betts was arrested at the downtown Holiday Inn for allegedly beating up his wife and spent the night in the city jail, later pleading to a reduced misdemeanor. Betts was eventually kicked out of the band that he helped create, with alcoholism cited as the reason. He would not play with them again until their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.


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